HC Deb 28 October 1965 vol 718 c327
8. Mrs. Shirley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will allow widowed mothers to receive their pension without deduction in the case of those undergoing teacher training.

Mr. Redhead

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to her on 29th July by my right hon. Friend when he announced alternative arrangements for the assessment of grants to widows training as teachers. Under these arrangement a widow may, if it is more favourable, relinquish her claim to dependants' grants in respect of her children and claim instead an allowance against income of £300 for the first child and £100 for each subsequent child. This would leave her pension untouched.

Mrs. Williams

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, may I say that this was one of the difficulties which had arisen—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Lady must not say. She must ask.

Mrs. Williams

May I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that the removal of the widows' earnings bar created an anomaly in this sphere, and may I thank him for the changes which have been made?