Finance Bill

Debate between Yasmin Qureshi and Fiona Bruce

Tuesday 28th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Fiona Bruce]

I will give way—[Hon. Members: “No!”]

Moreover, if we rise to that challenge through the provision of a transferable allowance, as suggested by the new clause, we would do so in a way that makes it easier for one parent to stay at home for the children, which parents value and from which children benefit. That is also a matter of women’s rights, for it is often women who will exercise greater choice and flexibility. Women want that choice.

A 2008 YouGov poll found that 88% of parents think that more should be done to help parents who wish to stay at home and bring up their children in the early years, and 97% of them agree that the Government should do more in this area. Furthermore—this is of huge importance—the relative costs of introducing a transferable allowance are small when compared with the huge costs of family breakdown. I quoted those figures earlier.