HC Deb 26 March 1969 vol 780 c323W
Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women became entitled to retirement and widow's pensions and to maternity grants, respectively, in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Mr. Pentland

The numbers of married women to whom retirement pension, widow's pension and maternity grant were awarded during the last three years are as follows:—

1966 1967 1968
Retirement Pension 210,000 210,000 215,000
Widow's Pension* 35,000 33,000 35,000
Maternity Grant 880,000 860,000 855,000
* This is the number of widows awarded widow's pension subsequent to widow's allowance. In addition the numbers who became entitled to either widowed mother's allowance or widow's basic pension were 29,000 in 1966; 27.000 in 1967; and 27,000 in 1968.