asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in the proposed Bill to extend and improve the existing scheme of social insurance, provision will be made for pensions to be granted to persons who are now excluded from pension rights, such as widows whose late husbands were not contributors under existing State pension schemes and elderly persons who are not now entitled to old age pensions until they attain 70 years of age.

The position of these and other classes of persons will be carefully considered, but I cannot anticipate the terms of the legislation to be introduced later in the session.