asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider adjusting the benefit scales so that a married couple in receipt of invalidity benefit receive an income at least as great as that of a retired couple.

Invalidity pension for a married couple and the standard rate of retirement pension for a married couple have been the same since the introduction of invalidity benefit in September 1971. If invalidity allowance is in payment when invalidity pension is converted to retirement pension, the value of this additional benefit is retained. If my hon. Friend has some other aspect in mind, perhaps he would let me know.