HC Deb 28 March 1955 vol 539 cc32-3
66. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if, when he receives the National Insurance Advisory Committee's Report on widows' pensions, he will give special attention to fatal accident widows who are now receiving only 20s. per week, and have had no increase since 1946.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. Ernest Marples)

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend will certainly keep this point in mind.

Mr. McKay

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the past equality has been recognised between widows receiving industrial injuries pensions and widows receiving Army pensions? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when one widow is 40 she gets 52s. 6d. per week and the other gets 20s.? Is not this a serious position which requires consideration?

Mr. Marples

My right hon. Friend has promised to keep the point in mind. This question must be considered in relation to the whole range of industrial injuries benefits.

67. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that widows receiving Army pensions receive higher pensions and qualify at lower ages than widows under the National Industrial Injuries Act; and if he will consider raising industrial injury widows' allowances and amending the age qualifications, so as to remove this anomaly.

Mr. Marples

No, Sir: the present rates were fixed as recently as last December and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to reconsider them now.

Mr. McKay

Does not the Minister consider that it is rather peculiar that a woman who becomes a widow as a result of her husband suffering industrial injuries gets less in children's allowances, and no educational allowance or rent allowance? Is there not a tremendous margin between one and the other? Does not the matter merit serious attention?

Mr. Marples

Any disparity there may be arose out of the original Act of 1946. The hon. Gentleman is raising the important principle of complete parity between industrial injuries and war pensions. I do not think that either side of the House has accepted that. It is very difficult to answer points of principle such as this by means of Question and answer.