To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a person's entitlement to a retirement pension or widow's benefit will be enhanced or reduced by the provisions of the Social Security (Widows Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Amendment Regulations 1990.

The regulations neither enhance nor reduce entitlement to retirement pension or widows benefit. They are essentially technical in nature and set out more clearly than the original regulations the entitlement conditions for reduced rate benefit where the contribution conditions are not fully satisfied.