§ 38. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in view of the fact that childless widows are to receive pension recognition at the age of fifty, he will give consideration to the pension claim of spinsters at the age of fifty-five.
§ Mr. SteeleI must correct the assumption underlying this Question. A childless widow does not in general become entitled to a continuing pension under the new Scheme unless she is 50 or over when her husband dies and she has been married at least 10 years.
This claim was fully considered when the National Insurance Bill was before Parliament, and rejected. My right hon. Friend has since given it further close consideration but sees no reason to ask Parliament to make further provision for this class of insured person.