§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married disabled women receive an invalidity pension in their own right; and if he will estimate how many are married to disabled men also in receipt of invalidity pension.
§ Mr. OrmeAt 31st May 1975 36,000 married women were getting an invalidity pension. I regret that the date available do not enable us to identify the small number of such women whose husbands were also invalidity pensioners.
§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married invalidity pensioners do not claim an adult dependency allowance in respect of their wives.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that this precise information cannot be provided. In May 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, it is estimated that there were about 50,000 male invalidity pensioners who would have been entitled to an adult dependency allowance for their wives but for the operation of the earnings rule. However, the number of such pensioners has, it is estimated, since fallen to a little over 40,000 following the raising of the level of the earnings rule.