§ 36. Mr. Manuelasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows are in receipt of a 10s. pension; and, of these, how many are in receipt of a National Assistance supplement.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonAt the end of 1961, some 89,000 widows were receiving the 10s. widow's pension as a reserved right from the old scheme. About 5,700 with no other benefit from my Ministry were also receiving national assistance.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the Minister aware that these widows in employment are paying 8s. 8d. a week in contributions in order to comply with the regulations so that they will get benefit when they finally retire? Does he not think it scandalous that he should be giving the 10s. with one hand and taking it back with the other? When is he going to deal with the problem and really give these widows something in their own right?
§ Mr. MacphersonThis is a reserved right from the previous scheme. To the extent that they are able to pay their National Insurance contribution out of the 10s. these ladies are that much better off than those who do not have a corresponding benefit either because their husbands were not insured under the old scheme or because they were married after the 1948 scheme came into operation.
§ Mr. ManuelIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that his original reply gives the lie to his answer now in so far as he quoted a considerable number receiving 10s. who are on National Assistance as well?
§ Mr. MacphersonIt is a fact that the proportion of widows in receipt of the 10s. pension on National Assistance is very much lower than the proportion of all widows on assistance.