asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she plans to introduce the new invalidity pension for disabled housewives.

We shall introduce the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension as soon as is consistent with the making and implementation of proper administrative arrangements. As the hon. Lady will be aware, we have ahead of us a very crowded programme of social security improvements for chronically sick and disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received about the decision to delay payment of non-contributory invalidity pensions to disabled housewives.

We have explained from the outset that the wide range of new benefits which we are introducing will have to be phased in over a period of years, with non-contributory invalidity pension for housewives coming once the main non-contributory invalidity pension, the invalid care allowance and the mobility allowance, have been launched. There have been various representations urging the earliest practicable implementation of the programme.