§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost to public funds of introducing means testing for widow's benefit, and extending the benefit to male claimants; if he will estimate the number of people who would lose benefit under such a system, indicating their average financial loss; and if he will make a statement. [56247]
§ Angela EagleThe information requested is not available. Estimates would depend on the form of means testing to be applied.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence is provided by his Department's Family Resources Survey on the earnings levels of those receiving widow's benefits. [55663]
§ Angela EagleThe Family Resources Survey (FRS) collects information on the earnings and other income of widows together with information on the income of other members of their households.
In 1996–97, the FRS sample included 140 widows who were in receipt of widows' benefits (widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension) and who also had earnings. The average weekly gross earnings of these widows at the time of interview was around £160 and the median gross earnings of this group was about £110 per week.