§ Lord Balnielasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement about the Government's undertaking to relax the earnings rule for pensioners and widowed mothers.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes. In accordance with Section 77 of the National 125W Insurance Act, 1946, I have submitted to the National Insurance Advisory Committee draft regulations which would increase the amounts which a pensioner can earn in any week without reduction of pension. The regulations would raise these amounts from £3 to £3 10s. in the case of widow pensioners and of those retirement pensioners to whom the rule applies, and from £4 to £5 in the case of widowed mothers. The draft regulations will be available tomorrow.