§ Captain W. BENNasked the Minister of Health whether arrangements can be made in the case of widows claiming pensions under the new Act for the investigating officer to collect from the Employment Exchanges the necessary information as to the insurable status of the deceased husband instead of laying this duty upon the widow herself?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. Applicants for widows' pensions are not required to obtain from Employment Exchanges information as to the insurable status of the deceased husbands.
§ Captain BENNasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the possibility of extension of the provisions of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act so as to include at once in benefit widows with invalid children over the age of 14?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. The proposal would affect existing widows only, and would increase materially the charge falling on the Exchequer, which already bears the entire cost of the' provision made for these widows. The hon. and gallant Member is, of course, aware that the widows of men who die after the commencement of the Act will be entitled to pension even if there are no children.