§ 68. Mr. Marloweasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a married woman who failed at the time to give notice of separate assessment in respect of her own income cannot now receive her post-war credit on attaining 60 years of age, but must wait until her husband attains 65 years; that this causes hardship, particularly in cases where the husband is younger than the wife; and whether he will introduce legislation to remove this anomaly.
§ Mr. JayWhere a wife had income of her own, but had not been separately assessed, an apportionment of the Post-War Credit could be claimed within three months of the issue of the Post-War Credit certificate. This time limit is extended where it was impossible to give the notice within the prescribed time, but I am not prepared to extend the time limit in other cases.
§ Mr. MarloweDoes not the Financial Secretary realise that at the time the option existed, the present regulation relating to repayment at 65 and 60 had not been made? Therefore, the situation has completely altered since the option was given, and the question ought to be reconsidered.
§ Mr. JayIt is perfectly true that these considerations were known, but we did make the concession where it was impossible to make the claim in time.
§ Mr. MarloweI am dealing with cases where it was possible, but the rules have been altered since. Is this not another form of retrospective legislation, where rules have been altered after the time for option expired.
§ Mr. ProfumoIs the Financial Secretary not in possession of sufficient information to lead him to the conclusion that the whole system of Post-War Credits is profoundly discrediting to the Government and cries out for revision?