§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Central Council for the Disabled on the tax position of recipients of sickness benefit and invalidity allowance who forgo these benefits on entitlement to retirement pension; what reply he has sent; if he will give publicity to this reply; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI have been asked to reply.
428WI had correspondence with the council in the second half of last year, in the course of which I explained the different tax treatment which at present applies to sickness and invalidity benefit on the one hand and retirement pension on the other and the reasons for it. I told the council that anyone who was in doubt about his tax liability would be well advised to consult his inspector of taxes, and that our advice must necessarily be limited to a very general statement of the position in the Department's relevant leaflets.