§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his letter of 10 February to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough, what are the calculations upon which he based his statement in paragraph 3 that a married woman is generally dependent on her husband for support.
§ Mr. Hugh RossiThe Department's experience in awarding retirement pensions shows that a majority of married women do not qualify for a retirement pension at the full basic rate based on their own contributions. The assumption must be that either the women concerned were352W not in employment for a substantial part of their married life or, if they were, had exercised their option not to be liable for full national insurance contributions. Following are the figures:
Retirement pensions awarded in 13 months ending 30 June 1981— single and married women* on own contributions 134,000 married women entirely or in part on husband's contributions 165,000 Women receiving retirement pension on 30 June 1981— single and married women* on own contributions 1,788,000 married women entirely or in part on husband's contributions 1,857,000 widows entirely or in part on deceased husband's 2,190,000 contributions * Noteseparate figures for single and married women either claiming or receiving retirement pension are not available.