§ 30. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will sympathetically consider relaxing the Income Tax regulations, so as to reduce the financial burden falling upon widowers having the responsibility of children.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. RobertsWill the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the regulations should ensure adequate provision and that motherless children are adequately looked after?
§ Mr. BrookeAs I had to say in answer to a Question on Tuesday, what ever views I have on a matter like this, I ought not to express them when we are so near to Budget day.
§ 31. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional cost to the Exchequer which would be incurred by granting housekeeper's allowance to widowers, if the requirement of residing on the premises were abandoned.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI regret that the information on which to base such an estimate is not available.
§ Mr. RobertsWill the Minister realise that it is not always possible for the housekeeper to live in the same house and that, apart from that, it is not always morally right either? This is a serious matter, to which I hope the Minister will give serious attention.
§ Mr. BrookeOne aspect of the matter was touched upon in the Report of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already pledged himself to examine the whole of the recommendations of that body.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that spinsters are involved in this matter as well, and that we do not want consideration of housekeepers confined only to widowers? This is a very old question and a very old grievance—Income Tax relief in respect of housekeepers only for widows and widowers.
§ Mr. BrookeI had noticed that the Question referred only to widowers, and I was not quite certain why widows were excluded.
§ 41. Mr. Jayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the Income Tax child allowance in accordance with the second Report of the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI must ask the right hon. Gentleman to await my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
§ Mr. JayIs not the Chancellor at least giving some thoughts to these matters? Will he please take note that this should 1460 have a very high priority in any tax reliefs which are possible?
§ Mr. BrookeIt will be within the recollection of the House that only about five minutes ago I said that my right hon. Friend was considering the whole of the recommendations of the Royal Commission.