§ 57. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the work and recommendations of the National Insurance Advisory Committee which he appointed to review the provisions governing widows' benefits.
§ 65. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has yet received the Report from his National Advisory Committee on the subject of widows' pensions.
§ 67. Mr. Woodasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a further statement about the position of widows receiving a weekly pension of 10s.
§ 68. Mr. McKibbinasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether the National Insurance Advisory Committee has completed its review of the position of the 10s. widows' pension; and when he will be in a position to announce his decision in regard to Government policy.
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§ 70. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has now considered the recommendations of his Advisory Committee on widows' and other pensions, in particular the problems of those widows in receipt of only 10s. weekly; and if he will make a statement.
73 and 74. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) what he estimates that it would cost to brings the 10s. per week widow's pension up to the standard rate of pension of widows;
(2) whether he will make a further statement on the consideration he has been giving to the applications made to him to increase the 10s. per week widow's pension; and the number of widows who are at present receiving the 10s. per week pension.
§ 79. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is now prepared, in view of the increase in the cost of living, to increase the amount of pensions to widows who only receive 10s. per week.
§ Mr. PeakeI cannot add to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Middlesbrough, West (Mr. Simon) and the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke) on 31st October.
At present about 150,000 widows not entitled to the widowhood benefits of the National Insurance Scheme are receiving the 10s. widows' pension of the old scheme. The cost of increasing these pensions to 40s. would be nearly £12 million a year.