§ Mr. Alan HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the numbers gaining from the abolition of the hours rule for partners of income support and jobseeker's allowance claimants. [10213]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe cost of abolishing the hours rule for partners of income support and income-based jobseekers' allowance claimants is estimated to be in the range of £200 million to £300 million per annum, with between 70,000 and 90,000 gainers. This is at 1997–98 levels of benefits and incomes, assumes families claim the benefit which is of most reward to them, and takes no account of possible behavioural changes.