§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department has taken since July 1980 to implement the recommendation of the national insurance advisory committee to monitor the present rules governing the household duties test.
§ Mr. Hugh RossiThe Department has continued to look closely at the working of the rules relating to non-contributory invalidity pension for married women, and in particular how this conforms to the intentions of the relevant regulations.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an estimate of the net cost of abolishing the household duties test, taking into account savings on national insurance dependency addition, supplementary benefit, family income supplement and housing benefit.
§ Mr. RossiOur best estimate of the net cost of abolishing the household duties test is £250 million for a full year at 1981 benefit rates. This takes into account estimated savings from national insurance dependency additions. However, there is insufficient information to estimate savings from supplementary benefit, family income supplement, and housing benefit.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the household duties test for housewives non-contributory invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiI refer the right hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 26 January 1982—[Vol. 16, c.333–34]—and to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) today.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply of 26 January, Official Report, c. 334 of the Minister for Social Security to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, if he will give a breakdown of the estimate that the gross cost of abolishing the household duties test would be £275 million.
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