§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of extending the invalid care allowance to married and co-habiting women; and when this extension will be introduced.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIt is not possible to make a precise estimate, but the cost would be at least £25 million a year and could well be nearer £50 million. For this, and for other reasons which were explained at some length in the recent report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the Invalid Care Allowance Regulations (House of Commons Paper No. 271), married women are not included in the invalid care allowance to be introduced in July. We have no plans for extending the allowance to them.