§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now provide the information promised in his answer to the hon. Member for Wallasey on 8th November, Official Report. column 64, on the cost to the National Insurance Fund of abolishing the earnings rule for wives of retirement pensions, who do not have a pension in their own right, and for the wives of invalidity pensioners.
§ Mr. OrmeI am sorry that it has taken some time to obtain the information promised in my reply to the hon. Lady's Question on 8th November. The annual cost to the National Insurance Fund of abolishing the earnings rule, over and above the £50 limit, for wives of retirement pensioners who do not have a pension in their own right, and for the wives of invalidity pensioners, would be about £25 million, split roughly equally between the two groups.