Supporting Disadvantaged Families

Christine Jardine Excerpts
Monday 9th November 2020

(3 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Coffey
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I thank my hon. Friend for her remarks, and she is right to recognise that this support package is much more comprehensive in reaching disadvantaged children. I particularly welcome her support for the national roll-out of the holiday activities programme. Not only will there be guidance, but I genuinely hope that we can do something innovative regarding how we share best practice between the most successful schemes. We must encourage charities, in a covid-secure way, to find out what is happening in different parts of the country, so that they will be well prepared when these programmes start at Easter.

Christine Jardine Portrait Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)
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While I welcome this latest U-turn from the Government on supporting children,  I ask them to consider the fact that there are still millions of people in this country, like the constituent I spoke to on Wednesday who was at her wits’ end, who have had no help, no support, no finance from the Government at all since March. Will the Government reconsider? Will they consider universal basic income? Will they extend the help we have at the moment to the excluded?

Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Coffey
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No, we will not be doing universal basic income.