Prime Minister's Questions 3 March
2010
On 3 March, I asked the following question at Prime Minister's Questions
(being taken by Harrient Harman in Gordon Brown's absence). It is possible that this
will be my last opportunity to ask a 'PMQ' before I cease to be an MP:
3 Mar 2010 : Column 942
Q5.
[319883] Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab):
Does my right hon. and learned Friend recall that on one of the several occasions when the
last Conservative Chancellor, who is currently shadow Business Secretary-the right hon.
and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke)-announced that he was cutting the value of
the married couple's allowance, he described it as a bit of an anomaly. Indeed, one of his
predecessors, Lord Lawson-
Mr. Speaker: Order. I just say to the hon. Lady that she
must relate her question to the policy of the Government.
Lynne Jones: My question is indeed about the policy of
the Government. Does my right hon. and learned Friend recall that Lord Lawson described
the allowance as something that should be allowed to wither on the vine, which it was?
Does she therefore agree that there are better things to spend £600 million on than
introducing a bit of an anomaly?
Ms Harman: I can reassure my hon. Friend that we will
continue to invest in Sure Start centres, we will continue the child tax credit and we
will continue the child trust fund. I can also reassure her that we will not reintroduce a
married man's tax allowance that would give 13 times more to the richest people than it
would to the poorest people. It would not encourage one single couple to get married or
make them happy in their marriage. But it would send-and this is why it would be cruel-a
clear message to children in families in which the parents are divorced. It would say to
them that there was something wrong with their family, and therefore that there must be
something wrong with them. That is another reason why we would never introduce it.
Hansard link: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100303/debtext/100303-0003.htm#10030353000684
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