Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Priti Patel and Steve Reed

Tuesday 4th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Steve Reed (Croydon North) (Lab)]

12. How many working people are in receipt of tax credits.

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Priti Patel)]

In April 2014 there were 3.3 million people in work receiving tax credits, down from 4.8 million in April 2010.

[Mr Reed]

When the Chancellor came to office, less than a quarter of housing benefit claimants in Croydon were making claims to supplement low pay. Today that figure is two fifths. Will the Minister apologise for pushing growing numbers of hard-working Croydon families into poverty?

[Priti Patel]

When it comes to the cost of living, Labour’s great recession is what made the country and the hon. Gentleman’s constituents a whole lot poorer. We now have record levels of employment, including a 9% increase in his constituency. Perhaps he would like to welcome that.