§ 46. Mr. Sproatasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he now has to tax certain social security benefits.
§ Mr. Peter ReesSocial security benefits of an income nature should in principle be taxed in the same way as other forms of income. Exceptions to this general rule arise for a variety of reasons, but, as our pre-election manifesto made clear, it is our aim to bring unemployment and short-term sickness benefits within the tax system. We are actively considering ways to achieve this.