HC Deb 24 May 1965 vol 713 cc8-9
3. Mr. Curran

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what plans she now has to remedy the anomalies in the treatment of widows under the National Insurance scheme.

21. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when the new plans will be introduced to help remedy the anomalies in the treatment of widows, particularly in the age group 40–50 years.

Miss Herbison

These matters form part of the review of social security provisions on which the Government are engaged, and I cannot forecast the outcome.

Mr. Curran

Does not the right hon. Lady agree that by increasing the payment to the pensioner widow to 30s., she has increased still further the sense of unfairness among the no-shilling widows? Will she not agree that the only way in which to get rid of all these anomalies in the treatment of widows is to say plainly that widowhood as such creates a benefit? Will she, further, do something to review the position of widows and to give justice to those widows who at present are not receiving justice without telling them to go on waiting for Lefty?

Miss Herbison

That is exactly what we are doing. We are reviewing the position of widows. We know that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction, and there has been for a long time, particularly among those widows who have no pension at all, including those who just missed it, perhaps, almost by an hour. It is because we feel that many of those widows need help that we are giving their position the most serious consideration in the general review.

Mrs. Thatcher

If the right hon. Lady cannot forecast the results of the review in any of its topics, will she say whether she intends to keep her proposals within the 4¼ per cent. annual increase laid down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Miss Herbison

If the hon. Lady will wait until our proposals are put forward, she can make the comparison for herself.

Mrs. Thatcher

It is not I who shall wait. Is the right hon. Lady saying, therefore, that she disregards the 4¼ per cent. annual increase?