Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Wednesday Volume 598 15 July 2015 No. 34 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 15 July 2015 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2015 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 873 15 JULY 2015 874 Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): The UK Government House of Commons are planning to restrict child benefit to two children for new parents. The Department for Work and Pensions Wednesday 15 July 2015 and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have in the Budget been asked to “develop protections for women who have a third child as a result The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock of rape, or other exceptional circumstances.” Can the Minister explain how that will work? PRAYERS Mr Gauke: The point I would make to the hon. Gentleman is that we think it is right that all families face the same situation, having to make choices bearing [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] in mind the financial consequences of the number of children they have. It is right that a regime is put in place for exceptional circumstances. If the hon. Gentleman Oral Answers to Questions does not want to restrict tax credits to two children per family in future, he will be able to bring in top-ups paid for by the Scottish taxpayer under the powers provided SCOTLAND in the Scotland Bill. Angus Robertson: Rape is one of the most serious The Secretary of State was asked— crimes and has one of the poorest clear-up rates. It is thought that 85% of women who are raped do not Tax Credits confirm that they have been raped. May I urge the Secretary of State and his colleagues to look very, very 1. Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) closely at this issue? I have already asked the Minister (Lab): What discussions he has had with the the question once and he did not give an answer as to Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on claimants how the Government are going to manage this very, in Scotland of changes in entitlement to working tax very sensitive issue. May I ask him again how the credits and child tax credits. [900931] Government plan to make this work? The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Mr Gauke: We will set out the details in due course, Gauke): The Chancellor has regular discussions with but it is perfectly reasonable to limit in future—this is Treasury colleagues, as well as with the rest of the prospective; this is for future births—the support that is Cabinet, on a wide range of topics. The changes to tax provided to families to two children under the tax credits are at the centre of the Government’s intention credits system, so that all households face the same to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare consequences of decisions about how many children society. they have. That is what most families have to live with. Benefit Sanctions Debbie Abrahams: The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that the poorest 20% of the population 2. Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP): If he will lose proportionately more than any other income will make an assessment of the effect of benefit group as a result of the benefit and tax changes. Given sanctions on (a) levels of poverty and (b) social that International Monetary Fund analysis has shown cohesion in Scotland. [900932] that an increase in income to the poorest 20% stimulates growth, what is the Minister’s assessment not just of the The Minister for Employment (Priti Patel): All evidence increase in poverty in Scotland but of the stifling of shows that work is the best route out of poverty. This growth? Government have taken action to reform the welfare system to support people to come off benefits and get Mr Gauke: The point I would make to the hon. Lady into work. is that if we want to have a strong economy, we have to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower benefits Alison Thewliss: May I ask the Secretary of State for system. That is what the Government have been elected Scotland for an urgent review, as recommended by to do; that is what we are delivering. Citizens Advice Scotland, of the 323% increase in requests for food parcels in the past four years owing to the main Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): Does my hon. triggers of benefit sanctions and benefit administration? Friend agree that part and parcel of changing the system is to encourage the Scottish people to live on the Priti Patel: I return to the comments I have just wages they earn from the jobs that will be created under made. The best route out of poverty is to increase work the long-term economic plan? incentives and to support employment opportunities— having a job. To do that, we need a Government with a Mr Gauke: The key to prosperity is to ensure that we long-term economic plan that secures employment prospects have a dynamic economy. That is why we are cutting for the country as a whole. business taxes so we have higher wages and higher productivity; that is why we are improving our skills Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP): Since the question and investment in the United Kingdom; and that is the about having a review will not be answered, is it not way we can ensure we have higher living standards for time that the powers were transferred to the Scottish the people of Scotland and all parts of the United Parliament to carry out this pressing and urgent review Kingdom. of the increase in the use of food banks in Scotland? 875 Oral Answers15 JULY 2015 Oral Answers 876 Priti Patel: Welfare powers will, of course, be devolved Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD): to the Scottish Parliament, so it will be up to it to use Niall Stuart, the chief executive of Scottish Renewables, them effectively as it sees fit. says of this decision that it is “bad for jobs, bad for investment and can only hinder Scotland Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): I agree with and the UK’s efforts to meet binding climate change targets”. the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Alison Thewliss), Why does the Secretary of State think he knows better because yesterday I also met Citizens Advice Scotland, than Niall Stuart? which told us that more than 200 people a day were being sanctioned by the Department for Work and David Mundell: I certainly think I know better than Pensions and that 100,000 children were being affected. the Liberal Democrats, who have been complicit in Will the Minister please answer the question? Why will covering Scotland with wind farm developments. It is she not instigate a full review of the sanctions regime, as clear that ours is a popular policy among communities recommended by the Church of Scotland? right across Scotland who do not want to see our landscape covered with unnecessary wind farm developments. I stand behind our policy. Priti Patel: When it comes to sanctions in particular, individuals are asked to meet reasonable requirements Income Tax to take into account their circumstances, which is right and proper when people are looking for work and 4. Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): employment. [Interruption.] I see SNP colleagues laughing What recent discussions he has had with Ministers of at the prospect, but we are all about supporting individuals the Scottish Government on progress on implementing into the employment market. As we have seen, 70% of the Scottish rate of income tax. [900934] jobseeker’s allowance recipients say that the system of The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): sanctions and conditionality leads them to engage positively The UK and Scottish Governments continue to work with the support on offer to help them into employment. closely with each other on the implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax. The question now is how Onshore Wind Farms the Scottish Government will use the new power when it comes into effect in April 2016. 3. Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab): What Seema Malhotra: Transferring control of income tax recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of to Scotland requires HMRC to identify who Scottish Scotland on the Government’s decision to end new taxpayers are, but over the last year we have seen an subsidies for onshore wind farms by April 2016. increase in the risk rating by HMRC in terms of its [900933] ability to identify those taxpayers. Has that risk increased or decreased recently? The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell): I have regular discussions with the Scottish Government David Mundell: I can tell the House that the UK on issues affecting the energy sector, including on our Government and the Scottish Government work closely manifesto commitment to end new subsidies for onshore together on this issue. Despite the bluster that we often wind. I have also listened to organisations and communities see here, the reality is that the UK and Scottish across Scotland who support our policy of an affordable Governments are working closely on many important energy mix that also protects Scotland’s natural landscapes. issues for the people of Scotland. I am absolutely confident that the Scottish rate of income tax will be capable of Robert Flello: According to the UK Government’s being introduced next April. HMRC has done the necessary own report, 5,400 jobs depend on onshore wind.