§ 8. Mr. Teelingasked the Minister of National Insurance if he will reconsider the case of Mrs. Mongor, 46, Bonchurch Road, Brighton, who has been refused an increased pension as she is a married woman, although her husband has been an inmate of a mental hospital for 35 years and she has had to take his place in bringing up the family.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsMrs. Mongor's non-contributory old age pension was increased in October last from 10s. a week to 16s. a week, the maximum rate payable to a married woman. Mrs. Mongor appealed to the East Brighton Pensions Sub-Committee on the ground that she should be treated as if she were a single woman or a widow, but the committee decided that80W she was not entitled to pension at a rate higher than 16s. per week. Mrs. Mongor exercised her right of appeal to me as the central pension authority. I had no option, however, on the facts but to uphold the Sub-Committee's decision. This decision is final and I have no power to override or relax the provisions of the Act. As I have already informed the hon. Member, Mrs. Mongor has been advised that she may apply for a supplementary pension, if in need.