§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to (a) a private soldier with one year's service, invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in the 1939–45 war, (b) a private soldier with one year's service invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in Northern Ireland during the period November 1969 to 31 March 1973, (c) a private soldier with one year's service invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service after 31 March 1973, (d) a widow of a private soldier killed in service or who dies of disablement attributable to the 1939–45 war, (e) the widow of a private soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service in Northern Ireland between November 1969 and 31 March 1973 and (f) the widow of a private soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service after 31 March 1973.
§ Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to a private soldier with one years' service invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in Northern Ireland during the period November 1969 to 31 March 1973;
58W(2) what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to a private soldier with one year's service invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in Northern Ireland after 31 March 1973;
(3) What is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to the widow of a private soldier killed in service or who dies of disablement attributable to the 1939–45 war;
(4) what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to the widow of a private soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service in Northern Ireland after 31 March 1973;
(5) what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to the widow of a private soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service in Northern Ireland between November 1969 and 31 March 1973;
(6) what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to a private soldier with one year's service, invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in the 1939–45 war.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the overall compensation paid through the war pensions scheme and the Ministry of Defence arrangements to (a) a private soldier with one year's service, invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service in the 1939–45 war, (b) a private soldier with one year's service invalided with a 60 per cent, attributable disablement arising from service in Northern Ireland during the period November 1969 to 31 March 1973, (c) a private soldier with one year's service invalided with a 60 per cent. attributable disablement arising from service after 31 March 1973, (d) the widow of a private soldier killed in service or who dies of disablement attributable to the 1939–45 war, (e) the widow of a private soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service in Northern Ireland between November 1969 and 31 Mara 1973 and (f) the widow of a private 59W soldier killed or who dies of disablement attributable to service after 31 March 1973.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–70]: The following are the current amounts payable under the Ministry of Defence arrangements and our war pensions scheme. Additional allowances are sometimes payable under both schemes.
MOD DHSS (a) Nil £22.80 per week (b) Ex-gratia pension of (when awarded in 1973: £300 per annum) £780 per annum £22.80 per week (c) Pension of £907 per annum £22.80 per week Gratuity of £1,345 (d) Nil £30.20 per week (e) Ex-gratia pension of (when awarded in 1973: £300 per annum) £780 per annum £30.20 per week Gratuity of £135 (f) Full pay for 91 days Grant of £4,482 Pension of £1,714 per annum £30.20 per week Gratuity of £1,121
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of surviving war widows of the 1914–18 war; what is their average age; and, in view of the present level of war widows' preference of £6.90 a week, what proposals he has to improve their position.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of surviving war widows of the 1914–18 war; what is their average age; and, in view of the present level of war widow's preference of £6.90 a week, what proposals he has to improve their position.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–70]: As at 28 September 1979, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of pensions in payment to war widows of the 1914–18 war was 16,350; the average age of these widows is about 84. With age allowances, they receive £36.10 a week at age 70, which represents a preference of £12.80 a week. In the present economic 60W circumstances we have no plans for improvements additional to the annual review which recently gave these elderly war widows an additional £6 a week. They also have the added advantage that we have recently made all war widows' pensions and allowances entirely tax-free.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present annual cost of the age allowance payable at age 65 years to those war pensioners assessed for disablement at 40 per cent. or more.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present annual cost of the age allowance payable at age 65 years to those war pensioners assessed for disablement at 40 per cent. or more.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–70]: £5.4 million.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the unique circumstances and sacrifice of limbless and severely disabled veterans of the 1914–18 War, and the special debt owed to them by the nation, he will now substantially increase the age allowance payable to war pensioners at age 65 years assessed at 40 per cent. or more disablement.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the unique circumstances and sacrifice of limbless and severely disabled veterans of the 1914–18 War, and the special debt owed to them by the nation, he will now substantially increase the age allowance payable to war pensioners at age 65 years assessed at 40 per cent., or more disablement.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–70]: We fully recognise all war pensioners as a special category. Age allowances are payable at age 65 to those with assessments of at least 40 per cent. For those with an assessment of 100 per cent., an age allowance of £8.20 a week is payable in addition to a disablement pension of £38 a week. Other allowances may be payable, 61W and all pensions and allowances are tax-free.
All rates are reviewed annually and were recently substantially increased. In the present economic circumstances, we have no plans for increases outside the normal review.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled ex-Service men and women and widows are receiving ex gratia payments in respect of disablement or widowhood attributable to service in Northern Ireland during the period November 1969 to 31 March 1973; and what is the annual value of these ex gratia payments in individual cases.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled ex-Service men and women and widows are receiving ex gratia payments in respect of disablement or widowhood attributable to service in Northern Ireland during the period November 1969 to 31 March 1973; and what is the annual value of these ex gratia payments in individual cases.
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–70]: Under arrangements operated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, 22 disabled ex-Service men are receiving ex gratia pensions currently worth between £500 and £1,000 a year according to the degree of disablement. Similar ex gratia pensions at a current rate of about £780 a year are also being paid to 50 widows of Regular Service men, who would also have received a small initial gratuity and may be receiving increases in respect of children.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current weekly difference in cash terms of the standard rate of war widows' pension and the national insurance widows' pension which might otherwise be payable in an individual case.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current weekly difference in cash terms of the standard rate of war widows' pension and the national insurance widows' pension which might otherwise be payable in an individual case.
62W
§ Mr. Prentice[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1979, c. 469–707]: The standard rate war widows' pension is £6.90 a week higher than that payable to a national insurance widow. The differential increases to £9.85 at age 65 and to £12.80 at age 70. War widows also have the added advantage that we recently made their pensions and allowances entirely tax-free.