HC Deb 26 June 1963 vol 679 cc1313-5
9. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Defence how many widows of Regular officers of each rank in the three Armed Services, including the Indian Armed Services, are receiving widows' ordinary pensions; in each case how many lost their husbands before 4th November, 1958; and how many of these Regular officers' widows are now over 70 and 75 years of age, respectively.

Mr. Thorneycroft

The Answer to my hon. Friend's question consists of a table of figures which I will, with permission, circulate in the Official Report.

Dame Irene Ward

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has given

Rank of husband (Army rank used for convenience) Total number of widows drawing ordinary pensions Number of widows who lost their husbands before 4th November, 1958 Number of widows who are now over 70 years of age Number of widows who are now over 75 years of age
Field Marshal … … 10 7 8 6
General … … … 66 45 42 30
Lieutenant-General … 96 70 63 47
Major-General … … 369 266 242 180
Brigadier … … … 675 440 332 262
Colonel … … … 1,002 732 569 427
Lieutenant-Colonel … 2,779 2,002 1,483 1,128
Major … … … 2,759 1,793 1,119 864
Captain and Lieutenant … 3,222 2,201 1,814 1,412
TOTALS … … 10,978 7,556 5,672 4,356
10. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent the pensions of pre-1958 officers' widows reflect the rise in the cost of living compared

the same amount of study to the table of figures as he has given to the Questions—which he has answered—from right hon. and hon. Gentlemen on both sides of the House? If he has, can he tell me whether he has observed that elderly widows are rapidly dying? May I ask whether he thinks that they have been generously treated? Why has he not done something to see that they receive a great deal more favourable treatment?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I have studied the figures and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for putting this Question on the Order Paper and enabling me to look at the matter again. This is a matter which deserves proper consideration, which I am giving to it at present.

Mr. Lipton

Has not the Minister of Defence observed that some of these officers' widows are drawing pensions which are well below the National Assistance scales? Is not that a disgraceful state of affairs?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I would not say it is a disgraceful thing; it is a situation which existed under all Governments for a very long time. It is important to remember that this is quite different from a State pension of that character, but I am considering these matters and I do not want to be drawn into all the argument about them.

Following are the figures:

with those of the post-1958 pensions.

Mr. Thorneycroft

The answer to my hon. Friend's Question consists of a table of figures which, with permission, I will circulate in the Official Report.

Dame Irene Ward

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that I expect a Tory Government to do a great deal better than a Socialist Government? [Hon. Members: "Why?"] Would he bear in mind that I am very grateful to him for what he said in reply to my previous Question? I have been to see him and have been to see the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. I am received most charmingly by most Ministers; but I am not susceptible to charm—I am susceptible to action. [Hon. Members: "Oh."] When am I to get a satisfactory answer to the representations I have made?

Mr. Thorneycroft

In the light of that, I can only invite my hon. Friend to come and see me. I do not know what she

The percentages in the table below indicate the extent to which the purchasing power of pensions awarded to officers* widows bereaved before 4th November, 1958, or on or after that date, has kept pace with the rise in the cost of living since those pensions were introduced.
Those bereaved before 4th November, 1958 Those bereaved on or after 4th November, 1958, the husband having been entitled to Retired Pay under one of the following Codes: —
Forces Family Pensions, 1952 New Scheme Retired Pay Code
1919, 1945 and 1950 1956 1960 1962
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
95.7 112.8 104.7 93.7 96.3
NOTES:
1 No account has been taken of the increase of up to £20 a year awarded to widows aged 70 or over.
2 The Cost of Living has been calculated using the Interim Index of Retail Prices and the Index of Retail Prices.