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Alison Thewliss

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Point of Order
Monday 20th February 2017

(7 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Single-sentence questions, I hope. Alison Thewliss.

Alison Thewliss Portrait Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)
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I am astonished that the Secretary of State said that the rape clause was not punitive, given that, in their response to the consultation, the Government said that many respondents considered it

“unacceptable for Government to ask women to re-live the ordeal of a rape just in order to make a claim for benefit.”

Will the Minister and the Government accept that the policy is simply unworkable, and absolutely despicable?

Damian Green Portrait Damian Green
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I do not accept that, and I do not think the hon. Lady’s description of the exemptions to that clause accord with reality. The system that we are proposing is not remotely punitive; it is entirely sensible and workable.

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