§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the abolition of tax on widows' pensions; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI have received representations from the War Widows' Association of Great Britain to exempt war widows' pensions from income tax, and representations have also been made by Members and others about the taxation of widows' pensions. In replying to these representations I have generally explained, except where the approach of the Budget precluded a substantive answer, that it is the Government's view that the increases made this year in national insurance widows' pensions together with the substantial further increase proposed from next April are a more effective way of helping widows than providing special tax reliefs.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries in the EEC tax widows' pensions; and if he will publish figures showing the net income of a widow aged 50, earning £25 per week gross, after deductions of national insurance and income tax, with the comparable figures for such a widow in France, Germany, Italy and Holland.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.