29. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Minister of Pensions if he will increase the alternative widows' pensions awarded to widows of Service men killed in the 1914–18 War to bring them into line with pension increases recently granted.
Mr. AmoryI refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Major Hicks Beach) on 10th November.
Brigadier ClarkeDoes not my right hon. Friend appreciate that these elderly widows of the First World War have had a very raw deal for a very long time, and, further, that a comparatively small sum of money would make the latter days of their lives very happy?
Mr. AmoryI am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend will remember that these widows, if they are in receipt of the alternative pension, are receiving a higher pension than the normal standard of war widows' pensions, but, if it is to their 246 advantage to transfer to the standard pension, that is arranged.
§ Mr. MorleyIs the Minister aware that these widows have had no increase at all in their pensions for over 20 years? If these pensions were adequate over 20 years ago, how can they be adequate today, when the cost of living has doubled? Would it not be only elementary justice to give them some increase?
Mr. AmoryI still feel that, as these widows are in receipt of a higher rate than the standard rate, they are not, relatively, being badly treated. The alternative pension scheme was dropped. It was thought unsatisfactory in working, and it was dropped many years ago, and was not applied to the widows of the Second World War. I really do not think that there is any relative hardship being done at present to the widows of the First World War.