§ Mr. Lordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he proposes to use the regulation making powers in clause 7 of the Social Security Bill to provide an earnings test for dependency increases to invalidity benefit and retirement pension.
§ Mr. NewtonWe propose that an adult dependency increase will be available if the weekly earnings of the beneficiary's spouse do not exceed the personal rate of unemployment benefit, currently £28.45. The test will be common to men and women and will apply to invalidity pension, retirement pension, severe disablement158W allowance and unemployability supplement with industrial disablement benefit. Existing beneficiaries will not lose as they will be protected by a transitional provision.