HC Deb 15 May 1985 vol 79 c163W
Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what net savings he expects to make as a result of his decision to introduce a common earnings rule of £28.45 for adult dependants of claimants of (a) invalidity benefit, (b) retirement pension, (c) severe disablement allowance and (d) unemployability supplement.

Mr. Newton

The proposal to introduce a common earnings rule of £28.45 is estimated to produce savings of £2 million in the 1985–86 financial year, £10 million in the 1986–87 year, and £20 million in the 1987–88 year. The savings are expected to be almost equally distributed between the invalidity and retirement pensions. Savings from severe disablement allowance and the unemployabil-ity supplement are expected to be insignificant.