War Widows' Pensions (Hansard, 1 May 1975)

§ Mr. Scott
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total pension entitlement of the widow of a corporal killed in the 1939–45 war and during the course of the current troubles in Northern Ireland, respectively.

§ Mr. Alec Jones
The pension payable to the widow of a corporal killed in the 1939–45 war is £15.05 per week. The widow of a corporal killed in Northern Ireland now is also entitled to a pension of £1,071 a year from the Ministry of Defence Forces Family Pension Scheme. Separate allowances for children are paid under both schemes.

§ Mr. Scott
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total pension entitlement of the widow of a sergeant, or equivalent rank, killed in the 1939–45 war which is payable in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America, Germany and Holland, respectively.

§ Mr. Alec Jones
The basis for calculating war widows' pensions differs so markedly between these countries that valid comparison is not possible. In some countries the war widows' pension bears a relationship to the husband's earning capacity, in some the date of death is relevant, and in others a supplement can be provided from general social security schemes.

§ Mr. Scott
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many war

Rate of Supplement (£ a week)

0.01 to 0.50 0.51 to 1.00 1.01 to 1.50 1.51 to 2.00 2.01 to 2.50 2.51 to 3.00 3.01 to 3.50 3.51 to 4.00 4.01 to 4.50

Number of Windows awards 250 260 360 390 450 530 760 870 1,020

Rate of Supplement (£ a week)

4.51 to 5.00 5.01 to 5.50 5.51 to 6.00 6.01 to 6.50 6.51 to 7.00 7.01 to 7.50 7.51 to 8.00 8.01 to 8.47

Number of Windows awards 1,070 1,470 1,260 1,370 5,280 2,110 1,480 6,870

I regret that figures analysed by reference to the numbers of children are not available, but it is estimated that 6,900 of the 25,800 widows in the above table had children aged 19 or under.
212W
widows are presently in receipt of war widows' pensions.

§ Mr. Alec Jones
On 31st January 1975, the most recent date for which information is available, the number was 92,480.

	Rate of Supplement (£ a week)
	0.01 to 0.50	0.51 to 1.00	1.01 to 1.50	1.51 to 2.00	2.01 to 2.50	2.51 to 3.00	3.01 to 3.50	3.51 to 4.00	4.01 to 4.50
Number of Windows awards	250	260	360	390	450	530	760	870	1,020

	Rate of Supplement (£ a week)
	4.51 to 5.00	5.01 to 5.50	5.51 to 6.00	6.01 to 6.50	6.51 to 7.00	7.01 to 7.50	7.51 to 8.00	8.01 to 8.47
Number of Windows awards	1,070	1,470	1,260	1,370	5,280	2,110	1,480	6,870