MARRIED couples where only one person works should get a £20-a-week tax break, according to a Tory policy review.
The review was set up by Conservative leader David Cameron and chaired by former leader Iain Duncan Smith.
It aims to support marriage as the best way to bring up children, as well as tackling social problems like binge drinking, poor education and crime.
In a section on family breakdown, the report argues that the tax system fails to recognise the `benefits which marriage brings to society'.
It also suggests increasing couples' allowances through working tax credits. This could give up to 1.8 million couples an additional £32 a week.
Mr Duncan Smith said this would primarily help alleviate poverty.
"I believe that this is the single most important step that the Conservative Party could take to start supporting stable family life," he said.
Meanwhile, lone parents would be required to work full-time once their children reached the age of 11 to get more people off benefits and into work.
Other recommendations in the 671-page report include:
Increasing the scope of credit unions providing low-interest loans to low-income families in an attempt to save them from loan sharks.
Raising the gambling age limit from 16 to 18 and requiring the gaming industry to spend more than £10 million a year on research into anti-addiction programmes.
A £400 million tax on alcohol to double the amount spent on drink and drugs treatment.
What do you think about tax breaks for married couples?
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Meanwhile, lone parents would be required to work full-time once their children reached the age of 11 to get more people off benefits and into work.
Well, maybe if childcare was made more affordable then maybe the government would see more lone parents back in work. But with all these taxes (cc for one) it isnt exaclty being made an attractive option to get back into work.
I agree with these tax breaks and always did as it promoted marriage and family values. Since Labour got in all the benefits of being married have been removed but as we have found, they could talk the talk but could'nt walk the walk. This government has gone on and on about family values while at the same time undermining it. No mortgage relief, no married couples allowance and we can't even punish our own children for misbehaving(Tell them off holds no water with many of todays kids)
Tax breaks and special rates to buy a house? these would boost the numbers.
Good idea if the values of marriage are changed - i.e. for better or worse etc. And no one wants to marry a dead leg.
Just what we need, supporting stable family's, It's about time! let's hope it's for the best.