HC Deb 02 May 1977 vol 931 cc31-2W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish his estimate of the cost of extending the entitlement to dependency increases in benefit to the wife, as is currently applicable to male benefit claimants, in the Official Report.

Mr. Orme

Extending entitlement to dependency increases of benefit to a wife, on the same terms as now apply to a male benefit claimant, would cost an estimated £10 million immediately, rising over a period of years to about £50 million at current benefit rates.