§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will backdate the pension arrangements for widowers of female members of the NHS pension scheme to align them with the pension arrangements of widows of male members of the scheme. [140271]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 24 November 2000]: There has been alignment of widow and widowers National Health Service pensions on service since April 1988. Female members were able to cover service before then at a subsidised cost, until June 1989. We currently have no plans to provide free cover for widowers pensions before 1988, because of the additional costs to the Scheme, estimated at £500 million.