§ Mr. Newtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue cost in 1977–78, assuming full implementation of the Budget proposals, of granting single women and widows the single age allowance at the age of 60 years or upwards instead of 65 years or upwards; and if he has made any estimate of the reduction in this cost if such a change were confined to women undertaking no form of paid employment or self-employment.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1977; Vol. 933, c. 76], gave the following information:
The cost in 1977–78 of extending the single age allowance to all single women and widows aged 60–64 inclusive is estimated to be about £35 million, assuming full implementation of the Budget proposals. I regret that information is not available on which to base a reliable estimate of the reduction in this cost if the change were restricted to women with no form of paid employment of self-employment.