asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the cost per annum of introducing a scheme to extend the provision for payment of a public pensioner's pension to his widow for three months following his death, to all those whose service ceased before 1st April 1972 and whose wives are still living.

On such limited information as is available it is calculated that the annual cost, excluding that for the Armed Forces, for those widowed from a current date would be about £2 million or £3 million decreasing gradually over the next 20 or more years.