HC Deb 07 May 1956 vol 552 c76W
Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will make a statement about the allowances for war widows' children.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Yes. Amendments will be made to the Royal Warrants to provide that the allowance for each child of a war widow will be increased from 16s. 6d. to 21s. 6d. a week and by £13 to £63 10s. 0d. a year in the case of officers' children. There will be a corresponding increase in the payments for war orphans. In addition, the maximum rent allowance for widows of other ranks with children will be raised from 15s. to 20s. a week. The estimated cost of these improvements, which will have effect from 6th August, 1956, is about £820,000 in the first full year.