HC Deb 17 February 1972 vol 831 cc142-3W
Mrs. Fenner

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many widows of Servicemen do not, because of the qualifying date of 1958, receive a pension.

Mr. Kirk

The qualifying date for entitlement under the 1952 Forces Family Pension Scheme was 1st September, 1950, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including the completion of specified lengths of service. These conditions were eased in 1958.

We have no means of assessing the number of widows who were not awarded pensions because their husbands did not satisfy those conditions in force before 4th November, 1958.