§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed capital payment of £1,000 to widows will be related to their age, to the duration of the marriage or to their late husband's national insurance contributions; and what assistance will be available for widowers whose working wives may have been essential bread winners.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)The lump sum payment for widows proposed in theGreen Paper Reform of Social Security (Cmnd. 4517) would be payable to widows who currently qualify for widow's allowance and would be subject to the same national insurance contribution condition. Widowers who were formerly dependent on their wives may qualify for assistance under the income support, housing benefit and family credit schemes. Those eligible for child benefit would continue to qualify automatically for one-parent benefit.