HC Deb 02 February 1984 vol 53 cc339-40W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to uprate the earnings disregard for the wife of an invalidity pensioner next November; to what level it would need to be raised to retain its original value; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

We have no plans to increase the present earnings disregard of £45 a week. To retain its original value—£9.50 a week in November 1971—the disregard would need to be reduced to £39.61 a week, at November 1983 values.