§ 47. Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to amend the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations so as to enable widows who undergo training under the Training Opportunities Scheme to draw the full appropriate grant under the scheme without losing their widow's allowance.
§ Mr. DeanWidow's allowance, which, as a personal benefit, is a resettlement benefit, payable during the first six months of widowhood at a higher rate than the normal national insurance personal benefit rate, is not affected by the receipt of a grant under the Training Opportunities Scheme. Other national insurance benefits are normally replaced by training allowances at higher rates. An exception is made for widows receiv-84W ing widowed mother's allowance, who can keep this benefit in full and receive a training allowance of £3.50 a week in addition. Arrangements to secure this were recently introduced and my right hon. Friend has no further change in mind.