§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider reviewing the pension policy 185W whereby pensionable married women have to wait for their husbands to reach pensionable age before any pension at all can be drawn.
§ Mr. O'MalleyOnly a married woman who is relying on her husband's contributions for pension purposes has to wait until he retires. A married woman who qualifies for a pension on her own contributions can receive it at age 60, if she then retires, irrespective of her husband's age. The position of married women in social security is, however, being considered in connection with our long-term pensions proposals.