HC Deb 05 August 1943 vol 391 cc2434-5
22. Major Petherick

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation under which the widow of a deceased Service man who, before his service, was a contributor under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, shall, if she is receiving a widow's war pension, be entitled to a refund of her husband's contributions or to an additional pension based on the funded value of those contributions?

Miss Horsbrugh

The contributions payable under the Contributory Pensions Acts do not cover the risk of death due to war service, and it is accordingly provided in the Acts that a widow who is in receipt of a dependant's war pension in respect of the death of her husband shall not be entitled also to draw a contributory widow's pension. I am afraid that my right hon. Friend cannot undertake to introduce legislation amending this provision.

Major Petherick

Is it not extremely unfair that in the case of a man killed in action his contributions to the National Health Insurance and other similar schemes are, in effect, confiscated by the State?

Miss Horsbrugh

I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member is right in saying they are confiscated by the State. This is an insurance scheme. If the man had died as a worker, then his widow would have received that money. After all, in a great many cases the wife dies before the man, and the hon. Member would not say that because no pension was paid in those cases the insurance company had confiscated the money.

Sir H. Williams

But is the hon. lady not aware that if I insure my life privately for a pension for my widow in the event of my death and my death arises from war service, it is paid in full?

Miss Horsbrugh

Yes, because the hon. Member in his own case would have covered both, but it is specifically laid down that this scheme does not cover both.

Major Petherick

But in the case where a man has lost his life through serving his country, is it not obviously unfair that his widow should not be entitled to a return of the contributions which have been paid?

Miss Horsbrugh

I would point out that the man has not left the insurance scheme. Even in the Army he is kept in insurance. When men come out of the Army their insurance is still valid for sickness benefits and everything else.