HC Deb 02 February 1987 vol 109 cc476-7W
Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 12 January, Official Report, columns 73–4, what estimate he has made of the costs to Her Majesty's Government in each of the next five years of the proposed increase of £1.41 per week to all police widows who are in receipt of the preserved rate pension in 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The cost of agreeing the claim is estimated to be £455,000 in the. first year. This will reduce with the death of claimants, but no precise estimate can be made. The figure takes no account of the cost of meeting comparable claims to other Departments.