§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 16 December, Official Report, column 631, what is the basis for his calculation that about 16,000 married or cohabiting women currently receiving housewives non-contributory invalidity pensions would not qualify for severe disablement allowance; which of the conditions for severe disablement allowance it is estimated that such women will not satisfy; and what are the reasons in those cases which make it easier to qualify for housewives noncontributory invalidity pensions than for the new severe disablement allowance.
§ Mr. NewtonAs regards the basis of the estimates I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) on 16 December at column630. The 16,000 are currently able to qualify for housewives non-contributory invalidity pension because the nature of their disablement is such that it particulary limits their ability to perform normal household duties, but 377W it would not be assessed as at least 80 per cent. disablement on the criterion proposed for severe disablement allowance.