§ Mr. E. BROWNasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of widows of insured persons in Scotland who have been refused pensions up to 30th June, 1929; and the estimated cost of including such widows within the Pensions Act?
Mr. W. ADAMSONThe number of claims for widows' pensions which were rejected up to 27th June, 1929, in Scotland was 8,406, of which, however, 5,969 were claims by the widows of men who died before 4th January, 1926, and accordingly had paid no contributions under the scheme. It is not possible to say how many of these claimants were the widows of insured men and, therefore, the material is not available for making the estimate which the hon. Member desires.
§ Mr. E. BROWNasked the Minister of Health the estimated number of widows in England and Wales on 30th June, 1929; and the number of such who were under 65 years of age?
§ Miss LAWRENCEThe information desired is not available. The number of women in England and Wales described as widows in the 1921 census was approximately 1,622,000 of whom about 918,000 were under age 65. It should, however, be noted that these figures include about 135,000 "War widows."
§ Mr. E. BROWNasked the Minister of Health how many widows between 65 and 70 years of age in England and Wales are in receipt of pensions under the 1925 Act?
§ Miss LAWRENCEI regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.