§ Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost to the Exchequer if the widow's pension were made tax free.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th January 1978], gave the following information:
About £65 million in 1977–78. This includes any national insurance retirement pension received by widows aged 60 to 64 in place of widow's pension. Widows of 65 years and over receive only retirement pension, and it has been assumed that this would remain taxable.