§ 25. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what would be the cost of giving the full rate of widows' pension to those now only getting 10s. per week.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterUp to £15 million a year at the present time.
§ Mr. HyndDid not the Minister hear his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture announce a moment ago that 690 £7½ million is to be given to the horticultural industry? Would he not agree that the payment of the full amount to the 10s. widows would be even more popular at the General Election?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI would not accept the hon. Gentleman's paraphrase of what was said by my right hon. Friend, but, in any event, were further money available in the social service direction generally, I doubt whether a proposal that would accentuate discrimination between the widows who have, at present, 10s., and the widows who, under present legislation, have no pension, would be a wise or equitable way of using the money.