HC Deb 06 February 1956 vol 548 cc1320-2
12. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is now prepared to introduce legislation to improve the payments made to widows.

19. Lieut-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will now increase the pension of the 10s. widows.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the hon. Members will be aware, the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on Widows' Benefits was published last Friday. It is a comprehensive and valuable Report for which I should like to take this opportunity of thanking the Committee. Her Majesty's Government are now considering the Report.

Dr. King

Is the Minister aware that the Report of the Advisory Committee has revealed serious hardships and grave anomalies among widow pensioners, and that, in addition to the categories mentioned by the Committee, the country's widowed mothers and the 10s. widows do need the sympathetic consideration of the Minister?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Of course, if the hon. Gentleman had had time to study the Report he would recall that the Committee did devote a considerable amount of attention to the cases of hardship which arise in both these categories.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister aware that both the House and the country have been rather misled by previous Government statements? We were told that we had to await the Report of the Advisory Committee before anything could be done for the 10s. widows, and now that we have the Report of the Advisory Committee it states that the Committee is precluded by its terms of reference from making any specific recommendation? Really, these 10s. widows have been very badly treated indeed.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member can have had time to study the Report, because while it is perfectly true that the Committee was not permitted by its terms of reference to make recommendations as to the rate of benefit, it goes out of its way to point out that its main recommendations will deal with the most serious cases of hardship in this particular category.

15. Mr. McKay

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware that the industrial widow is now receiving 20s. per week which is the same as that paid in 1948; the numbers of such widows now receiving benefit; and when an increase in this benefit is to be considered.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The Answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is "Yes, Sir," and to the second part, 1,600. So far as the third part of the Question is concerned, the whole question of widows' benefits is, as the hon. Member is I am sure aware, under consideration.

Mr. McKay

Is the Minister aware that in December, 1954, the then Minister of Health, on behalf of the Government, promised definitely to have this particular subject investigated by the Advisory Committee, and can he explain why it is not even mentioned in the Committee's Report?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The National Insurance Advisory Committee does not deal with industrial injury cases—with which the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is concerned; but I have been in touch with the Advisory Council as part of my consideration of the general question of widows.

Mr. McKay

Can we take it that this particular matter will be reconsidered?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. Gentleman will study at leisure my main Answer he will, I think, understand that I have already said that this matter is under consideration, together with other widows' benefits.