It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
As part of arrangements made in 1986 for implementing EC Directive 79/7 on equal treatment between men and women in matters of social security, the then Government put in place a number of temporary alleviation payments.
These alleviation payments, initially £20.00 per week for a person whose spouse was receiving a social welfare payment in her own right and £10.00 per week plus half rate increases for children where the spouse had income of over £50.00 per week from employment, were made from November 1986 for a period of one year.
During 1987, the Government decided to continue the alleviation payments beyond the 12 month period set by the previous Government but to phase them out over a period of time. Phasing out began in 1988 with the payments being gradually reduced each year to their present level of £12.00 and £6.00.