§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the earnings limit of £45 a week for dependent wives of retirement and invalidity pensioners is to increase in November by the same amount as the earnings limit for retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. RossiNo. The two rules serve different purposes and the intention is to maintain the rule for dependants of retirement and invalidity pensioners at its present level until it again represents a reasonable test of dependency. The level of earnings at which a dependency addition is completely extinguished does of course go up as benefit rates increase, and the level will from November be £66.70 for retirement pensioners and £65.85 for invalidity pensioners.