§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in interpreting the overlapping benefits rule in relation to widows, he will ensure that widows are no less favourably treated than married women by acknowledging that the widow's pension has been paid for through the husband's contributions and should therefore be equated with the married woman's husband's income; and if he will now treat it in this way;
(2) if, in interpreting the overlapping benefits rule in relation to widows, he will make a distinction between contributory benefits received by virtue of the late husband's contributions and contributory benefits to which the woman should be entitled by virtue of her own contributions, in the light of the fact that these have been separately paid for.
§ Mr. OrmeThe overlapping benefit rules only apply where two or more benefits are payable from public funds for broadly the same purpose. They do not require any adjustment to be made in a married woman's personal benefit because her husband is earning, or in a widow's pension because she herself is at work. However, in view of the expense which duplication of benefits would involve, and of the fact that individuals' contributions cover less than one-third of the cost of national insurance, it would not be appropriate to amend the rules to ensure that a separate benefit is available for each set of contributions which has been paid.