§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the difficulties of widows who on the first receipt of the widow's pension mistakenly assume it is tax free and later find that this is grossed up with their other income and that large arrears of tax are claimed by the Inland Revenue; and whether he will publicise the fact that tax may be due on these pensions or take steps to make them tax free.
§ Mr. TaverneWidow's pensions have always been liable to tax, and I could not agree that they should be exempted. The tax position is made clear in the leaflet issued by the Department of Health and Social Security, which advises the widow to tell her tax office about her pension.