§ 18. Mr. Gurdenasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he now has any proposals to help elderly war widows.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir. We have been giving a good deal of thought to the problems of the large number of 895 elderly war widows, mainly, of course, 1914–18 War widows. The representations which we have received from the voluntary bodies concerned, and the reports of our own welfare officers, confirm that the most difficult problems affecting war widows are in large measure confined to the most elderly. It has, therefore, been decided to introduce a new allowance at the rate of 10s. a week for all war widows of 70 and over. This will take effect from the first pay day in June. The cost will be about £1½ million in a full year.
§ Mr. GurdenThe Service organisations as well as the older widows will much appreciate this very good news. How many of the war widows will be affected?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAbout 58,000.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsHow many widows will be excluded from the proposal which the right hon. Gentleman has just enumerated, and why has he accepted the age of 70 as the correct age for the proposals which he is now introducing? Secondly, are widows receiving Industrial Injuries pensions included in this proposal?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe answer to the last part of the hon. Member's supplementary question is that this proposal is confined to war widows. The choice of the age of 70 results from a careful study of the problem, which, as I said in my main Answer, makes it abundantly clear that the main difficulties persisting in connection with war widows since the main rates of benefit were raised last year are confined largely to this substantial group over 70 years of age. As regards any figures which the hon. Member may have in mind, for safety's sake I had better ask him to put them down.
§ Mr. MarquandHas it not always been the practice that the Industrial Injuries benefits should keep in step with those under the war pensions scheme? What is the reason for this differentiation now? Is not the position of widows over the age of 70 equally difficult whether they draw an Industrial Injuries pension or even a simple, straightforward National Insurance pension? What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to protect these elderly widows from the effects of the Government's Rent Act.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe answer to the first part of that question is that it has not been the case, particularly with reference to allowances, that the two schemes have remained in parallel. On the contrary, the right hon. Gentleman may recall that some little time ago we introduced an age allowance for disabled war pensioners which did not have corresponding provisions in the Industrial Injuries scheme. Indeed, there are other examples which, on reflection, the right hon. Gentleman will no doubt recall. Therefore, the fact that this proposal is made in the war pensions sphere only does not violate any previously laid down principle.
§ Mr. MarquandWill the Minister answer the latter part of my question: what of the 52,000 widows drawing National Insurance pensions who have been forced to resort to National Assistance largely because they cannot afford to meet the present rents?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThis is a statement dealing with war pensions and involving an amendment of the war pensions instruments. The right hon. Gentleman does not lack opportunities to discuss National Insurance problems.