§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the full-year cost of extending the age allowance for income tax to widows between the ages of 60 and 65 years; and if he will consider introducing such an extension at the earliest opportunity.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonOn the substance of my hon. Friend's proposal I would refer him to the Committee stage debates on the Finance Bill where an amendment which would have given the age allowance to all women between 60 and 65 was negatived—[Standing Committee H, 26th June 1975; c. 533–542]. As regards the cost information on which to base a precise estimate is not available, but the cost for 1975–76 would be of the order of £10 million.