Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent and Damian Hinds

Tuesday 16th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ruth Smeeth (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)]

12. If he will maintain current levels of and entitlement to child benefit over the next five years.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Damian Hinds)]

As the Prime Minister pledged before the election, this Government will not cut child benefit.

[Ruth Smeeth]

In my constituency, there have been reports of children returning to school in September malnourished because their parents are struggling to afford to feed them. Does the Minister agree that cuts to either child benefit or child tax credit would exacerbate the problem and make the issue of holiday hunger even more common?

[Damian Hinds]

The Prime Minister has made this extremely clear by stating categorically that child benefit stays as is. The most important thing in regard to affordability and household budgets is to increase employment and ensure that people are in good jobs. The Government have also done an awful lot to bear down on household costs to make them more affordable.