A group of senior Tory MPs has urged David Cameron to deliver on his manifesto promise of a tax break for married couples as soon as possible.
The 15 Conservatives said the Prime Minister's vow to introduce a transferable tax allowance for married partners was a "vital weapon in combating child poverty".
They called on the measure, which would allow married stay-at-home parents to transfer part of their tax-free allowance to a working spouse, to be put before Parliament within months.
In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, the MPs, which include Tim Loughton and Sir Gerald Howarth, wrote: "We are now past the half way point in parliament and, as Conservative MPs, we are calling on the Prime Minister to ensure that these budget resolutions are put before Parliament as part of the Finance Bill 2013."
They added: "Recent research in America has shown that college graduates who become single parents are likely to be less well off financially than those who only complete secondary education, but go on to marry. We believe these proposals are a vital weapon in combating child poverty."
The Coalition Agreement committed the Government to bring forward "budget resolutions to introduce transferable tax allowances for married couples", although the Lib Dems are free to abstain on them.
It is believed the measures could save four million married couples up to £150 a year, but it has been suggested that Chancellor George Osborne is dragging his heels over the policy.
On Tuesday he gave his strong personal endorsement to plans to legalise gay marriage - and warned Conservative opponents that ditching the policy would be toxic electorally - but made no mention of tax breaks for those who are wed.
The group of MPs added: "The Prime Minister has always kept the promises made in the Coalition Agreement.
"We call on him to commit himself to putting these budget resolution on transferable tax allowances for married couples before Parliament next year."
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