§ Mr. Pinkasked the Minister of Social Security what would be the additional cost, at the proposed new rates, of giving the widow's pension to all widows who were in receipt of a widow's pension before remarriage were subsequently widowed again and not then eligible for the widow's pension because of the three year rule; and how many widows would be affected.
§ Miss HerbisonNone. A widow who had a National Insurance widow's pension before her second marriage is already able to draw a widow's pension on her second husband's insurance regardless of the duration of her second marriage.
§ Mr. Pinkasked the Minister of Social Security what would be the additional cost, at the proposed new rates, of giving all widows, widowed below the age of 50 years who have not re-married and who are not receiving the widowed 81W mother's allowance, the widow's pension on reaching the age of 50 years; and how many widows would be affected.
§ Miss HerbisonThe additional cost to the National Insurance Fund would be of the order of £15 million a year. About 85,000 widows between the age of 50 and 60 years would be affected, of whom about 55,000 are already receiving the widow's basic pension of 30s. a week.