§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report expenditure on earnings-related supplement for: (a) sickness benefits, (b) unemployment benefits and (c) widow's allowance for each year since 1966, expressed in 1975 prices, and state what would be the net saving if the earnings related supplement for each of these benefits and for maternity benefit were abolished.
§ Mr. MeacherThe information requested for the years 1966–67 to 1974–75 is as follows:
£30 million, and £400 million, respectively, a year.
I regret that a precise estimate cannot be made of the effect that these changes would have on the cost of supplementary benefit, but the savings might amount to about half of the gross cost.