§ Mr. McMahonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that the widows of doctors receive a pension while widowers do not, and both male and female doctors pay the same superannuation contributions, if he will take steps to ensure that equal pension rights are made available to all in the medical profession.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinLike other occupational pension schemes in the public sector, the NHS superannuation scheme is based on the concept of providing retirement benefits for scheme members themselves, and, in addition, survivor benefits for dependants of scheme members who die in service or after retirement. In the past, it has been customary in public service schemes to treat widows but not widowers as dependants irrespective of their financial or other dependence on the scheme member. The Department, with representatives of the NHS staff side, is currently conducting a general review of dependants' and widowers' benefits provided under the NHS scheme, and any decision about changes in these must await the conclusion of this review.