§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid to unsupported women in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively, on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such women in each case were separated wives, divorcees, unmarried mothers and widows, respectively.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI assume my hon. Friend's question is directed to the payment of supplementary benefit to women under pension age. Following is the information:
It is estimated that in November, 1969 payments of supplementary benefit in respect of the principal groups of unsupported women below pension age were running at the rate of about £75m, a year in England and Wales for 217,000 women and about £8m, a year in Scotland for 25,000 women, divided as follows:—
England and Wales Scotland Separated wives with children 85,000 10,000 Divorcees with children 28,000 3,000 Unmarried mothers 43,000 5,000 Widows with widow's benefit 57,000 7,000 Widows without widow's benefit 4,000 * 217,000 25,000 * Number insignificant. The division into categories between England and Wales and Scotland, apart from that for widows with widow's benefit, is only a broad estimate since detailed statistics are not available.