§ 17. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further consideration has been given to changing the situation whereby widows' benefits are taken into account in determining training grants; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. O'MalleyAs my hon. Friend is aware, there is already provision to pay a widowed mother a training allowance of £3.50 on top of her widow's benefit. This arrangement is kept under regular review. But, as I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 9th July 1974, I shall be glad to look into any case of particular difficulty which he may have in mind.—[Vol. 876, c. 415–16.]
§ Mr. DempseyIs my right hon. Friend aware that when this case originally appeared in a Question on the Order Paper many months ago it was drawn to the attention of his Department? I refer to a widow whose employment grant was reduced fom £14.10 to £3.10 because her widow's pension was taken into account. Is it not unfair that alongside that widow there are highly-paid people who are getting the full amount? Is not that unjust? Is it not about time that we ended this discrimination?
§ Mr. O'MalleyMy hon. Friend will understand the long-standing principle that payment out of public funds should not be made twice over for the same need. However, if my hon. Friend has a particular problem such as he described to me for the first time a few moments ago, I shall be pleased to look into it in detail with him.