A NEW married couples' tax allowance will give parents £1,000 a year, says Tory election hopeful John Walsh.

He has welcomed the commitment from Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo to bring back the benefit which Labour scrapped.

The allowance would permit spouses who stay at home to look after children under 11 to transfer their personal allowance to a working partner.

Mr Walsh, prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bury North, said: "Conservatives believe in the importance of the family and want to encourage it by easing the financial load on couples bringing up young children."

This tax incentive is scheduled to form part of the Tory Party's manifesto for the anticipated spring General Election.