asked the Minister for Social Welfare what rate of benefit was paid on 1st January, 1947, to (a) widows entitled to contributory pensions, and (b) such widows with two dependent children; what changes have been made since, and from what date in each case.
Written Answers. - Widows' and Orphans' Pensions.
The weekly rates of widows' contributory pension payable from 1st January, 1947, to (a) a widow with no qualified child (b) a widow with two qualified children are shown in the following tables:—
At 1st January, 1947.
|
Late husband engaged in non-agricultural employment 10/- 18/- |
Late husband engaged in agricultural employment 8/- 14/6 |
|
|
Widow alone |
10/- |
8/- |
|
Widow and two children |
18/- |
14/6 |
Food Vouchers were issued to pensioners resident in County Boroughs, Urban Areas and Scheduled Towns and a Supplementary Cash Allowance of ? a week was paid to pensioners in Rural Areas. A widow and two children received three food vouchers or three cash allowances. These additional benefits were replaced from 4th April, 1947, by weekly Cash Supplements at the following rates:—
|
Late husband non-agricultural |
Late husband agricultural |
|||
|
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
|
|
Widow alone |
5/- |
6/- |
4/ |
4/6 |
|
Widow and two children |
10/- |
9/- |
7/6 |
7/6 |
Cash Supplements ceased to be payable from 1st October, 1948.
From 1st October, 1948.
|
Late husband non-agricultural |
Late husband agricultural |
|||
|
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
|
|
Widow alone |
16/- |
16/- |
14/- |
12/6 |
|
Widow and two children |
28/- |
27/- |
26/- |
22/- |
From 4th July, 1952.
|
All areas |
|
|
Widow alone |
24/- |
|
Widow and two children |
38/- |
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the total amount paid in respect of non-contributory pensions for the following classes: (a) widow and (b) widow with two children, in each of the financial years 1947-48 to 1955-56, inclusive.
Total payments of widows' non-contributory pensions are not recorded under the separate headings specified in the Deputy's question. The following are particulars, based on the available data, of the estimated amount paid in each of the financial years 1947-48 to 1955-56, inclusive, to (a) widows with no qualified child and (b) widows with two qualified children:—
|
Widow alone |
Widow and two children |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
1947/48* |
238,500 |
24,800 |
|
1948/49* |
319,700 |
33,100 |
|
1949/50 |
641,200 |
71,000 |
|
1950/51 |
637,400 |
64,400 |
|
1951/52 |
639,300 |
61,800 |
|
1952/53 |
1,013,500 |
86,300 |
|
1953/54 |
1,185,900 |
96,000 |
|
1954/55 |
1,184,200 |
91,800 |
|
1955/56 |
1,324,100 |
101,100 |
*The cost of Cash Supplements which were paid to widow pensioners during the period 4th April, 1947 to 6th January, 1949, is not included in the above figures.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the full rate of widows' and orphans' non-contributory pensions for (a) a widow and (b) a widow with two children payable on 1st January, 1947; what changes have been made since, and from what date in each case.
The maximum weekly rates of widows' non-contributory pension payable from 1st January, 1947, to (a) a widow with no qualified child, (b) a widow with two qualified children, are shown in the following tables:—
At 1st January, 1947.
|
County Borough |
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
|
|
Widow alone |
7/6 |
6/- |
5/- |
|
Widow and two children |
12/6 |
9/6 |
8/- |
Food vouchers were issued to pensioners resident in County Boroughs, Urban Areas and Scheduled Towns and a Supplementary Cash Allowance of 1/6d. a week was paid to pensioners in Rural Areas. A widow and two children received three food vouchers or three cash allowances. These additional benefits were replaced from 4th April, 1947, by weekly Cash Supplements at the following rates:—
|
County Borough |
Urban Area |
Scheduled Town |
Rural Area |
|
|
Widow alone |
4/- |
4/- |
2/6d. |
3/- |
|
Widow and two children |
7/6d. |
7/6d. |
7/6d. |
4/6d. |
Cash Supplements ceased to be payable from 7th January, 1949.
From 7th January, 1949.
|
Urban Area |
Rural Area |
||
|
Widow alone |
14/- |
10/- |
|
|
Widow and two children |
26/- |
22/- |
|
|
From 4th July, 1952. |
|||
|
All Areas |
|||
|
Widow alone |
20/- |
||
|
Widow and two children |
32/- |
||
|
From 29th July, 1955. |
|||
|
All Areas |
|||
|
Widow alone |
22/6d. |
||
|
Widow and two children |
36/6d. |