§ Mr.Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now seek to amend the Industrial Injuries Act 1948, with a view to increasing the 55p per week payments to widows of pneumoconiosis sufferers; and if he wil; make a statement.
§ Mr.NewtonWe have no plans to reverse the consistent policy of all Governments over the last 17 years by increasing the 55p preference for industrial widows. The White Paper "Reform of the Industrial Injuries Scheme" (Cmnd. 8402) proposed that the preference should be abolished in due course.