§ 32. Mr. Perrinsasked the Minister of National Insurance the estimated number of women between the ages of 54–60 years now contributing to National Insurance, differentiating between spinsters, married women and widows.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIt is estimated very approximately that contributors in this age group number about 200,000 single women and 250,000 married women and widows.
§ Mr. PerrinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that 200,000 of the women mentioned in the first part of the Question are still looking hopefully to him to grant their claims for a retiring pension at 55 years of age?
§ Mr. GriffithsSingle women are provided with a retiring pension at the age of 60. The reason we cannot accept the lower age has been made clear more than once in this House.