§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis the invalid care allowance has been excluded from the list of benefits to be reformed in line with European Community guidelines on equality between men and women in the social security system.
§ Mr. RossiLooking after an invalid is not a contingency specified by the European Community directive and I am advised that the person concerned cannot be said to be involuntarily unemployed. However, as I replied to the hon. Member on 28 October—[Vol. 29, c.496–7we have made it clear that the extension of invalid care allowance to married and co-habiting women will be considered along with other competing claims if additional resources become available.