§ 110. Miss Baconasked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among single women pensioners, aged 60 to 65 years, in that they are allowed to earn only £1 per week, while childless widows in similar circumstances can earn £1 10s.; and, 155W since there have been cases where employers have dismissed single women in favour of widows who are allowed to work longer hours, if he will take steps to rectify this anomaly by increasing the single woman's earnings to £1 10s.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe National Insurance Acts impose no restrictions on the earnings of pensioners, though the amount of pension payable may be reduced where the weekly earnings exceed a prescribed amount. This amount is the same, namely £1, for both childless widows and single women aged 60 to 65. A higher amount of weekly earnings is disregarded in the case of widows below age 60, but I am not aware that this has led to the discrimination suggested against single women pensioners over that age. Any change in the present position would require legislation.