§ Mr. Heddle asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations his Department has received in connection with discrimination in the household duties test for disabled married women claiming invalidity pension;
§ (2) whether his Department will initiate a review of the regulations concerning the household duties test for disabled married women claiming invalidity pension;
284W§ (3) what study his Department has made of the recent report by the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the household duties test for disabled married women claiming invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Rossi:Following the publication in 1980 of the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the household duties test for married women claiming noncontributory invalidity pension, officials in the Department have been reviewing the test. In the course of the review, representations have been received from groups representing disabled people, women and trade unionists, from the Equal Opportunities Commission, from a number of hon. and right hon. Members, and from several members of the public. Most of the representations received have asked that the rule be modified or abolished; the latter course would cost well over £200 million a year.
The review is nearly completed, and when it is the matter will be brought before the House.