§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows over 50 in the last convenient period have been refused widows' pensions on the grounds that they have not been married three years.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is estimated that just under 300 widows a year fail to receive a succeeding benefit to widows' allowance because of failure to satisfy the three years' marriage rule.
§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows and widowed mothers receive less than the standard pension because of 87W contribution deficiencies by their deceased husbands.
§ Mr. EnnalsAt the end of 1967, some 16,200 widows were in receipt of a reduced rate of National Insurance widows pension because the yearly average of contributions paid by or credited to the husband was less than 50. The corresponding figures for widows receiving a reduced rate retirement pension on the husband's insurance and a reduced personal rate of widowed mother's allowance were about 24,000 and about 15,600, respectively. Payments for children of widowed mothers are not reduced on account of a contribution deficiency.
§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to taking steps to allow the children of widows to keep their allowances on the remarriage of their mothers.
§ Mr. EnnalsThis suggestion is amongst those we have been considering in connection with our proposals for a new earnings-related scheme. It is still open to public discussion.