No tax breaks for marriage - reaction

THE HEAD of a UK family charity has given her reaction to today's reports that tax breaks for married couples will not feature in next month's Budget.

Dr Katherine Rake, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, said: "Marriage is a special institution. But the Family and Parenting Institute had already raised questions about whether singling out marriage for support makes sense, given that modern families come in such a wide variety of forms.

"Such a measure would come at great expense to the public purse. But it would be unlikely to offer sufficient incentive for couples to either get married or stay married.

"That's why we are encouraged by reports that the Chancellor has decided to rule out tax breaks for marriage in next month's budget. In difficult economic times, all UK families are looking to Mr Osborne to show he is making best use of public funds."