Child benefit is to be axed for higher rate taxpayers from 2013, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.
He told the BBC it was a "big decision" but "absolutely necessary" as it would save £1bn a year at a time of extreme pressure on government finances.
Any couples where one parent earns about £44,000 - roughly the 40% tax level - and above will be affected.
Currently child benefit is paid to 7.7 million families with children, costing about £12bn a year.
Ministers estimate the change will affect about 1.2 million families.
Mr Osborne said: "It's very hard to justify taxing people on much lower incomes in order to pay the child benefit to some of the better off in our society."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11464300
With regard to the last comment I couldn't really agree more. Why am I paying for someone who earns £44,000 to have children? Maybe if you earn that much you shouldn't need handouts, and if you're gonna miss having handouts so much you should probably face reality and realise you cannot continue your excessive lifestle.
To be honest though - why am I paying for anyone to have children? If I had children I wouldn't expect a handout, I'd be responsible for my own choices and spend on my child what I earned fair and square.