HC Deb 27 October 1960 vol 627 cc2549-50
1. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Education what consultations he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the Income Tax difficulties which discourage married women qualified teachers from returning to teaching.

The Minister of Education (Sir David Eccles)

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of this problem, but the position of women teachers cannot be dealt with separately in a matter of general taxation policy.

Mrs. Butler

Has the Minister any idea of how many married women there are who would gladly turn to teaching but who find it financially not worth while because of tax aggregation and the lack of suitable tax allowances for the additional expenses in which they would be involved? Will he in the next Session consult his right hon. and learned Friend to see whether some means of meeting this difficulty can be found in the next Budget?

Sir D. Eccles

I cannot say how many married women there are in that situation. I do not have very many people complaining on this point, although, no doubt, there are a few.

Mrs. Butler

I have more than 100 letters.

Mrs. White

May I press this matter? Many of us who are in touch with organisations of professional women, university women, and so forth, are constantly told that this is a real problem. Does the Minister realise that it applies to teachers and to other persons working in education? Does he recall that I have on previous occasions suggested that something should be done, for instance, about the school dental service, which is, as he knows, so shockingly behindhand that, if there are any women dentists who could help, they ought not to be deterred, as they might well be, by the circumstances to which my hon. Friend has referred? Is it not the right hon. Gentleman's duty to make further inquiries into the matter?

Sir D. Eccles

Of course, we want to get them all back, but this is part of a very large problem. There are 4 million married women in gainful employment. Therefore, my right hon. and learned Friend has a very big problem.