§ Sir J. SIMONasked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the proposed amendment of the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, he will consider the possibility 261W of extending the Act so as to allow disabled ex-service men who are unable to work to become voluntary contributors, so that in the event of death their widows may become eligible for a pension?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIt is not clear precisely what class of persons the right hon. Member has in mind. Disabled ex-service men who have been continuously unable to work owing to incapacity duly notified to their approved societies are already insured persons for the purposes of widows' pensions and do not need to become voluntary contributors whilst those who in the absence of such incapacity had lapsed from insurance before the inception of the Contributory Pensions Act were normally eligible to become voluntary contributors within the prescribed time in 1926 on the ground of service in His Majesty's Forces during the late War.