HC Deb 09 June 1943 vol 390 cc810-1
Mr. E. Brown

I beg to move, in page 5, line 29, at the end, to insert: and the continuance of such supplementary pensions after the said allowance ceases to be so payable.

Mr. Ness Edwards

There are two short points I would like to make. First, in line 26, in making provision for the payment of supplementary pensions to widows, to whom an additional allowance is paid it seems to me we are leaving out the question of the amount in this sense; the provision of an old age allowance is a statutory provision. If that is so, it seems to me that this Clause requires to be drawn wider, otherwise you will have widows drawing a supplementary pension, which will be less than the supplementary pensions provided for old age pensioners. A woman aged 59 will get so much and when she is 60, will get 2s. more. I should be glad if the Minister would look at that.

The Deputy-Chairman (Mr. Charles Williams)

Is the hon. Member speaking on the Amendment or on the Question "That the Clause stand part of the Bill?"

Mr. Edwards

On the Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

The Deputy-Chairman

We have not yet disposed of the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Mr. Ness Edwards

There is a second point in addition to that which I have already mentioned. The Clause says: additions to a person's supplementary pension in respect of periods after an old age or widow's pension began to accrue to that person … That is line 30 and the following two lines. It seems to me that this also requires a wider drawing, if it is to include the case of a posthumous child. The widow will not be entitled to a supplementary pension until her child is born. There is a period between the date of birth and the date on which the allowance is received in respect of the child. For that period, provision should be made in this Clause, and I would be glad if the Minister would look at the point.

Mr. E. Brown

I am not sure whether the hon. Member is right but we will look at it. There will be stages in another place. I can give no pledge except that I will look at it.

Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.