Mr. Adamsonasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the widow of a Territorial soldier is debarred from receiving a widow's pension under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Pensions Acts, in addition to the State pension provided, he will consider amending legislation to enable the widow to benefit by the contribution made by her husband during his civilian employment, in addition to being in receipt of the pension to which she is entitled as the widow of a Territorial?
§ Mr. BernaysThe existing arrangements are in accordance with the provisions of Section 24 of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, which are reproduced in Section 25 of the Consolidating Act of 1936. Any modification of these arrangements would raise issues of great complexity and difficulty in the whole field of the non-effective benefits of the Services. This and certain related questions are, however, under consideration.