§ 10. Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Minister of Social Security whether she will introduce legislation to enable the children of widows to retain their statutory allowance after the remarriage of their mothers; and what estimate she has made of the cost of such a change.
§ Mr. LoughlinThis suggestion is one of a number which we are considering in the course of our review of the social security provisions. It is estimated that such a change would eventually cost some £4 million a year.
§ Mrs. JegerIs my hon. Friend aware that this review is taking far too long? Does he not agree that there would be some element, not only of social justice but direct relief of poverty, for many of these families if the allowance for the children, which they have by virtue of their own father's contribution to the National Insurance Fund, could be kept?
§ Mr. LoughlinIt is not quite as simple as my hon. Friend says, because the child becomes a member of the new family when the mother marries. My hon. Friend says that the review is taking too long, but she will recognise that it has to be comprehensive. To some extent we have dealt with certain sections of it, but in this case it would be better to await the outcome of the full review rather than tinker.