§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows are at present receiving (a) widow's allowance payable for the first 26 weeks of widowhood, (b) widow's supplementary allowance payable for the first 26 weeks of widowhood and what is the average payment of this allowance, (c) widowed mother's allowance, (d) widow's reduced rate pension, payable to widows aged between 40 and 50 years, (e) widow's full rate pension, and (f) retirement pension, respectively.
§ Sir K. JosephThe information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest figures available are as follows:
- (a) 38,000 at the end of 1971;
- (b) 21,000 at the end of 1971, with an average weekly payment of £5.10;
- (c) 133,000 currently;
- (d) 100,000 currently;
- (e) 320,000 currently; and
- (f) 2,100,000 currently.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows 343W have been disqualified from receiving a widow's benefit or receive a reduced one because of their husband's inadequate contribution record.
§ Mr. DeanThe personal element of widow's benefit is payable according to the late husband's yearly average of contributions, 50 being required for full benefit. In November 1972, about 35,500 widows were receiving reduced rates of personal benefit based on yearly averages of between 13 and 49. About 15,500 of these were widowed mothers who were however getting full increases for their dependent children. It is not known how many claims are disallowed because the yearly average was less than 13, but the figure is unlikely to be substantial.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a research project into the need for a scheme whereby widows, who wish to do so, may pay an increased national insurance stamp in order to receive sickness and unemployment benefit.
§ Sir K. JosephNo. I do not think that there is a case for such a project.