Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts
Tuesday 11th December 2012

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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The right hon. Gentleman was a senior member of the previous Government, who, over 13 years, presided over an increase in the number of workless households to a record 3.9 million. In his constituency, in the last Labour term, the number of youth jobseeker’s allowance claimants increased by 148%. I hope that he will join me in welcoming the fact that such claims are down by 19% under this Government.

Charlie Elphicke Portrait Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)
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May I ask the Minister to confirm that the previous Government’s child poverty targets were missed by 600,000, that according to the latest figures child poverty fell last year by 300,000 and that universal credit will reduce child poverty further, by up to 350,000?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Government are relentlessly focused on eradicating poverty and the measures he has talked about, such as universal credit, increase work incentives and help people back into work.