§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake an investigation into the effects of his recent social security changes on war widows.
§ Mr. PortilloWar widows' pensions were not affected by the recent changes: they were uprated in line with the retail prices index on 11 April in the normal way. In general, war widows receiving social security benefits as well as war widows' pensions are affected in the same way as any other recipients, except that for income-related benefits the statutory disregard of war widows' pension has been increased by 25 per cent. to £5. In addition, war widows who satisfy the conditions can receive the new £1,000 lump sum paid to national insurance widows as well as the standard or lower rate of war widows pension. Local authorities have retained the discretion to disregard war widows' pensions in calculating entitlement to housing benefit.