HC Deb 20 February 1976 vol 905 cc852-3W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services is she is yet able to announce the date of the introduction of the non-contributory invalidity pension for married women; and if she will publish the results of the work of her working party.

Mr. Alfred Morris

While considerable progress has been made since I outlined in my reply to the hon. Lady of 28th October—[Vol. 898, c.427]—the steps we are taking to devise the scheme, it is not yet possible to give an exact date for payment of the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to begin. The outcome of the discussions referred to in that reply, and the other work now in progress to devise a fair and workable scheme, will be published in the sense that it will be embodied in draft regulations to be submitted to the National Insurance Advisory Committee whose report will subsequently be laid before Parliament.