International Women’s Day

Elizabeth Truss Excerpts

Thursday 8th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Fiona Mactaggart]

I am old enough to remember the invention of child benefit. It ended a child tax allowance system that advantaged the richest more. The great thing about child benefit is that it says that all of us are responsible for children. It ought to be universal. It is, in effect, a tax allowance for children. It is quite wrong to suggest that it is a benefit from which richer people should be exempted. Everyone who has children should be responsible for them.

[Elizabeth Truss (South West Norfolk) (Con)]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Fiona Mactaggart]

I want to give everyone the opportunity to get in. Although I am happy to take interventions, I think that I should resist so that more Members have a chance to—

[Elizabeth Truss]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Fiona Mactaggart]

I have just explained why I am not giving way.

We are told that the proposed universal benefit will make work pay, but for whom? It will end the tradition, built up in the Labour years, of paying family benefits to the main carer in the household, who is usually a woman. Men will be the default recipient. As a result, women and children will get less.