§ 57. Mr. Liddallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now reconsider his decision and grant supplementary pensions to widows on the same basis as old age pensioners?
§ Sir K. WoodI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 6th October to my hon. Friend the Member for the Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall).
§ Mr. LiddallIs my right hon. Friend not aware that the general health and physical disabilities of many hundreds of widows of 40 and upwards make their plight in present circumstances indeed a sorry one, and will he not give further consideration to the matter?
§ Sir K. WoodI do not know whether my hon. Friend saw the answer I gave. I said:
This matter is proceeding, and as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has stated, it will be considered in the light of the report of Sir William Beveridge in the next Session of Parliament."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th October, 1942; col. 1092, Vol. 107,]