Education (Parental Contribution)

Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 December 1974.

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Photo of Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke , Darwen 12:00, 12 December 1974

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why parents who are obliged to contribute to the further education of their married daughter cannot write off this expense for income tax purposes.

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon Minister of State (HM Treasury)

So long as a daughter over 16 is receiving full-time education at a university, college, school, or other educational establishment, the parent is entitled to claim the income tax child allowance of £305, whether she is married or not. This allowance is intended broadly to take account of a child's financial dependence or her parents so long as she is undergoing full-time education.

Photo of Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke , Darwen

Is the Minister aware that that by no means compensates the father of a married daughter in those circumstances for the amount of grant that he is forced to pay on the purely artificial assumption that the daughter is still dependent upon him?

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. No parent is forced to pay in that way. There is no obligation upon a parent by law to contribute. Deductions are made from grants to allow for parental contributions.

Photo of Mr Alec Woodall Mr Alec Woodall , Hemsworth

Does what my hon. Friend said about daughters over the age of 16 apply to unmarried daughters over the age of 21?

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon Minister of State (HM Treasury)

Yes, Sir. A recent decision by the Court of Appeal showed that that was so.

Photo of Mrs Margaret Thatcher Mrs Margaret Thatcher Shadow Secretary of State, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment

I wish to ask only one thing. Will the hon. Gentleman make clear that there is a moral obligation on the parent to find that contribution towards a university grant because he is means-tested on that basis? I would not like any impression to be left that the hon. Gentleman felt that there was no obligation to do so and that therefore the tax consequences followed.

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon Minister of State (HM Treasury)

I would not suggest that a moral obligation and an obligation for financial purposes are the same thing.