§ 16. Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of widows under 50 who will become eligible for benefit after 1st April.
§ Mr. DeanIt is estimated that about 100,000 widows who were aged 40–49 when the husband died or when widowed mother's allowance ceased will become eligible for age-related widows' pensions from 5th April next.
§ Mr. BakerI welcome these very encouraging figures. Will my hon. Friend ensure that every effort is made by the 1176 Department to inform women who have been widowed between the ages of 40 and 50 in the last few years to claim and obtain this benefit, which would be very helpful to them?
§ Mr. DeanWe intend a major take-up campaign which we hope will be as successful as the campaign for the old persons' pensions.
§ Mr. KaufmanWill the hon. Gentleman point out to his hon. Friend that he in turn should point out to his constituents, as I point out to mine, that many thousands of these ladies have the Labour Government to thank for this benefit, which was taken over by the present Government?
§ Mr. DeanMy right hon. Friend has conceded that point on a number of occasions. Equally, I am entitled to say that this Government are introducing the new pension at least 12 months earlier than the previous Government intended