HC Deb 15 February 1979 vol 962 c599W
28. Mr. Ovenden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now adopt a uniform policy towards the taxation or otherwise of all short-term social security benefits.

Mr. Joel Barnett

In principle all short-term benefits of an income nature should be taxable. But unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and maternity allowance are long-standing exceptions to this rule because of the administrative problems of collecting tax on them.

Back to