§ 27. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the provisions available to help widows who are bereaved before reaching the age of 50 years in order not only to consider the criteria of possible future employment as recommended in the Beveridge Report, but also the burdens of family responsibility which may be heavier on widows of this age than those over 50 years of age.
§ Mr. OrmeThe family responsibilities of a widow with dependent children are already recognised by the payment to her of a widowed mother's allowance, for which she can qualify regardless of her age. Age-related pensions exist for women without children who are widowed between the ages of 40 and 49 and are a recognition of the fact that they may have difficulty in re-establishing themselves in well-paid employment.