§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level the earnings disregard for the wife of an invalidity pensioner would have to be to set to restore its real value at November 1978; and what would be the net cost of restoring it to this level.
§ Mr. NewtonIf the £45 disregard had been maintained in line with prices since 1978 the present level would be £79.50. The net cost in 1983–84 of maintaining the value would have been about £35 million.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalidity pensioners receive a dependency addition (a) for a wife and (b) for a husband; and what is the highest earnings disregard which could be set if a common earnings disregard were introduced on a nil cost basis.
§ Mr. NewtonThe most recent statistics available show that, at March 1983, there were 323,000 invalidity pensioners with an addition for a wife, and 100 with an addition for a husband. Because of industrial action affecting the computer, these are the latest available figures. The entitlement conditions for dependent husbands were, however, eased from November 1983 and additions for such dependants are now likely to he more numerous.
I shall reply to the latter part of the question as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of introducing a common earnings rule for adult dependants of invalidity pensioners at (a) £45 a week and (b) at the real value of the earnings disregarded at November 1978.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.