§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate her Department has made of the numbers of widowers who would be entitled to a widow's pension if the current scheme for women were to be extended to men; what estimate she has made of the numbers of children of widowers who would benefit from equal treatment being extended to their fathers; and if she will make a statement. [48621]
§ Mr. DenhamThe number of widowers who would be entitled to a Widow's Pension or Widowed Mother's Allowance if the current scheme for women were extended to men is estimated to be up to 100,000.
It is estimated that up to 30,000 children would be covered by the extension of equal treatment to their fathers.
Notes:
- 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
- 2. Figures should be treated with caution due to weaknesses in the available data.
- 3. Due to lack of data, the number of children in families where the parent is a widowed father is assumed to be the same as the number of children in families where the parent is a widowed mother.
- 4. Widow's pension has been interpreted to mean those widowers entitled to either Widow's Pension or Widowed Mother's Allowance.
Source:Government Actuary Department (pre-1991 data).