Mr. HinchcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of his total liability for war widow's pension from the changes brought in by the Pensions Act 1995 since 19 July 1995; and what has been the actual expenditure over that period. [183]
§ Mr. Heald[pursuant to his reply, 4 November 1996, Official Report, c. 384]: The information that I gave regarding the estimated cost of restoration of war widows pensions was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:
The estimated cost of restoration of war widows pensions under the Pensions Act 1995 to the end of September 1996 is £40 million.
Information on actual expenditure to date on such pensions is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.