§ Sir F. Medlicottasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to many officers' widows through their inability to obtain the rent allowance for widows, especially in the case of sub-lieutenants, subalterns, flying officers and pilot officers; and if he will extend this allowance to such officers' widows, subject, if necessary, to consultation in each case with his Department's welfare service.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhile I sympathise with the point which my hon. Friend has raised, I do not think it is possible to consider this matter in isolation from the total pensions and allowances received by these and other war widows. As my hon. Friend knows, the standard rate of pension for all war widows and the allowances for their children were increased substantially last year.
§ Sir F. Medlicottasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship caused to practically all Service widows of the 1914–18 war, who are excluded from receiving a rent grant; and if he will revise the regulations so as to include such widows.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterSince 1943 widows of other ranks of both the 1914 and 1939 wars whose household includes a child have been eligible for consideration for a rent allowance, and I would not feel justified at this stage in extending this provision to widows without children.
I share my hon. Friend's concern that elderly widows, particularly those living 148W alone, should be helped in every way possible. Arrangements are already in hand to visit war widows of 70 years of age and over, subject to their wishes, to see what action can be taken for their welfare.