Oral Answers to Questions

Claire Perry Excerpts

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Miss Smith]

I have a number of things to say to the hon. Lady, none of which would include any personal questions, of course.

I can assure the hon. Lady that the Government are reducing the deficit fairly, and I would point out in particular that we are taking 1.1 million of the lowest-paid workers out of tax entirely, and the majority of them are women. She will welcome that as much as I do. Furthermore, she should know that unemployment rose to its level of 30% under her party’s Government.[Official Report, 3 November 2011, Vol. 534, c. 6MC.]

[Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend also agree that one of the most important steps this Government have taken is to exempt from the pay freeze the lowest-paid workers in the public sector, 80% of whom are women?

[Miss Smith]

I certainly do welcome that, and it is important to combine that with taking women out of income tax, as I have already mentioned.