HC Deb 20 June 1955 vol 542 cc1014-6
19. Mr. McKibbin

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons there are in Great Britain in receipt of the 10s. widow's pension; and how much he estimates it would cost to double the pension to these recipients.

Mr. Marples

About 155,000 widows are now receiving the 10s. widow's pension. The extra cost of doubling their pensions would be about £4 million a year at present.

Mr. McKibbin

Does my hon. Friend know that in Northern Ireland there are, in addition, 2,804 expectant 10s. widows waiting for him to do justice to the widows over here so that the Northern Ireland Government can follow suit and give them a quid pro quo?

Mr. Marples

I would ask my hon. Friend to let me have a note of the expectant widows in Northern Ireland.

22. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when he expects to receive the review now being made by the National Insurance Advisory Committee upon widowhood provisions and the question of the 10s. widow.

23. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will arrange for the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the position of widows receiving a pension of 10s. a week, to be available before the Summer Recess.

18. Sir R. Robinson

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has now received the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the position of the 10s. widow; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Mr. Marples

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Members for Itchen (Dr. King) and Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 13th June, and to what was said about this in my right hon. Friend's speech in the debate on the Address last Tuesday.

Miss Burton

I do not recollect the answer given to the Question, but is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in his speech his right hon. Friend added nothing to our previous knowledge? As the number of 10s. widows is relatively small—as revealed in the answer to Question No. 19—does he not feel that something could be done about this, as it is an urgent matter for most of these women?

Mr. Marples

I am sure that many hon. Members have knowledge of individual cases of hardship, but, as a general class, the 10s. widow is not as badly off as some who are in receipt of National Insurance benefits. The proportion of 10s. widows receiving National Assistance is 14 per cent., but for all National Insurance beneficiaries it is 22 per cent. As a category, there is no hardship, but if any hon. Member has knowledge of any individual case of hardship, I should be glad to have the information.

Mr. Wood

I do not recollect the answer either. My Question asked whether the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee will be available before the Summer Recess. Could I have an answer?

Mr. Marples

It depends upon the National Insurance Advisory Committee, over which my right hon. Friend has no real control. He cannot ask the Committee to report by a given date. The point is that the Committee has most of the evidence at its disposal and has promised to report as soon as possible.

Mr. T. Brown

Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House what is causing the delay in getting the report from the National Insurance Advisory Committee, when as far back as 12th March, 1954, we were promised that this matter would receive urgent attention? Is the hon. Gentleman further aware that, although he made light of the small number of people involved, this class of persons has been suffering an injustice since the present Government took power?

Mr. Marples

I could not accept the basis of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. The reason for the delay is that it is a complicated and complex matter. The basic assumption underlying the Question is that every 10s. widow is worse off than a comparable widow under the existing scheme. That is not so. Some of the 10s. widows are very much better off.