§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what it would cost in a full year to extend the invalid care allowance to wives.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI have assumed that the hon. Member's Question relates 701W to wives who are caring for husbands receiving attendance allowance. It is not possible to give a reliable estimate using the statistics currently available, but the gross cost in a full year of allowing such wives to qualify for invalid care allowance, at 1978 benefit rates, would be about £3.4 million.