§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the amount of national insurance contributions paid by the late spouse will affect the level of the allowance that widows and widowers can receive under the proposed Bereavement Benefits Scheme. [86619]
§ Mr. TimmsAs with the current Widow's Benefit, entitlement to the proposed Bereavement benefits will depend on satisfaction of the contribution conditions by the late spouse. Reduced amounts can be paid if the conditions are not fully met and failure to meet the conditions can mean no benefits are paid. The contributions of married women who die before reaching pension age will count for the first time under our proposals and in the first year some 30,000 widowers will be able to claim benefit of £45 to £50 a week.