Widows (Hansard, 18 November 1957)

§ 11. Mr. Simmons
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will make an investigation into the economic position of war widows whose husbands were in receipt of war pensions of 80 per cent. or more at the time of death; and if he will cause research to be undertaken in order to ascertain what percentage of such war widows are in receipt of a war widow's pension.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
While I am concerned to follow closely the position of war widows generally, I know of no reason for a special investigation into the category of widow to whom the hon. Member refers, since the degree of disability of her late husband can have little relevance to her present economic position. In any event, as the hon. Member will be aware, the position of all qualified war widows will be substantially improved at the end of January as the result of the changes which I announced on 6th November.

§ Mr. Simmons
Surely the Minister knows what I am getting at. Is he not aware that during the lives of these badly-disabled war pensioners their wives have had a very rough time? I know that these war pensioners are apt to be a bit cantankerous at times, and their wives have to bear the brunt of it. This question of the admissibility of those wives to a war widow's pension should be looked at when the men die, because there is no doubt that while medically the Department can get away with it, morally it cannot?

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Morally, I think that everything depends, from the war pension point of view, on whether or not it is possible to show that the man's death was caused by his pensioned disability. Where there is a doubt the benefit of it is given, but despite the hon. Gentleman's great experience of war pension administration, I believe that it would be quite wrong, and it would undermine the preference and priority given by all Governments to war pensioners, if one were to seek to extend the war widow's pension provisions to cover widows, who have become widows as a result of the ordinary chances of life and not as a result of their husband's war injury.

§ Mr. Simmons
Would the Minister consider the position of the man who, having lost a limb, cannot have any more surgical treatment but who, because of his loss, has a low expectancy of life? There is a case, in circumstances of that kind, for the widow to have the benefit of the doubt.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Where it can be shown in a particular case that the man's death was hastened by his war disability that is done, but, in general, the hon. Gentleman will be aware that the medical proposition that he has stated is contrary to the expressed views of the Rock-Carling Committee.

§ 13. Mrs. Mann
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if the 90,000 widows now in receipt of 10s. pension will be required to pay the increased stamp contribution under the new Bill.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Yes, Sir, on the same basis and subject to the same qualifications as everybody else.

§ Mrs. Mann
But is it not a different qualification in respect of these widows? They do not get any increase at all, they are still to be kept on 10s., but they are asked to pay 2s. extra to increase the pensions of other widows who are already getting the full pension.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
No, Sir. If these ladies are contributing and their contribution is increased, the various benefits under the National Insurance Scheme in respect of which the contributions are paid are, at the same time, being increased. I do not want to debate the whole question of the 10s. widow at Question Time, but the hon. Lady will remember that the great majority of these ladies are getting 10s. whereas their opposite numbers under the National Insurance Scheme get no pension at all.