§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, dated 24 June 1980, about the representations of the National Association of Widows in respect of the decision to abolish earnings related supplement to widows' allowance.
§ Mrs. Chalker:I replied to the hon. Member on 23 October. I much regret the delay in doing so. As the hon. Member knows, the National Association of Widows wrote direct, on this and other matters, to my right hon. Friends on 16 June, and received a reply on 21 July.