War Widows Pensions (Hansard, 8 November 1983)

§ Mr. Weetch
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reinstate the war widows pension for those who subsequently remarry but whose marriage ends in divorce.

§ Mr. Newton
It would be inequitable to restore the war widows pension in such circumstances.

§ Mr. Weetch
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will place all war widows pensions of those whose husbands were killed on active service on an equivalent footing with those widowed as a result of service in Northern Ireland.
51W

§ Mr. Newton
The same rates of war widows' pension apply regardless of the conflict in which the service man was killed.

§ Mr. Weetch
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many war widows there are; and what is the current cost of their pensions.

§ Mr. Newton
The number of war widows in receipt of war widows' pension at 30 June 1982 was 70,250 and the total cost of war widows' pensions for the financial year 1982–83 was £174,090,000.

Live Births Occurring in England and Wales by Age of Mother

1969–1982

Year of occurrence Age of mother (numbers) Births per 1,000^*

11 12 13 14 15 11 12 13 14 15

1969 3 11 32 204 1,236 0.01 0.03 0.10 0.65 3.84

1970 3 9 24 217 1,166 0.01 0.03 0.07 0.68 3.67

1971 1 4 32 229 1,248 — 0.01 0.09 0.68 3.82

1972 1 4 27 241 1,317 — 0.01 0.08 0.69 3.90

1973 1 7 38 271 1,361 — 0.02 0.11 0.76 3.90

1974 0 6 23 258 1,282 — 0.02 0.06 0.72 3.61

1975 1 3 35 232 1,259 — 0.01 0.09 0.62 3.51

1976 1 3 34 215 1,173 — 0.01 0.09 0.56 3.14

1977 0 3 22 208 1,074 — 0.01 0.06 0.53 2.79

1978 2 1 22 194 1,164 0.01 — 0.06 0.48 2.97

1979 2 2 26 208 1,138 0.01 0.01 0.07 0.52 2.84

1980 9 8 18 190 1,056 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.48 2.63

1981†‡ 10 0 20 190 960 — — 0.05 0.48 2.40

1982‡ 0 11 14 192 952 — 0.03 0.04 0.50 2.42

Notes:
^* Rates per 1,000 have not been calculated where there is only one recorded birth in the age group.
† 1981 figures are estimates based upon a 10 per cent. sample of births; small numbers are therefore subject to particular uncertainty.
‡ Birth rates for 1981 and 1982 are based upon a new series of population estimates not strictly comparable with those for 1969–80.

Live Births Occurring in England and Wales by Age of Mother
1969–1982
Year of occurrence	Age of mother (numbers)	Births per 1,000^*
	11	12	13	14	15	11	12	13	14	15
1969	3	11	32	204	1,236	0.01	0.03	0.10	0.65	3.84
1970	3	9	24	217	1,166	0.01	0.03	0.07	0.68	3.67
1971	1	4	32	229	1,248	—	0.01	0.09	0.68	3.82
1972	1	4	27	241	1,317	—	0.01	0.08	0.69	3.90
1973	1	7	38	271	1,361	—	0.02	0.11	0.76	3.90
1974	0	6	23	258	1,282	—	0.02	0.06	0.72	3.61
1975	1	3	35	232	1,259	—	0.01	0.09	0.62	3.51
1976	1	3	34	215	1,173	—	0.01	0.09	0.56	3.14
1977	0	3	22	208	1,074	—	0.01	0.06	0.53	2.79
1978	2	1	22	194	1,164	0.01	—	0.06	0.48	2.97
1979	2	2	26	208	1,138	0.01	0.01	0.07	0.52	2.84
1980	9	8	18	190	1,056	0.02	0.02	0.05	0.48	2.63
1981†‡	10	0	20	190	960	—	—	0.05	0.48	2.40
1982‡	0	11	14	192	952	—	0.03	0.04	0.50	2.42