§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer 5 November,Official Report, column 53, regarding equalisation, of female contributor survivor benefits within the teachers superannuation scheme, if equal benefits are available on total service, including periods prior to 1988, without extra charge, for all teachers who have an equal retirement age.
§ Mr. FallonWidows' pensions are payable in respect of service from 1 April 1972. Service prior to that date counts only if the individual teacher elected to cover the period at full cost. Widowers' pensions are payable in respect of service from 6 April 1988. Individual female teachers had the option to cover at reduced cost service in the period 1 April 1972 to 5 April 1988, and at full cost any service before 1 April 1972.