asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider extending the free electricity and TV licence facility to widows who are in receipt of a British war pension and who have attained the age of 68 years.
Written Answers. - Free Electricity and TV Licences.
102.
An extension of the scope of the free electricity and TV licence schemes on the lines suggested is not contemplated. It is pointed out, however, that a widow over pension age, 67, who is in receipt of a British war pension may already be eligible for a free electricity allowance and a free television licence provided she is in receipt of a social welfare type pension. As a result of recent relaxations of the means test, a widow with a war pension of less than £14 a week, and no other means, would qualify for a partial old age pension and, provided she was otherwise qualified, for the free electricity allowance and TV licence.