§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of employing social security officials to check on the cohabitation rule enforced against widows and unsupported women.
§ Mr. O'MalleyIn 1974, the last year for which information is at present available, the cost of employing special investigators to investigate suspected cohabitation in supplementary benefit cases was £639,000. The estimated net saving to public funds after deducting this cost was £726,000. No record is kept of the416W cost of investigating widows' benefit cases or that of local office staff dealing with supplementary benefit cases where reference for special investigation is unnecessary.