§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases in each of the last five years a widow within the period of 26 weeks of her entitlement to a widow's allowance, and, if qualifying, to an earnings-related addition to this, or a widowed mother allowance, has been disqualified after investigation by an investigating officer on the grounds that she is cohabiting with a man.
§ Mr. DeanI regret that no precise information is available, but the number is believed to be quite small. There will, however, be many cases of cohabitation by widows in which the question of disqualification does not arise because no claim to a widow's benefit is made.