§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his refusal to amend the overlapping benefits rule, he will now reconsider his decision to withdraw the option of reduced contributions for women widowed in future years.
§ Mr. OrmeNo. The abolition of the option to pay reduced-rate contributions is a basic feature of the Government's 661W new pensions scheme, under which men and women earn benefits in their own right.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his refusal to amend the overlapping benefits rule to allow working widows the same entitlement to industrial injuries benefit as married women, he will introduce a level of national insurance contributions at a lower level for such widows.
§ Mr. OrmeNo. One of the objectives of the new pensions scheme is that women should earn benefits in their own right. The fact that maintenance benefits are also available in respect of a husband's contributions—as an alternative to the maintenance benefits which a widow can receive as a consequence of her own employment and contributions—is not a reason for introducing special rates of contributions for widows.