§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure equal tax treatment of contributions to state and occupational pension schemes. [97619]
§ Dawn PrimaroloTax relief is given on contributions for occupational and personal pension schemes to encourage people to make pension provision for their retirement. Adopting the same treatment on contributions for state pensions would result in a significant loss to the Exchequer which would have to be made good by an increase in the rate of taxation, or by corresponding reductions in other tax allowances.