§ 1. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows in the city of Aberdeen are in receipt of 10s. a week only; and whether he will review these payments so as to make for these widows provision commensurate with the increased cost of living.
§ The Minister of National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question put to me by the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), on 19th November, 1951.
§ Mr. HughesBut my question relates to Aberdeen and not to Cardiff. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer about Aberdeen? Can he see his way to make some provision for these old ladies, many of whom are in dire straits having regard to their small incomes?
§ Mr. PeakeI told the hon. Member for Cardiff, West, that my records did not enable me to give the number of pensioners in a certain area. There are however in Scotland as a whole about 25,000 1996 of these widows. With regard to the second part of the supplementary question, these are part of the transitional arrangements and no change in them is intended at the present time.