§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the provisions under which a wife who has paid National Health Service contribu 28W tions in her own right is denied particular advantages if her husband, who has also paid contributions, predeceases her; and whether he will take steps to end this situation.
§ Mr. DeanA fundamental principle of the National Insurance scheme is that benefit shall not be duplicated. There are a number of provisions to this end, but the one which I think concerns my hon. Friend is Section 33(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, which provides that a woman shall not be entitled to more than one retirement pension for the same period. We have no proposals for changing this.