HC Deb 03 July 1951 vol 489 cc208-9W
85. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, under his regulations, a widow is eligible for pension if her husband died as a result of war service before the beginning of the recent war.

Mr. Isaacs

Yes, provided that the marriage took place before the husband sustained his war disability.

86. Brigadier Head

asked the Minister of Pensions if, in view of the new scale of National Assistance, he proposes to review the pensions and rent allowances for war widows to ensure that these are not less generous than the scales of national assistance.

Mr. Isaacs

No general comparison can be made between the war pensions provisions for widows and the scales of National Assistance. I do not feel that the new scale justifies either a review of the recent decision of the Government not to increase the basic rates of widows' war pensions or an increase of the rent allowances for war widows beyond that recently announced.

87. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Pensions the maximum pension and allowances payable to a war widow with two children between 11 and 16 years of age, and whose rent is 16s. a week; and the maximum amount such a widow could receive from the National Assistance Board under the proposed new scale of allowances.

Mr. Isaacs

The maximum rates of war widows' pensions vary according to the husband's rank. The minimum pension and allowances payable to a war widow whose rent is 16s. a week and who has two children between 11 and 16 years of age is 67s. a week. A family allowance of 5s. a week would be payable in addition, making a total of 72s. a week. Education allowances up to £80 a year for each child may also be payable. Under the proposed new scales of National Assistance such a widow could expect to have her income, including the family allowance, made up to 73s. a week.

88. Mr. Wood

asked the Minister of Pensions how the provisions for war widows over 40 years of age and without children whose husbands were killed on active service or who have since died of their wounds, compare with the proposed new rates of National Assistance and rent allowance.

Mr. Isaacs

Such widows would receive a war pension of 35s. a week with an addition where the husband's rank was above private. Under the proposed new scale of National Assistance a widow living alone could expect to have her income made up to 30s. a week, plus an allowance for rent. The war widow also may receive an allowance for rent from the National Assistance Board if she is paying more than 5s. a week rent.