§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that recipients of widows' allowance have been paid their correct entitlement to graduated benefit since the overlapping benefit regulations were changed in 1975.
§ Dr. BoysonGraduated benefit was not payable with widows' allowance prior to April 1975 when the overlapping benefits regulations were changed to permit the payment to certain widows' over the age of 60 on top of their entitlement to widows' allowance. Unfortunately there was a period between April 1975 and October 1977, when some recipients of widows' allowance did not receive their full entitlement. It is estimated that the average underpayment was about £6. These cases are being individually identified and corrective action will be taken as quickly as possible.