§ Q54. Sir David PriceTo ask the Prime Minister if she will now introduce legislation to ensure that husbands and wives are assessed separately for social security and community charge.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. All the income-related benefits including community charge benefit, follow the principle that couples share their income and capital resources, and their claims for benefit are assessed jointly. The Government believe that it is right for couples to share the responsibility of running their homes and paying their bills. There is no good reason why community charge benefit should differ from other income-related benefits in this respect.