HC Deb 20 March 1975 vol 888 cc510-1W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the net cost of increasing widows' pension and widowed mothers' allowance by £3.40 over and above the increase in April and abolishing the contribution test for all widows' benefits taking into account the extra income tax yields as well as the savings on supplementary benefit; and what would be the effect of this measure on the number of widows claiming supplementary benefit.

Mr. Alec Jones:

I cannot add to my replies to the hon. Member on 20th December 1974—[Vol. 883, c.729–30]—and to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 20th January 1975.—[Vol. 884, c.238.] A reliable estimate cannot be made of the effects of making widow's benefit noncontributory.