Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Inland Revenue to refrain from questioning husbands about the tax liability of their wives; and to address queries about taxation liability directly to the taxpayer concerned whether husband or wife.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)My Lords, since at present a husband is legally responsible for his wife's tax affairs, inquiries about the couple's liability are normally sent to him. However, the Inland Revenue have recently instructed their offices to reply direct to a married woman about her tax affairs. If, exceptionally, the matter raised involves her husband's tax and can be resolved only by writing to him, tax offices have been asked to write to the wife explaining this.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for an Answer which I really could not hear because I think there is something wrong with the amplification system, may I say that I hope I received a satisfactory Answer. If not, I shall have to raise the Question again. At any rate, I shall read it in Hansard tomorrow and 474 I am sure I cannot do more than that. I thank her and I hope that I have had an effective and good Answer.