Mr. HORE "BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the wife of a member of an approved society in a mental hospital receives disablement benefit at the rate of 10s. a week, but when the man attains the age of 65 no further benefit is payable from the approved society, and since under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act no pension is payable in respect of persons who are inmates of mental hospitals, and wives of these persons who have not attained the age of 65 are, therefore, left unprovided for, he will take steps to amend the law in this particular?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer is in the negative. I would point out that it has always been the position under the Old Age Pensions Acts that pension is not payable to a person detained in an asylum within the meaning of the Lunacy Acts. While one effect of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, has been to reduce the age at which the position indicated in the question arises from 70 to 65, the Act also provides an old age pension for the wife in right of her husband's insurance as soon as she reaches the age of 65.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the hardship felt under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, seeing that the wives of men who attained the age of 70 before pensions for persons between the age of 65 and 70 commenced on 2nd January, 1928, and who continued in insurance until they attained that age, are debarred from obtaining an old age pension until they reach the age of 70; and 1007W whether he will take steps so to amend the Law as to remove this grievance?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the hon. Member to my answer on 17th November last to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).