asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if she is aware that the 10s. widows are under certain disabilities; and what steps she plans to take to remove those disabilities.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she proposes to increase the pension of the 10s. widows.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance when she intends to introduce proposals for improving the position of 10s. widows; and what plans she has.

A statement on this and other benefits will be made very soon.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the 10s. widow presents a very urgent case for generous and immediate assistance? Will she take urgent steps to render that assistance?

As my hon. and learned Friend and other hon. Members will be aware, the question of the 10s. widow has been raised on many occasions and I can assure him that this Government are well aware of the hardships these ladies have had to undergo.

In order to save time in bringing the increase into effect within the next few weeks, will my right hon. Friend look at a Bill I tried to introduce on 25th January, 1963, designed to help the 10s. widow? Does she recall that that Bill was most strenuously and bitterly resisted by hon. Members opposite?

My hon. Friend knows very well the attitude of this side of the House towards his Bill, but I must ask him to await a statement.

Can the right hon. Lady tell us that both statement and action will be this side of Christmas? Is that a fair interpretation of the words "very soon"?

The statement will be made long before Christmas. It will be very soon. I take it as a tribute to this side of the House that the hon. Gentleman thinks that we can do in a few weeks what his own Government failed to do in thirteen years.