§ Colonel Grettonasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to cases in which unmarried women have paid contributions for old age pension for a number of years, and have been notified that their contributions ceased in December, 1937; that, under the 1938 Old Age Pensions Act, persons participating in a pensions scheme of their employers are not eligible; and whether, in these circumstances, contributions paid by such persons prior to December, 1937, can be refunded?
§ Sir K. WoodMy right hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. The Contributory Pensions (Voluntary Contributors) Act, 1937, terminated the insurance of certain women on 2nd January, 1938, but the women affected were insured not for old age pensions but only for orphans' pensions. It was understood that this change accorded with the wishes of the persons concerned. The termination of the liability to pay contributions gives no ground for claiming a refund of the contributions which were properly paid before the change was made.