§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the reason for the differences in the pensions payable to the spouses of male and female teachers; and if he will introduce provisions to ensure that the surviving husbands of female teachers are treated no less favourably than the surviving wives of male teachers.
§ Dr. BoysonThe teachers' superannuation scheme already makes provision for widowers' pension on condition that the teacher, during her service, has nominated her husband as being wholly or mainly dependent on her for support. The introduction of automatic widowers' pensions on the same basis as widows' pensions in the TSS would require an increase in the basic contributions payable by both men and women. This problem is the subject of discussion with the teacher; in the teachers' superannuation working party, the appropriate forum for such matters.
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