Child Poverty

Steve McCabe Excerpts
Thursday 25th June 2015

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Iain Duncan Smith Portrait Mr Duncan Smith
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I should tell them that they should wait, as should the hon. Lady, to see what we bring forward. They may be surprised.

Steve McCabe Portrait Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)
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Has the Secretary of State considered calls for the establishment of a child poverty prevention board or council, as happens elsewhere, so that we can focus all our energies on the things that really make a difference and avoid getting trapped in a sterile debate about how we measure, rather than how we reduce, poverty?

Iain Duncan Smith Portrait Mr Duncan Smith
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That is an interesting question. I agree that it is important to get beyond this sterile debate. I want to bring to the House what I consider to be the right measures, and then I will be happy to discuss options. The right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) has come up with an idea, and I am happy to discuss that as well.