Tax Credits Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Tuesday 15th September 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Seema Malhotra Portrait Seema Malhotra
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The hon. Gentleman does not make it any better for his Front-Bench team, as what we have seen is a rise in child poverty. We absolutely agree that we need to find ways to encourage families to come off tax credits, but it should be done by a rise in income and through growth in the economy.

Lyn Brown Portrait Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab)
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During the election campaign, the Prime Minister told the country that the value of tax credits would not fall. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government’s behaviour is putting democracy in peril?

Seema Malhotra Portrait Seema Malhotra
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and it is shocking that a Government who profess to care about democracy should be so afraid of scrutiny.

Today’s changes are substantial and highly controversial, and we oppose them.