* * * * At this point Mr. Churchill introduced
his proposal for Comprehensive Insurance and delivered some glowing sentences upon the tremendous boon to be conferred on the wage-earner. The scheme, which would take effect on January 6th, 1926, would include widows and orphans. Thus it has been reserved for a Unionist Government to introduce widows' and orphans' pensions, about which other Governments have talked ; and not only that, but to reduce the age for old age pensions to sixty-five. Obviously Unionists are not " looking after their own friends," as Labour and Liberal speakers always accuse them of doing. Widows will receive 10s. a week, together with 5s. for the first child and 3s. for all others up to the age of fourteen. Pensions for orphans will be 7s. 6d. for the eldest and 6s. for the others. Old age pensioners now over seventy will be eligible for 10s. a week without any conditions, and in future all persons will be eligible at sixty-five.
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