asked the Minister of Social Security (1) how many wives of a polygamous marriage qualify for married persons' tax allowance; and how many widows of a polygamous marriage qualify for widows' pension.(2) how many widows have been refused pension entitlement during the past 12 months on the basis that their marriages were polygamous and therefore invalid.

Widows of a polygamous marriage would not satisfy the conditions for receiving national insurance widows' benefit. I have no information about the number of applications which may have been refused during the last 12 months. Questions about tax allowances are, of course, for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.