§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost to public funds of treating all widowers like widows and giving them the same cash benefits as widows of the same age and circumstances.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe cost to public funds would be of the order of £150 million at current rates of benefit, and net of savings in other benefits. This assumes that the proposed widower's pension would be based on the husband's contribution record where this is better than his wife's, and allows for the higher minimum pension age of men compared to women.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of widowers in England and Wales; and how this compares with the number of widows.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe Registrar-General estimates that at 30th June 1974 there were 670,000 widowers and 2,831,000 widows in England and Wales.