So let me see if I understand the latest in this mess of a policy...

My wife will continue to be able to claim child benefit for our daughter unless she is a high rate tax payer. I will not be able to claim child benefit for our daughter (as it is paid to the mother) but should I be a higher rate tax payer I will be penalised if my wife claims child benefit and is not a higher rate tax payer or if she does not tell me the full details of her pay and benefits.

Is there any way I can force my wife to disclose these details to me so that I can pass them on to the tax authorities? Are married couples, or even unmarried couples, not allowed to have financial privacy?

Here's a thought, why not just increase higher rate of income tax rather than taking away child benefit from higher rate tax paying families?