TREATMENT FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS

Early day motion 30, tabled 6 December 2000 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 66 members.

That this House is concerned that almost 200,000 widowed men have been denied a tax relief worth some ú500 that was available to widows; notes that the widow's bereavement allowance predated the introduction of independent taxation of married couples; notes that when the inequity of the present allowance was challenged in the European Court in 1999 the Government settled out of court and paid the claim; believes that the refusal to treat other men in the same way breaches the Inland Revenue's service commitment; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that all men widowed between 6th April 1994 and 5th April 2000 can claim the allowance.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 24, UUP 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.