HC Deb 24 March 1977 vol 928 c635W
37. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the National Association of Widows concerning his forthcoming Budget Statement.

43. Mr. Madden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received this year urging that the tax burden on widows be relieved.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden).

38. Mr. Newton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of income tax paid by widows in the current year.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

About £500 million for 1976–77.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received in the last year which ask for exemption of widows' and war widows' pensions from taxation.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

A number of such representations have been received from hon. Members, widow's organisations and others. 50 per cent. of a war widow's pension is, of course, now exempt from tax.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made to the cost to the Exchequer of exempting widows' pensions from taxation.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

About £140 million for 1976–77.