§ 21. Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will review the amounts disallowed when calculating retirement pensions, widows' pensions and other State benefits.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I keep these matters continually under review. As he is aware, the Government are proposing to relax further the earnings rules for pensioners and widows under the National Insurance Scheme. As regards National Assistance, which I understand the hon. Member also has in mind, the amounts of disregarded income and capital were substantially raised two months ago.
§ Dr. KingWhilst welcoming the reference in the Gracious Speech to what the Minister intends to do, may I ask whether he will give attention in his researches to the difficult problem of the widow who has to go out to work to supplement a meagre pension? Will he give special consideration in this Parliament to the whole question of the position of widows?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have said at this Dispatch Box before, and I am glad to repeat it, that I think the problem in particular of the widowed mother is one of the most difficult in the whole sphere of National Insurance, and, as I said in my main Answer, I will certainly keep it under review.
§ Mr. ReynoldsWill the Minister keep in mind in his continuing review the fact that an anomalous position will arise in a few years' time when people drawing the State wage-related pension will be in a worse position in the matter of this rule on earnings than people drawing a wage-related pension from an approved scheme?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Member, who was on the Standing Committee on the National Insurance Act, 1959, knows that we discussed that matter in some detail and that as a result of that discussion powers were included in the Act which should be helpful in such a situation.