§ 33. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she is aware that the 10s. widows are under certain disabilities; and what steps she plans to take to remove those disabilities.
§ 35. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she proposes to increase the pension of the 10s. widows.
§ 44. Mr. Pounderasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she intends to introduce proposals for improving the position of 10s. widows; and what plans she has.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Miss Margaret Herbison)A statement on this and other benefits will be made very soon.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the 10s. widow presents a very urgent case for generous and immediate assistance? Will she take urgent steps to render that assistance?
§ Miss HerbisonAs my hon. and learned Friend and other hon. Members will be aware, the question of the 10s. widow has been raised on many occasions and I can assure him that this Government are well aware of the hardships these ladies have had to undergo.
§ Mr. LiptonIn order to save time in bringing the increase into effect within the next few weeks, will my right hon. Friend look at a Bill I tried to introduce on 25th January, 1963, designed to help the 10s. widow? Does she recall that that Bill was most strenuously and bitterly resisted by hon. Members opposite?
§ Miss HerbisonMy hon. Friend knows very well the attitude of this side of 662 the House towards his Bill, but I must ask him to await a statement.
§ Mr. PounderCan the right hon. Lady tell us that both statement and action will be this side of Christmas? Is that a fair interpretation of the words "very soon"?
§ Miss HerbisonThe statement will be made long before Christmas. It will be very soon. I take it as a tribute to this side of the House that the hon. Gentleman thinks that we can do in a few weeks what his own Government failed to do in thirteen years.