HC Deb 14 April 1938 vol 334 cc1316-7
Mr. Leach

(by Private Notice) asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the members of the committee appointed to examine the question of pensions for spinsters, and also to state the terms of reference?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed a committee with the following terms of reference: To examine and report on the complaints which are made as to the position of unmarried women under the Contributory Pensions Acts and on the practical questions which would arise if the age at which Old Age Pensions under those Acts are payable to unmarried women were lowered. The committee will be constituted as follows:

  • Mr. C. T. Le Quesne, K.C. (Chairman).
  • Sir John Jeffrey, K.C.B., K.B.E.
  • Mr. Geoffrey Peto, C.B.E.
  • Mr. Arthur Shaw, C.B.E., J.P.
  • Miss Ethel Strudwick, O.B.E.
  • Dame Gwendoline Trubshaw, D.B.E.

The secretary of the committee will be Mr. W. S. Hocking, M.B.E., of the Government Actuary's Department.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it too late to get an ordinary representative of working-class women put on that committee?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The committee includes Mr. Arthur Shaw, the General Secretary of the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers.

Mr. Gallacher

Would it not be desirable to have on the committee a representative spinster drawn from the ranks of the working class, in order to get a fair judgment?

Mr. E. Smith

Will the Financial Secretary also consider the position of the old age and widows' pensions?

Mr. Mander

Would it be possible to put an undecorated spinster on the committee?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The terms of reference follow, as I have stated, the undertaking that the Government have given, and they could not be enlarged.

Mr. Leach

Is the Financial Secretary satisfied that the terms of reference cover the terms of the Resolution which this House carried a couple of months ago?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Tinker

On the point of insured contributors, I think the Motion was carried for all spinsters.

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

I have looked very carefully at the terms of reference, and I think that really they carry out the intention of the House.

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