HC Deb 22 March 1979 vol 964 cc1679-80
11. Mr. Durant

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will examine the taxation treatment of working widows.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The tax treatment of all widows is kept under constant review.

Mr. Durant

Is the Minister aware of the anger of working widows who find that when they get their pay slips at the end of the week and compare them with those of married women working alongside them they find that they have less take-home pay because they have no married woman's allowance and their widows' pensions are taxed? Will the Government look urgently at that matter?

Mr. Sheldon

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am aware of that difficulty, which a number of widows face without fully understanding the reasons for it. The House knows that the reasons are simple. The widow receives a pension which is taxed at her place of work. If she compares her pay slip with that of a married colleague who does not receive such a pension, she will see that she has a greater deduction. As long as the reasons for that are understood, I think that they will come to be accepted.

Mr. Noble

Is it not time that the Treasury recognised the need for a special householder's allowance? Will my right hon. Friend recognise that many widows and widowers have to meet additional household expenses that are not met by many other single people? Will he consider the question of a special allowance?

Mr. Sheldon

My hon. Friend knows that this matter has been looked at repeatedly. I am glad to note that he includes widowers among those who suffer in this way. However, he will also be aware that a similar situation is faced by divorced and separated people and by those in a number of other categories. Once we start extending help into those areas, we shall cover a very large number of people.

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