asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how far the pension and allowances provided under the provisions of the National Insurance and Family Allowance Acts for a widow with four children aged 4, 6, 9 and 12 years, fall below what such a widow would receive under the scale rates of the National Assistance Board.

Such a widow would receive a total of £4 6s. by way of widowed mother's allowance and family allowances, whereas if she was without other means she could receive £5 2s. under the scale rates laid down in the National Assistance Regulations plus rent allowance if applicable.

I am sure the Minister will agree that the difference here is very substantial. Will he urge on his colleagues the necessity of introducing legislation suggested by the National Insurance Advisory Committee to help these widows?

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, we have recognised the difficulty, as brought out in the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee, particularly in regard to widows with larger families. I cannot today say anything about the date of legislation being introduced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when I asked the Lord Privy Seal, on 8th March, whether this legislation could be introduced, that right hon. Gentleman said: We shall certainly take the earliest opportunity."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th March, 1956; Vol. 549, c. 2329.]

I think that those are good words to which there is no need for me to add anything.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his interpretation of what "earliest opportunity" means?

It is not for me to act as interpreter of the wise words of my right hon. Friend.