Oral Answers to Questions

Anne Begg Excerpts

Wednesday 8th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I am relieved that Mr Speaker wants to hear that the book says

“if governments don’t tackle deficits…This then increases the risk of prolonged slump…If we fail to offer a convincing path out of debt, that...will itself plunge us into stagnation.”

I agree.

[Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) (Lab)]

Q3. The charity Shelter this week revealed that 54,000 children who live in households that are already well below the poverty line are going to lose out as a result of the changes to housing benefit, and the Department for Work and Pensions’ own document has revealed that 52,000 of the poorest pensioners will be on average £11 a week worse off as a result of the changes. Is that what the Chancellor meant when he said his Budget was tough but fair?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

The legacy we inherited—[Hon. Members: “Oh!”] I know Opposition Members do not want to hear this, but it is worth reminding people in the country at large that after 13 years of Labour the United Kingdom has the highest—[Interruption.]