§ 11. Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women covered by Liverpool social security offices are receiving the pre-1973 rate for war widows' pensions.
§ Mr. NewtonUnder the war pensions scheme administered by my Department, the basic pension paid to a war widow is the same regardless of when she was widowed. There are, however, extra payments to older widows, which will be further improved in real terms next April. It is estimated that about 2,000 war widows live in the Liverpool area.
§ 21. Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received about war widows' pensions.
§ 27. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received recently concerning the payment of pensions and other benefits to war widows.
§ Mr. ScottWe have received a number of representations, mainly about the position of war widows who do not receive a pension under the armed forces pension scheme administered by the Ministry of Defence.
§ 47. Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Security what provision his Department makes for the support of war widows.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe standard war widows pension is £56.65 a week. In addition age allowances of £6.10 at 65, £12.20 at 70 and £13.50 at 80 are paid. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced, these amounts will be increased next April to £60.95, £7, £13.50 and £20 respectively. All war pensions and allowances are tax free. A widow receiving a war widows' pension may also receive any national insurance benefit earned by her own contributions. When claiming income-related benefits £5 of a war widows pension is disregarded. This statutory disregard will be doubled to £10 from next April.