§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many widows in the United Kingdom are 132W drawing no State pension of any sort; and what proposals she has in this matter.
§ Miss HerbisonIt is estimated that there are about 40,000 widows under age 60 not receiving pensions administered by my Department. I cannot say how many of these widows may be receiving pensions for which other Government Departments are responsible. Information about the number of older widows without pensions is not available because, after pension age, widows are not separately identified in the Ministry's records. As to the second part of the Question, I would remind the hon. Member that substantial improvements in the short-term widows allowance will come into operation later in the autumn. Other conditions for widows' benefits are being considered as part of our review of social security arrangements.