Widows' pension loses States vote

Guernsey States members have voted against establishing a compensation scheme for widows.

The widows' pension, a payment given up until the age of 65, was stopped in 2003 and replaced by a year-long bereavement allowance.

Deputy Barry Paint led the move as he said the change had come without warning and left some widows feeling they had no financial security.

However, his motion to reintroduce the payments was lost by 29-17.

Deputy Scott Ogier summed the feeling of the majority of members: "To find nearly £10m over the next 15 years so people who are able to work are not forced to take that admittedly unexpected path doesn't fit well with either the finances we have available nor the approach to benefit that Social Security have.

"Whilst I do have sympathy for those finding themselves in this unwanted, unwelcome and unexpected scenario I just can not commit the States to this route."