Oral Answers to Questions

Barry Gardiner Excerpts

Tuesday 29th January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)]

2. How many households no longer eligible for child benefit have opted not to receive it.

[Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab)]

8. How many households no longer eligible for child benefit have opted not to receive it.

[The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Sajid Javid)]

The Government estimate that in the 2013-14 tax year over 1 million out of 8 million families are affected by the new charge. As of 24 January, over 340,000 recipients have opted not to receive the payment. The charge will raise over £1.7 billion each year to tackle the deficit.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Question Time must be conducted in an orderly way. It is not for a Minister to suggest that a Member should start getting up and answering questions. It is Ministers who answer questions, and that is the end of it.

[Barry Gardiner]

Will the Minister discuss with his colleagues in the Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions the effect of the combined changes that those Departments and the Treasury have made, which mean that a young child in my constituency—a British child whose mother has leave to remain and work in the UK but who is estranged from their British father as a result of his domestic violence—will now not be able to receive child benefit for at least 10 years?

[Sajid Javid]

The hon. Gentleman raises a very specific issue. I think he will understand that I have not looked at that particular concern of his constituent, but I will be happy to look at it in more detail if he provides me with more information.