HC Deb 20 July 1977 vol 935 c623W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take measures to change the present situation in which a woman who is older than her husband cannot draw a retirement pension until her husband is 65 years of age, —no matter how many years past the age of eligibility for retirement pension for women the woman herself may be; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if a woman currently aged 66 years, who has paid the full stamp all her working life, and married to a man of 60 years, is not eligible to draw her retirement pension until she is 71 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Orme

A married woman who satisfies the contribution conditions for a retirement pension on her own contributions, as she will have done if she has paid full-rate contributions throughout her working life, is entitled to a retirement pension at age 60, subject to her retirement from regular employment, irrespective of her husband's age. A married woman who does not saitsfy the contribution conditions, and whose title to a pension is dependent on her husband's contributions, can only qualify once he has become a pensioner.