asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has provided approximately £15 million in his Estimates for 1987 for the provision of retrospective payment to certain people in receipt of social welfare entitlements who are due such retrospective payment under equal treatment legislation.

No provision has been made in the 1987 Estimates for the making of retrospective payments arising from the delay in implementation of EEC Directive 79/7/EEC or equality of treatment as between men and women in matters of social security.

I am unable to make any further comment as the matter is sub judice.