The Minister will be aware that in a whole range of areas — in the case of a lady who reaches 66 years of age before her husband, for example — there is wholesale discrimination involved. I welcome the efforts of the Minister, and the Government, in recent times to eliminate inequality but I should like to ask the Minister if he will consider setting up a section in his Department to work towards abolishing inequality as between the sexes.

That matter, which is mainly a budgetary question, is considered regularly.

Will the Minister agree to have his Department look at all social welfare schemes to ensure entitlement is given to the person irrespective of their sex? In the past one rarely came across deserted husbands but it is common to meet them today and it is time that the Minister looked at all the schemes, statutory and discretionary, to ensure there is equality.

I would be in favour of equality but, as Members realise, the main question to be considered is the amount of cash available to extend benefits. In that context I will be considering the suggestions raised in connection with the preparation of the budget.