Extract from SNP led
debate on Cost of Living Increases
(Midlothian) (SNP):...As
things stand, poor decisions and self-inflicted damage over a
decade have left the UK without the resilience to cope when
external factors such as covid or the war in Ukraine take their
toll. We have had a poverty problem in the UK for years, yet more
and more families on modest earnings are finding that they are
being pushed into poverty. The New Economics
Foundation warned that by April, half of children
will be in families who cannot afford the cost of living. It
should be a matter of shame for this Government that food banks
have become an accepted thing in our towns. I pay huge tribute to
the Trussell Trust and Midlothian Foodbank, Food Facts Friends in
Penicuik and all the volunteers involved with them, but they
should not be necessary. We need Government action, and we need
to reduce the size of the storm that households are about to
face...
For context, CLICK HERE
Extract from oral
answer Lords on Inflation: Families
The Lord : By now, we are aware
that the cost-of-living crisis will hit every one of us, but the
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Child Poverty Action Group,
Resolution Foundation and New Economics
Foundation all agree that it is going to hit
families with children hardest, particular those with more than
two children. They will see a real-terms cut in their benefits
this year. There are further warnings of inflation of over 10%
for the poorest families if the Ukrainian conflict continues and
there are no plans for further mitigation from the Government. In
this climate, can the Minister point us to parameters that
demonstrate the ongoing apparent success of the two-child limit
or does she agree that now is the time simply to scrap it?
(Con): My
Lords, the Government understand people’s concern about pressure
on household budgets and are taking action to help. We are
working closely and monitoring the situation with the Bank of
England. The Government are also putting in place policies to
help families and individuals to meet the rising costs of living,
such as increasing the national living wage and cutting the taper
rate in universal credit. I am sorry to disappoint the right
reverend Prelate, but we have no plans to change the two-child
policy.
To read all the exchanges, CLICK HERE
