§ 25. Mr. H. Hyndasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows are now drawing pensions at the 10s. rate; and what it would cost to put them on the same basis as other widows.
§ Mrs. ThatcherAbout 90,000 widows are receiving the 10s. widow's pension as a reserved right under the old scheme. The circumstances of age or family under which all these ladies were widowed are those under which widows whose rights depend on the National Insurance scheme receive no pension at all. To put these widows on the same basis as other widows identically circumstanced would consequently result in a saving of the whole cost of their pensions. This amounts to about £ 3 million.