§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what effect the removal of widow's benefit will have on the widow's eligibility for the basic state pension. [99075]
§ Mr. RookerWe have ensured that, when the new Bereavement Benefits scheme is introduced, a widow on reaching pension age, who has not remarried, will receive Retirement Pension as if she had been receiving Widow's Pension up to pension age under the current scheme. This provision will, of course, like the Bereavement Benefits themselves be available equally to widows and widowers.