§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost to the Exchequer of altering the present rule regarding eligibility for family income supplement so that a wife working a minimum of 30 hours per week is as eligible for the benefit as her husband would be in the same circumstances;
(2) if he will consider amending the rule that provides that there is eligibility for family income supplement if the wage-earning partner working a minimum of 30 hours per week is the wife rather than the husband.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer my hon. and learned Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 24 November 1981.—[Vol. 13, c.370.] The cost would he about £3 million a year at current benefit levels.