§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether families where the father is on invalidity benefit and has transferred his tax allowances to his wife who is working are 70p a week worse off as a result of child benefit; how many families are thus affected; and what action he intends to take.
§ Mr. OrmeIn order to be affected in the way my hon. Friend suggests an invalidity pensioner would have to have a wife who earned a substantial amount. Taking a family with one child, the joint income including invalidity benefit and the wife's earnings would have to exceed £67.95 a week before tax liability could arise. By contrast, a married man whose earnings are the sole support of himself, his wife and child would pay up to £14 a week by way of income tax out of a £68 wage.
The number of invalidity pensioners with a wife who earns over £42.80 a
472W
§ Mr. OrmeThis information is not available, as records of recoverable payments of benefit are not kept centrally.