Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many widows in receipt of a war widow's pension are not eligible for an additional pension, either from the Department of Health and Social 400WA Security or from the Ministry of Defence.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLIt is regretted that reliable information is not available.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
The total number of war widows, and how many are in receipt of supplementary benefits.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLOn 27th December 1974, the total number of war widows was 92,868. The latest available estimate (November 1973) shows that approximately 9,000 war widows out of the total number at that time of 96,181 were in receipt of supplementary benefit.
Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
For a table showing the basic pension for war widows in the United Kingdom compared with all other EEC countries; and to state in which of these countries this pension is free of income tax or subject to tax relief.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThe basis for calculating war widows' pensions differs markedly between the EEC countries. The United Kingdom Scheme provides a flat rate pension (including an element related to the husband's rank) with additional allowances where the widow is elderly or has children. The combined payment is not means tested. Some EEC countries base war widow's pension on a percentage of the husband's disablement pension; some pay a higher or lower rate of pension depending on the date of the husband's death and some have regard to the widow's other income. There is thus no basis for a valid comparison. War widows' pensions are subject to tax in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. They are not subject to tax in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, or Luxembourg.
House adjourned at twelve minutes before nine o'clock.