§ Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans she has for equating the pensions of war widows of Service men killed in action to pensions awarded to the widows of Service men killed recently.
§ Mr. Alec JonesNone: there are two separate schemes involved which cannot be assimilated. War widows' pensions are paid under the War Pensions Scheme administered by my Department where death occurs as a result of service in the Armed Forces. Where a regular Service man is killed in service after 31st March 1973 his widow's entitlement falls to be decided under the provisions of the Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Pension Scheme. This is a modern occupational pension scheme which is quite distinct in concept from my Department's war pension scheme.