§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women were widowed aged under 45 years in each of the last three years; what percentage of these received(a) the widowed mother's allowance and (b) widow's pension and in each case at what cost; and if she will make a statement. [41630]
§ Mr. DenhamInformation is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
The number of new widows under 45 years receiving Widowed Mother's Allowance and associated cost Year widowed Number Overall cost October 1994-September 1995 4,640 18 October 1995-September 1996 4,480 19 October 1996-September 1997 3,920 17 Notes:
1. The table is based on the Pension Strategy Computer System and only includes cases in Great Britain. The percentage figures are based on information from the Family Resources Survey 1995–96
2. Women widowed aged under 45 since 1988 are not entitled to a Widows Pension
3. Monetary amounts are rounded to the nearest £1 million and are in cash prices
4. Percentages are rounded to the nearest one per cent.
The percentage of all widows aged under 45 who received Widowed Mothers Allowance in 1994–95 was 62 per cent.
The percentage of all widows aged under 45 who received Widowed Mothers Allowance in 1995–96 was 65 per cent.