Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Monday 1st July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)]

Does not this question demonstrate the fact that the concept of national insurance has always been a bit of a con in that it is not, and never has been, an insurance scheme? Essentially, those who are in work at any time are paying, out of their taxed income, for the pensions of pensioners of that time, on the understanding that when they reach pensionable age those in work will pay their pensions. Ever since it was introduced, the phrase, “national insurance”, has been misleading.

[Mr Speaker]

I am sure the reply will be shorter than the treatise.

[Steve Webb]

My hon. Friend is correct: it is an intergenerational pension promise, although we hold to the notion that we pay bigger pensions to those who have made more years of contributions. Therefore, we believe that there is an insurance element to the scheme.

--- Later in debate ---

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

In the interests of time, Mr Speaker, I should say that I was about to ask that question.

[Mr Speaker]

Well, that is a first, not just from the hon. Gentleman but more generally.

[Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab)]

The most recent figures suggest that of the people who are on the back-to-work programme in my city of Dundee, 9% have managed to get back to work. I admit that that is an improvement on the farcical 1.4% that we had last year—the lowest in the UK, I believe—but it is not necessary to be an expert in arithmetic to work out that that means that 90% of people on the programme have still not found work. Will the Government admit that with the recent bedroom tax, which has been mentioned, and welfare benefit cuts, they are not just starving families in work but starving them full stop—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We have got it.

[Mr Hoban]

There was a nugget buried in that question: the hon. Gentleman accepts, unlike those on his party’s Front Bench, that the Work programme is improving and getting more people into work. I am delighted by his support for it.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Webb]

The hon. Lady will have heard in the comprehensive spending review announcement that the Government are committed to a £3 billion investment in building affordable housing. This is a priority for this Government and we agree entirely that previous Governments left far too few affordable houses.

[Mr Speaker]

Last but not least, I call Oliver Colvile.

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

When the benefit cap, which will develop strong work incentives, is rolled out to Plymouth, will my right hon. Friend be able to tell me how many people will be encouraged to get a job, rather than depend on benefits?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

Yes.

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful for that.