§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending the housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension to married women under 60 years of age who are incapable only of paid work, and who are not claiming another insurance benefit, or whose husbands are not receiving national insurance or supplementary benefits.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of paying the noncontributory invalidity pension to married and cohabiting women without the "normal household duties" test.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisIt is not possible to provide the precise information requested. However, if it is assumed that there are roughly as many women incapable of work as men, there might be as many as 220,000 married women not currently receiving non-contributory invalidity pension—including its extension to married women—or invalidity benefit who might be eligilble for the non-contributory invalidity pension if the household duties test was abolished. The gross cost of paying the benefit to these married women would be about £134 million at Novemeber 1978 benefit rates.