§ 55. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the weekly pension and rent allowance paid to the widow whose husband was killed on active service and who has no other 33 source of income, as compared with that paid to the widow of a civilian
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Osbert Peake)Provision is made for widows under a number of different schemes and the payment varies widely according to such factors as age and family responsibilities. In the circumstances, I regret that in the absence of more precise details I cannot give the information asked for.
§ Dr. KingHas the attention of the Minister been called to an article in the December issue of the "British Legion Journal," which repeats "Daily Express" figures which suggest that war widows are worse off than widows of civilians? Will he examine the article and, if it is not true, will he deny it?
§ Mr. PeakeI have examined the article. The broad picture is that war widows are the most favourably treated, after them come the widows of the victims of industrial injury, and thereafter, in the lowest category, come the ordinary widows who draw pension under the National Insurance scheme.