§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to allow widows who married officers after they had retired from the service to benefit from the Widows and Orphans Pensions Schemes; and if he will make a statement. [125213]
§ Mr. AlexanderBefore April 1978, the Civil Service pension scheme, in common with other public service schemes, paid pensions only to widows who had been married to officers at the time they left service. For service from 6 April 1978, in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, pensions have been paid regardless of when the marriage took place.