§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning tax allowances for lone parents to cover child care costs; what replies he has given; and what is his policy on this matter.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonWhen I met representatives of the National Council for One-Parent Families and of Gingerbread on 25 January, I took note of their representations about tax relief to cover child care expenses of lone parents. The general issue of tax relief for child care expenses will need to be considered in the forthcoming Green Paper on taxation of the family, in the light of any other proposals which could affect the relative treatment of lone parents and two-parent families.