HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 c105W
11. Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve the financial position of war pensioners and those widowed as a result of wartime action to coincide with the 50th anniversary of VE day. [20129]

Mr. Lilley

I recently announced that war widows pension would be restored to war widows who remarried but were subsequently widowed, divorced or legally separated.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war widows are currently in receipt of a war widow's pension; and how many he estimates would be in receipt of such a pension if they had not remarried. [20127]

Mr. Arbuthnot

At 31 March 1995, 48,405 widows were in receipt of a war widows's pension.

We estimate that a further 45,000 widows would still be in receipt of a war widow's pension had they not remarried.