§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the review of the married women's 334W non-contributory invalidity pension was established; what form representations have taken; what meetings have been held with interested organisations and individuals, and when; and when he expects the review to be published.
§ Mr. RossiFollowing the publication in July 1980 of the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the household duties test for married women claiming non-contributory invalidity pension, officials in the Department have been reviewing the test. In the course of the review, letters 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 these representations have asked that the rule be modified or abolished.
The Department has also received two publications on this subject, one from the Disability Alliance and the other from the Equal Opportunities Commission. Officials met with representatives of the Equal Rights for Disabled Women Campaign in October 1981. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security will be meeting representatives of the Equal Opportunities Commission early next month.
The review is nearing completion and when it is the matter will be brought before the House.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest estimate of (a) the gross annual cost and (b) the gross net cost of (i) abolishing the household duties test and giving married and cohabiting women non-contributory invalidity pension in their own right and (ii) extending invalid care allowance to married and cohabiting women; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hugh RossiThe gross annual cost of abolishing the household duties test is estimated to be £275 million at current benefit rates. Estimates of the net annual cost are not available. The Department's review of the test is nearing completion and when it is, the matter will be brought before the House.
The gross annual cost of extending invalid care allowance to all married women, and those living as married, would be of the order of £100 million at the current rate of benefit. It is not possible to estimate the net cost but this is likely to be considerably less because of savings from the offset of dependency and supplementary benefits at present in payment. Such an extension of the allowance is one of a number of competing priorities which will be for consideration as and when new resources become available.