§ 74. Mr. E. Taylorasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that a non-employed widow without children who receives 10s. a week under the pre-1948 National Contribution Scheme must now pay weekly National Insurance contributions leaving her with only 2s. 5d.; and if he will now consider paying a widow's pension to widows under 50 years of age.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWidows receiving the 10s. pension as a reserved right from the former contributory pensions scheme are liable to pay National Insurance contributions in the same way as widows in similar circumstances who receive no pension. On the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I think the selective basis for widow's pension introduced by the National Insurance Act 1946, under which of course women widowed under 50 do receive pension if they have young children, is sensible.