HC Deb 08 July 1985 vol 82 cc363-4W
Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of teachers currently receiving family income supplement.

Mr. Whitney

I regret that this information is not available. Teachers are included for family income supplement statistical purposes in a general group which

many people would be affected by (a) the abolition of the widowed mothers' allowance (personal) and (b) the raising from 40 to 45 years of the qualifying age for the lowest rate of widow's pension, as proposed in paragraph 5.52 and 5.53 of volume II of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9518).

Mr. Newton

The financial effects and numbers affected would build up over time because entitlements at the time of change would not be affected. For widows concerned thereafter the effects would continue until they reached age 60, and beyond in a few cases. The following tables give broad estimates of the number of widows who would be affected during the first full year after abolition of widowed mothers' allowance (personal) (WMA(P)) and raising of the qualifying age for the lowest rate of widow's pension, as proposed in the Green Paper.

Implementation of all the Green Paper proposals for widows' benefits would cost the national insurance fund about £28 million during the first full year and be broadly cost-free in the second year. Savings would build up gradually after then with an approximate saving of £50 million by the fifth full year. These figures assume November 1984 benefit rates and that the new lump sum would be set at £1,000.

covers administrative, social, professional and technical workers and a breakdown by individual occupation is not possible.