§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he proposes to issue in respect of the poll tax to women who have no independent source of income; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe Government have no plans to introduce a poll tax. Nor does it plan to issue guidelines to individuals on this aspect of the community charge. Anyone with no independent source of income may have a spouse or partner who is jointly liable for the community charge. Where this is not the case, and the person has no income or capital, he or she is likely to be eligible for both income support and community charge benefit.