§ Mr. FENBYasked the Minister of Health what is the total number of applications received from persons between 65 and 70 years of age for pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, which have still to be dealt with, and the average number of claims which are disposed of each week by the staff of his Department?
652W
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe total number of applications for pensions from persons between 65 and 70 years of age in England and Wales which have still to be dealt with is 18,534, of which more than 20 per cent, are in respect of pensions not yet due, and the average number of claims disposed of each week is 5,540.
§ Dr. SHIELSasked the Minister of Health in connection with the operation of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, how many widows have fallen out of benefit since the scheme came into operation and how many claims for widows' pensions have been refused and for what reasons?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOn the latest figure available for England and Wales, 43,157 widows have fallen out of benefit since the scheme came into operation, of whom 35,381 were widows of men who died before the commencement of the Act and 7,776 were widows of men who died thereafter. The main reasons for cessation in the former class were death, remarriage, and youngest child having reached the age of 14½, and in the latter death and remarriage. The total number of rejected claims for widows' pensions in England and Wales is 62,011, of which 47,276 relate to widows of men who died before the commencement of the Act and 14,735 to widows of men who died thereafter. The main reasons for rejection were, as regards the former class, (1) that there was no child under 11 years of age and (2) that the husband did not belong to the insurable class, and, as regards the latter, (1) that the husband was not an insured person at the date of his death and (2) that the required number of contributions had not been paid by or in respect of him.