Welfare Reform Bill

Rehman Chishti Excerpts
Wednesday 9th March 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Liam Byrne Portrait Mr Byrne
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman.

Rehman Chishti Portrait Rehman Chishti
- Hansard - -

Considering that the right hon. Gentleman agrees that it is absolutely right and proper to support families, does he concede that the Labour party got that wrong because couples were paid to live apart?

Liam Byrne Portrait Mr Byrne
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was in the Chamber when my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea West (Geraint Davies) spoke of the disincentives for families to stay together under the new regime, but if he wants to pretend that the Bill ends the couple penalty in the welfare system once and for all, perfectly and immaculately, I look forward to him setting out his argument.