§ 15. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Defence if he will give an assurance that any increases in Service pay and 373 allowances will be accompanied by increases in widows' pensions of both officers and other ranks.
§ Mr. SandysI am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend that assurance.
§ Dame Irene WardAm I to understand from that that the matter is still fluid? Is my right hon. Friend aware that I think that all Governments have treated these widows absolutely scandalously, and is he aware further that, if I could find a way of voting against the Government on this issue I would gladly do so? [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] Hon. Members opposite are just as had as the others —perhaps worse. Will my right hon. Friend, therefore, kindly take this request to the Cabinet? Otherwise, I shall have to consider some other ways of making an attack.
§ Mr. SandysI think that my hon. Friend has made her views very clear.