Written question asked by William Powell (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 January 1997. It was answered by Oliver Heald (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: How many pensions are currently being paid to war widows; and how many of these relate to service up to (a) 30th September 1921 and (b) 31st December 1945. - Including figures.

Answer: Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensions are currently being paid to war widows; and how many of these relate to service up to (a) 30 September 1921 and (b) 31 December 1945. [11075] Mr. Heald: The information is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is as follows: A war widow's pension may be awarded where the death of the husband is due to service in the armed forces at any time. The number of war widows pensions in payment at 31 December 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, is 59,611. At 31 December 1995, a total of 1,544 awards were in respect of service up to 30 September 1921.

Secondary information