§ Sir Ian GilmourTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing(a) child benefit and (b) child dependency additions payable with invalidity benefit and widowed mother's allowance in April 1979 and 1989 (i)at cash prices, (ii)at April 1979 prices and (iii)at April 1989 prices.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe figures are as follows:
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security upon which date pensions paid by his Department to war widows from the First World War were increased to the level of the pensions which were paid to war widows from the Second World War; on what grounds it was decided that the increase did not set a precedent for other groups of pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardUntil 1946 the rate of the pension paid to widows from the first world war was higher than the rate paid to those from the second. In February 1946, following a general review of war pensions, it was decided that the standard rate of all war widows pensions administered by the Department should be the same and this has been the situation since.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war widows were receiving war widows' pension in October 1975; and how many are receiving it currently.
585W
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardOn 30 September 1975, 91,000 war widows were receiving a war widow's pension from this Department. On 30 September this year, the number was 56,176.