§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now introduce legislation abolishing the cohabitation rules of his Department, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe term "cohabitation" was replaced in social security legislation by the last Labour Government by the term "living together as husband and wife". We have no plans to abolish the "living together as husband and wife" rules. Successive Governments have all taken the view that such rules are necessary to avoid the unfairness of unmarried couples being entitled to benefits denied to married couples.