asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money can be earned by the wife of a striker without a corresponding reduction in supplementary benefit.

Two pounds net per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the maximum amount of mortgage repayment allowance payable to the family of a man on strike;(2) what is the maximum amount of rent allowance payable to the family of a man on strike.

The amount to be added for a tenant's rent or an owner-occupier's outgoing in the calculation of a claimant's requirements for supplementary benefit purposes is for the Supplementary Benefits Commission to decide in accordance with paragraph 13 of Schedule 2 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966. Only the interest element of mortgage repayments is taken into account. The considerations taken into account in deciding what is a reasonable rent are described in paragraphs 44 to 52 of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook which is available in the Library of the House. I understand that the commission does not specify maximum amounts in either case.