§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, for the purpose of considering the abatement of retirement pensions and other benefits payable to Members of the House of Lords, Her Majesty's Government will seek to legislate to treat income such as peers' attendance allowance as earned income.
§ Mr. RossiNo. Payments which are by way of reasonable reimbursement of expenses on the part of a holder of an unpaid office do not count as earnings from a gainful employment for purposes of the retirement pensioners' earnings rule. Attendance allowances paid to noble lords in another place fall within this category and there are no plans for making any changes in their present treatment.