32. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchisonasked the Minister of National Insurance if he will arrange for the payment of retirement pensions at the rate of 16s. per week to married women who have reached the age of 65 in cases where their husbands have also reached this age, but are continuing in employment.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance (Mr. Steele)No, Sir. The provision of such a pension to married women not them selves insured would be contrary to the principle of the National Insurance Act that a married couple should be treated as a team. Any pension payable to a wife in right of her husband's insurance must depend directly on her husband's pension position.
§ Mr. BaldwinIn view of the shortage of labour, would the Minister agree that every encouragement should be given to these old age pensioners to continue at work rather than penalise them when they stop work?
§ Mr. SteeleThat is, of course, the basis of the new principle adopted in the pensions scheme.