Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Ruane Excerpts

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the Minister was referring to the Secretary of State for Education.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

3. What recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the effects of tax and benefit changes on women and their families.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Jo Swinson)]

I have had conversations with my ministerial colleagues on a range of issues. This Government are supporting women and their families, for example by extending child care support through universal credit, and by lifting 2 million of the lowest-paid workers out of income tax altogether—six out of 10 of whom are women.

[Chris Ruane]

Eighty per cent. of the gainers from the cut in the 50% tax rate are men. According to House of Commons research, 75% of the losers from tax and benefit changes are women. Does one nation Toryism include women?

[Jo Swinson]

I am not convinced that I am the best-placed person to talk about one nation Toryism, but I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that the cost of the cut to the top rate of tax is dwarfed by the large amount of money that we are putting in to the tax cut for people on low incomes. Sixty per cent. of gainers from that are women.