Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Jones Excerpts

Monday 30th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stunell]

Yes I do. I would make the point that with localism comes the capacity of local authorities to fine-tune the schemes in their areas to suit their local circumstances, and I would encourage local authorities to start to do that.

[Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab)]

The Minister needs to accept that the scheme he is proposing is arbitrary and unfair, and hits the working poor most. How can he possibly justify cuts of between 13% and 25% in benefit for people of working age, and a switch from annually managed expenditure to grant, which means that any increase in claims will be paid for by cuts in benefit for the poorest people? Is it not time that the Government, who were prepared to accept a million-pound bonus for a banker, realise that they do not have the moral authority to inflict such cuts on the poorest people in our communities?

[Andrew Stunell]

I think that that was yesterday’s soundbite—[Interruption.]