§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now consider paying pensions to women aged over 60 years who have qualified for a pension in their own right and have retired before their husbands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeIt is currently the position that women aged 60 and over who qualify for retirement pensions on their own contributions are entitled to their pensions on retirement, whether their husbands have retired or not. This has been the position ever since the national insurance scheme was introduced in 1948.