§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to provide immediate assistance to childless widows under 50 years of age who will not benefit from his proposals on widows' pensions.
§ Mr. O'MalleySpecial arrangements under the present national insurance scheme already ensure that when a widow does not qualify for widow's pension
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Initial short-term allowances issued to fit, single unskilled men under the age of 45 Allowances curtailed on review after three months (fit men and women under the age of 45 other than men in column (2)) Allowances Extended informally (a)* Appeals to Tribunal Period ending Decision confirmed Decision reversed (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 1968 19th November … 8,950 605 223 103 10 17th December … 6,774 527 193 103 16 1969 21st January … 8,609 769 301 129 18 18th February … 7,822 1,734 251 109 20 18th March … 7,395 631 226 101 23 22nd April … 7,619 729 254 145 10 20th May … 5,816 507 150 64 5 17th June … 4,902 282 116 72 12 22nd July … 6,819 469 91 81 11 19th August … 6,448 393 89 43 5 23rd September … 6,648 283 105 85 18 21st October … 5,766 368 102 50 9 (a)* Where claimants show good reasons why they have not found work. following widow's allowance or widowed mother's allowance she is covered immediately for sickness and unemployment benefits should she then be unable to work or have difficulty in obtaining work. These benefits are at the same rate as the standard rate national insurance widow's benefit. Help is of course also available from the supplementary benefits scheme. Legislation is of course about to be introduced on the Government's proposals for a new scheme and most childless widows under 50 will benefit when these proposals, including the scaled-down widow's pension, are implemented.