§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will act to conform with the 1978 European Community directive, article 2, to provide equal treatment for women in the matter of the application of the tapered earnings rule for invalidity benefit;
(2) whether he will act to conform with the 1978 European Community directive, article 2, to provide equal treatment for women in the matter of entitlement to dependency increases for children regardless of their spouses' income;
(3) whether he will act to conform with the 1978 European Community directive article 2, to provide equal treatment for women in the matter of their entitlement to an increase for a dependent husband, on top of retirement pension or other benefit, for women aged over 60 years.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have already made a start and intend to implement the directive in full within the time limit imposed in respect of national insurance child dependency increases and, for women over 60, the increase of sickness or unemployment benefit in respect of a dependent husband. Article 7 of the directive provides that member states are not required to apply the directive in respect of the increase of retirement pension, invalidity benefit and certain other benefits for a dependent spouse and we have no proposals to implement equal treatment in these areas.