Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat), on Friday, 17 November 1995, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 149 members in total.

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WAR PENSIONERS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

That this House notes that local authorities are currently given the option of whether or not to disregard war widows' and war disablement pension when assessing eligibility for council tax and housing benefit; notes that three-quarters of councils now operate a total disregard; further notes that a pensioner in one of the authorities not operating disregard can lose as much as all of his or her war pension for purely geographical reasons; is appalled that an increase in disability due to old war injuries has led to certain war disabled pensioners facing an overall drop in income; is further concerned that, as a result of current policy the Royal British Legion, which has long campaigned for a change in the law, has had to advise some of its members not to apply for or accept a war pension; believes that such war pensions are compensation for injuries sustained or husbands lost in service, and should not be counted as normal taxable income either for local or national taxation purposes; notes that the extra public expenditure needed to standardise treatment of war pensioners would be minimal given that only a few pensioners are actually discriminated against in this way; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to review this situation so that these war veterans and their widows may finally receive a fair deal.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 4 amendments.

59A4

at end add `and urges Government to bring Great Britain into line with Northern Ireland where disregard of any war disablement pension or war widow's pension already exists across the entire province under the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (NI) 1987'.

59A1

at end add `and calls on Labour controlled Norwich City Council to apply this disregard and thus benefit many war pensioners.'.

59A2

leave out from `situation' to end and add `and make proper financial provision for local authorities to enable all such war veterans and war widows to receive a fair deal throughout the United Kingdom.'.

59A3

after 'Government', insert 'which has taken nine seperate measures to help war widows since 1990, culminating in the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of the extension of the scheme to assist war widows visit their husband's graves.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

59 

59A4 

59A1 

59A2 

59A3 

Session

1995-96

Subjects

War pensions

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk