HL Deb 14 June 1966 vol 275 cc55-6WA
LORD TALBOT DE MALAHIDE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (1) whether they can provide an approximate estimate of the annual loss which the Revenue would be likely to suffer if the incomes of husbands and wives were taxed separately;
  2. (2) why a system which works satisfactorily and is generally held to be equitable in such countries as Australia and the U.S.A. is considered unsuitable for introduction into this country.

LORD SHEPHERD

(1) On the assumption that husbands and wives would then be taxed as single persons on their separate incomes, this change would result in a gain to the Revenue.

(2) The Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income which compared our system with those of a number of other countries, concluded that our system was fairer to those concerned than separate taxation as separate units.

House adjourned at twenty-seven minutes before six o'clock.