All 1 Debates between Fiona Bruce and Yasmin Qureshi

Tue 28th Jun 2011

Finance Bill

Debate between Fiona Bruce and Yasmin Qureshi
Tuesday 28th June 2011

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce
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I will give way—[Hon. Members: “No!”]

Moreover, if we rise to that challenge through the provision of a transferable allowance, as suggested by the new clause, we would do so in a way that makes it easier for one parent to stay at home for the children, which parents value and from which children benefit. That is also a matter of women’s rights, for it is often women who will exercise greater choice and flexibility. Women want that choice.

A 2008 YouGov poll found that 88% of parents think that more should be done to help parents who wish to stay at home and bring up their children in the early years, and 97% of them agree that the Government should do more in this area. Furthermore—this is of huge importance—the relative costs of introducing a transferable allowance are small when compared with the huge costs of family breakdown. I quoted those figures earlier.