Welfare Reform Bill

Gordon Henderson Excerpts

Wednesday 1st February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Dame Anne Begg]

Indeed. As I said earlier, the people who will be punished most are those who have done the right thing. They are the ones who have been in work, the ones who have saved, and the ones who have partners who have been in work and remain in work. It would be much easier for their partners to drop out of work as well, because they and their partners would then, as a household, qualify for the benefit. That would probably be the wrong thing to do from the point of view of the family, but given such a benefits system—I was going to say “a benefits system that would make them better off”, but it might not do that—it will become a logical choice for a working partner in those circumstances to give up work. Although it would probably be wrong, it would be logical.

[Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)]

Does the hon. Lady accept the principle of means-testing? That is my first question. If so, what level would she set?

[Dame Anne Begg]

I do accept the principle of means-testing, but I am not sure why that is relevant.

[Gordon Henderson]

rose—

[Dame Anne Begg]

Will the hon. Gentleman sit down while I answer his question? The whole point of contributory ESA is that it is based on national insurance contributions. These are people who may have worked for 30 or 40 years, paying into what they thought was an insurance scheme. Does the hon. Gentleman, if he has insurance, expect the insurers not to pay out at the point at which the money is due to be paid?

[Gordon Henderson]

I thank the hon. Lady for giving way to me again. I have been made redundant twice in my life, and on both occasions, because I had capital, I was not entitled to any employment relief. I was given no benefits at all, because I had about £20,000 in the bank, and although I had been paying into the system since I was 16, I had to accept that.

[Hon. Members]

What was your illness?