§ 11. Mr. J. H. Hareasked the Minister of National Insurance if lie will give an estimate of the cost of granting old age pensions in full to war widows of the 1914–18 war who, under the old insurance scheme, would have qualified for an unconditional pension of 10s. a week at age 70.
§ Mr. SteeleI regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without special inquiry, which I do not think would be justified. These widows will in general be able to qualify for the new retirement pension: for those too old to contribute under the new scheme the right to a 10s. pension at 70 under the old arrangements has been preserved.
§ Mr. HareDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that, instead of the 10s., these people should qualify for 26s.?
§ Mr. SteeleThat is an entirely different matter.