Women and the Cost of Living

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts

Tuesday 19th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Gloria De Piero]

Energy bills have gone up and continue to go up dramatically—not because of green levies, but because of over-charging by the energy companies. That is why we will get tough on those energy companies, introduce a regulator with teeth and freeze energy bills until we sort the market out for good.

The cost of child care has risen by 30% since the election —five times faster than pay. A mum working part time on an average wage has to work from Monday to Thursday before she has paid off the weekly child care bill.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

Does not the impact on women come from the cost of having to look after not only young children, but their elderly parents? Is my hon. Friend aware of the Scottish Widows survey showing that, as a result, nearly 40% of women are not making provision for their retirement?

[Gloria De Piero]

I thank my hon. Friend for drawing attention to that survey. I shall make sure that I look into its findings.

Many families must decide not when mum will go back to work after maternity leave, but whether it makes financial sense for her to do so at all. According to a survey by Asda, 70% of stay-at-home mums said that in the current climate they would be worse off if they worked, because of the cost of child care. The Government’s response has been to take £7 billion away from families with children, and to remove the ring fence from Sure Start, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs.

The day before the election, the Prime Minister looked down the barrel of a camera and told women throughout the country that he backed Sure Start. Let me repeat his words in full.

“Yes, we back Sure Start. It’s a disgrace that Gordon Brown has been trying to frighten people about this. He’s the Prime Minister of this country but he’s been scaring people about something that really matters.”

What about the Deputy Prime Minister? What did he say on the day before the election?

“Sure Start is one of the best things the last government has done and I want all these centres to stay open.”