Pensions (Hansard, 21 March 1974)

§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of pre-1972 Act pensioners whose widows are eligible for Civil Service widows' pensions at one-third of their husbands pensions, in the event of their husbands' prior death.

§ Mr. Robert Sheldon
The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the cost of increasing all pre-1972 Act widows' pensions to one-half of their husbands' Civil Service pension in the event of the latter's prior death.

§ Mr. Sheldon
The information required for a meaningful estimate is not 153W readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of Civil Service and public service pensioners who have made allocation of part pension under the Superannuation Acts of 1935 and 1972, respectively, Option A and Option B; and what is his estimate of the cost of restoring the part of pension allocated in the event of the wife's prior death.

§ Mr. Robert Sheldon
Information to answer the first part of this Question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Full information to estimate the cost requested in the second part would be impossible to obtain.

§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine
asked the Minister for the Civil Service if, in respect of Civil Service pensions, he will consider continuing the deceased husband's pension in full to the widow for (a) six months, and (b) one year after the death of her husband; and what effect this would have on the subsequent pension if it were reduced to compensate for this early payment.

§ Mr. Robert Sheldon
No. The present arrangements for continuing a deceased husband's pension in full to the widow for three months was the result of the report, published in February 1972, of the Civil Service Joint Superannuation Committee. To continue the full rate of pension for (a) six months or (b) 12 months would at a very rough estimate require a reduction of (a) 3 per cent. or (b) 10 per cent. in the amount of the subsequent pension.