HC Deb 23 July 1963 vol 681 cc1260-1
Q8. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Prime Minister if he will agree to meet the hon. Member for Tynemouth to discuss the problems of widowed mothers and the earnings rule, and the extension of the widowed mothers' allowance to children awaiting entry to universities.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Dame Irene Ward

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that very gracious reply, may I ask him to assure me that the meeting will take place quite shortly? Having regard to our old relationship when my right hon. Friend was a back bencher, will he bear in mind that I shall want action, as he used to want action in the days when he used to pummel his own Front Bench?

The Prime Minister

I am looking forward to the meeting with the hon. Lady, but she must not frighten me too much before it takes place.

Mr. Wade

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that this case of the widowed mothers and the earnings rule is one of a number of anomalies in the welfare services which should be looked into? There is a great time-lag between these anomalies arising and anything being done about them. Would not it be possible to have regular machinery whereby these matters are reported to the House, say annually, so that attention can be given to them?

Dame Irene Ward

Stand on my side, Harold.

The Prime Minister

I think that the machinery which the hon. Lady suggests is a very good one.

Mr. Longden

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that one of the meanest of the anomalies is the differentiation between Service widows who were bereaved before and after 3rd November, 1958?

The Prime Minister

I am ready to consider these matters as a result of these questions and I hope that we may be able to find some solution.

Dame Irene Ward

I thank my right hon. Friend.

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