asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will introduce legislation whereby a widow who has been drawing a widow's pension, for which her first husband has paid contributions, may continue to draw this pension if she remarries.

No, Sir. It would be quite inconsistent with the principles of the National Insurance Scheme to pay widows' pensions to married women.

Assuming that the rate of contribution of the first husband was on the basis that the widow might not remarry for the remainder of her life, why should the State feel it is under no obligation to her if she does remarry? If the contribution had been paid to an assurance company, they would not refuse to continue her pension when she remarries.

The hon. Member misunderstands the principle. The widow's pension was intended to provide a substitute for the husband's earnings, and not to put a premium on second marriages.

asked the Minister of National Insurance by what method the casual earnings of widows in receipt of pensions are ascertained.

On the basis of a declaration by the widow of the net amount earned in the previous pension pay week.

In view of the considerable misunderstanding which still exists in the country, would the right hon. Lady take this opportunity to affirm that there are cases, of which this is one, where she and the Government approve of a means test?

I think the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. In calculating a widow's earnings allowances are made for insurance, fares, and for the cost of caring for the children. After that, of course, a widow is allowed to keep 30s. I could not agree with him that that is in the nature of a means test.

Would not the right hon. Lady agree that a means test was a test where the means were taken into consideration?

I took it for granted that the hon. Gentleman knew the intention behind this regulation. It is to ensure that these children, who had already been deprived of one parent, should not be deprived of the other parent for the whole of the week.

Would my right hon. Friend say if the particulars required in these cases differ in any essential from the particulars we all have to give to the Income Tax authorities.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give an estimate of the additional charge to the Exchequer of allowing to widows their full pension, irrespective of any money they may earn.

The amount directly saved by the earnings rule for widows is about £2 million a year. But the abolition of the rule would involve paying insurance benefits to widows in full-time work, and this would necessitate a complete review of the whole basis of widows' benefits under the National Insurance Act.