§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any information about the number of widows who do not receive widows pension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonA widow whose entitlement to widowed mother's allowance ends before she is 40, or who is under 40 and childless on widowhood, or who fails to satisfy the
249Wcontribution conditions, is not entitled to any widow's pension. It is estimated that at mid-1982 there were about 30,000 widows under age 60 in the population who were not in receipt of any widow's benefit. Information on the number of widows over 60 not receiving any widow's pension is not available but the majority will be in receipt of retirement pension. I have no plans to alter the present qualifying conditions for widow's benefit.