§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the gross cost of raising the non-contributory invalidity pension and the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to the same level as the contributory invalidity pension; and what savings on this sum he estimates would result from (a) corresponding reductions in supplementary benefit and (b) the effects of the therapeutic earnings rule and the wife's earnings rule.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 9th December 1977—[Vol. 940, c.914]—and on 12th December 1977—[Vol. 941, c. 39.] I have no more recent information on which to make new estimates.
With the higher rates of non-contributory invalidity pension envisaged, any savings from the operation of the therapeutic earnings limit and the wife's earnings rule would be negligible.