§ 1. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what consideration she is giving to a revision of the age of entitlement of childless widows to the National Insurance widows' pension.
§ 19. Mr. Pinkasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals she has for introducing a graduated scale of pensions for widows from the age of 35 years.
§ 23. Mr. Astorasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proposals she has to seek power to alter the 50 years of age rule in respect of widows' pensions; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Miss Margaret Herbison)The position of childless widows without title to widow's pension is being studied in the course of the Government's general review of social security.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes the Minister's study cover in particular the very sharp differentiation which now arises between a widow aged 49 years and 51 weeks and a widow aged 50, and also the possibility of reverting to a lower age?
§ Miss HerbisonAll these matters are being taken into account. I am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman should ask this question since, as a result of his action when Minister, there are up to 15,000 more widows either with only 30s. or with no pension who would have had a full pension.
§ Mr. PinkIs the right hon. Lady aware of the anomalies existing today? Does not she agree that many of these anomalies would be resolved by a graduated pensions scale related to age?
§ Miss HerbisonThat is one of the matters to which we are giving attention.