Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat), on Monday, 30 June 1997, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 127 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.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

184 

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Council tax benefits Housing benefit Pensions War pensions War widow(er)s Veterans

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk