Making allowances
Sir: Your very thoughtful leading article (14 March) bids us remember — as Michael Foot carefully forgets — that the 90 per cent of our workforce who are in work 'includes a far greater number of women than worked between the wars.' Yes, and many of these are married to husbands also in work. Both spouses have every right to work, provided that young children are not neglected. But at a time of high unemployment I find it unfair and undesirable that, when working married women rightly receive a single person's tax allowance, their husbands also receive a married couple's allowance. Each should have only a single person's allowance. This would be fair and would significantly help the Chancellor.
No doubt this would be electorally unpopular even more so than the 20 pence on petrol. But the present Cabinet purport to be men and a woman of principle. This change would cost me and many husbands £231 per annum. Is it too late to make it? Peter Hamilton
Frant Rectory, Tufibridge Wells, Sussex
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