§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list those Social Security benefits which are(a) taxable and (b) not taxable and the reasons underlying the two categories. [14673]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is as follows:
- Taxable benefits
- Incapacity Benefit
- Invalid Care Allowance
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Retirement Pension
- Widowed Mother's Allowance
- Widow's Pension
- Statutory Maternity Pay
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Industrial Death Benefit
All other Social Security Benefits are not taxable.
Whether or not particular benefits should be taxable is kept under review.
This Government is committed to examining the interaction of the tax and benefit systems so that they can be streamlined and modernised so as to fulfil the objectives of promoting work incentives, reducing poverty and welfare dependency and strengthening community 566W and family life. Mr. Martin Taylor, Chief Executive of Barclays Bank plc, has been appointed to lead a Whitehall task force to take forward this remit