asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now increase to £25 the amount of earnings which can be disregarded before pension entitlement is affected.

The earnings limit was raised substantially, from £9·50 to £13, last July and we have no plans for raising it further at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will seek to raise the present disregarded capital level of £800 for purposes of assessing the level of benefits.

This is being done by the Social Security Benefits Bill at present before the House.