§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on his future plans for rent allowances for war widows; [8660]
(2) how many war widows currently receive rent allowances. [8661]
§ Mr. HealdThe abolition of war widow's rent allowance for future claims has been proposed in a package of simplification measures. On 26 November 1996 a letter giving full details of the proposals was sent to all members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions who have until 17 January 1997 to respond. No decision will be taken on this proposal, or any other, until the views of the committee have been fully considered. Existing recipients of rent allowance will be unaffected by the proposal. At the end of September 1996, 1,060 war widows were receiving the allowance.