§ Mr. Timothy Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what important improvements have been made by his Department since May 1979 in the field of women's affairs.
§ Mr. WakehamMy right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, published a Green Paper on the Taxation of Husbands and Wives in December 1980, which recognised the criticsms of the present tax treatment of married women and set out possible options for reform. I am considering the responses to this consultation document which covered a wide range of views. In addition, the Inland Revenue has made a number of changes in the way tax offices deal with the tax affair of married women. These are designed to give a greater degree of equality of treatment.