§ Mr. AdleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he proposes to change the capital rule for community charge rebate to take account of the fact that the charge is being levied on individuals whereas the capital rule is applied to couples jointly.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardWe have no plans to change the rule for Community charge benefit for couples. It is a fundamental principle of the income-related benefit schemes that the partners in a married or unmarried couple are treated as sharing their income and capital resources. The fact that the community charge is being levied on individuals does not affect this principle.