FURTHER RELAXATION OF CONDITIONS FOR WIDOW'S PENSION AND FOR WIFE'S RETIREMENT PENSION BY VIRTUE OF HER HUSBAND'S INSUR- ANCE

HC Deb 15 July 1970 vol 803 cc1578-80

Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. O'Malley

My hon. Friends and I welcome the introduction of this part of the Bill, which ends the three-year rule. A considerable debate took place when, in the last Parliament, we debated the National Superannuation and Social Insurance Bill, and the provisions in this Measure follow closely on what we proposed in that Bill. It is clear that the three-year rule is producing hardship and that we must try to resolve the problem.

I rise merely to question the Minister about the position of the widow who has been twice married. We discussed this issue on the previous Bill. I understand that a widow could marry a man over 65 and have a right to a pension on the contributions of her second husband because he died within less than 12 months although she has been married to a first husband with a full contributions record. This is a complicated matter and affects a small section of the community; women who have been married twice.

When we discussed the National Superannuation and Social Insurance Bill in Committee I said, in response to probing from the present Under-Secretary: We are aware of the problem, and we know that there are difficulties attaching to it. I assure the hon. Gentleman that before the regulations are issued, we shall examine the matter very carefully to see what can be done to help the women whom we have been discussing". I then said: … I assure the Committee that I am seized of the point about what may well be a small group of widows, who could do rather badly. Of course I give the undertaking that we are prepared to look at this before the regulations are issued. I do not think that there is any difference between the two sides of the Committee on this minor point".—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Standing Committee F, 17th March, 1970; c. 687.] I would like a similar undertaking from the present Under-Secretary. We wish to ensure that the problems of the twice-married widow are carefully looked at before the regulations are issued to ensure that hardship is not caused because of the operation of the one-year rule.

Mr. Dean

I am obliged to the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. O'Malley) for raising this point, which we discussed on an earlier occasion. I cannot be certain, off the cuff, whether this provision can be dealt with by way of regulations under the Clause. However, I assure him that the point will be looked at and that I will let him have any further information on the subject that is available.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.