HC Deb 09 December 1977 vol 940 c914W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the net cost of increasing the housewives non-contributory invalidity pension to £17.50 per week.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The gross cost would be about £16 million a year. It is not possible to give a reliable figure for the net cost. Any savings would be of supplementary benefit and, as these are likely to be small, the net cost would also approach £16 million.