For immediate release: 3rd October
More changes to Benefits on the way
Local MP, Sandra Osborne said,
“The Tory/Lib Dem Government has plans to cut a further £9 billion from the benefits budget while announcing moves towards a single universal benefit designed to encourage people off benefits into work. There is nothing wrong with a single universal benefit in principle – indeed the last Labour Government looked into this a couple of years ago- but it would need a lot of money to make it work without disadvantaging some of the most vulnerable groups. Forgive me for being cynical but I doubt the present Government will want to put that level of funding into it.
Here are just a few facts to bear in mind:
· The Labour Government did get people off benefits and in to work. Our approach led to: a 12% increase in the employment for lone parents and a fall in Incapacity Benefit claimants of 164,000 from 2004 to 2010.
· Labour had already set in motion plans for a ‘better off in work’ credit to ensure everyone would be at least £40 per week better off.
· By cutting the Future Jobs Fund, the Young Persons Guarantee, and by reducing funding for job centres, the Coalition are doing nothing to help people back to work.
· The Coalition have already reduced tax credits and child benefit by changing the index from RPI to CPI. This will disincentive work and have very serious long-term implications.
· By reducing the tax credit entitlement from £50,000 to £30,000, the Coalition will disincentive work for many women because of increased childcare costs.
· The Coalition have already announced huge cuts to Housing Benefit – which goes to those in work as well as those out of work – and they have abandoned our plans for Housing Benefit “run ons” to smooth the transition into work.
I will wait to see the details of what they propose – but unless there is the funding to make it work and real new jobs for people on benefit to take up – it just won’t work.”
Sandra Osborne MP
Ends
More changes to Benefits on the way
Local MP, Sandra Osborne said,
“The Tory/Lib Dem Government has plans to cut a further £9 billion from the benefits budget while announcing moves towards a single universal benefit designed to encourage people off benefits into work. There is nothing wrong with a single universal benefit in principle – indeed the last Labour Government looked into this a couple of years ago- but it would need a lot of money to make it work without disadvantaging some of the most vulnerable groups. Forgive me for being cynical but I doubt the present Government will want to put that level of funding into it.
Here are just a few facts to bear in mind:
· The Labour Government did get people off benefits and in to work. Our approach led to: a 12% increase in the employment for lone parents and a fall in Incapacity Benefit claimants of 164,000 from 2004 to 2010.
· Labour had already set in motion plans for a ‘better off in work’ credit to ensure everyone would be at least £40 per week better off.
· By cutting the Future Jobs Fund, the Young Persons Guarantee, and by reducing funding for job centres, the Coalition are doing nothing to help people back to work.
· The Coalition have already reduced tax credits and child benefit by changing the index from RPI to CPI. This will disincentive work and have very serious long-term implications.
· By reducing the tax credit entitlement from £50,000 to £30,000, the Coalition will disincentive work for many women because of increased childcare costs.
· The Coalition have already announced huge cuts to Housing Benefit – which goes to those in work as well as those out of work – and they have abandoned our plans for Housing Benefit “run ons” to smooth the transition into work.
I will wait to see the details of what they propose – but unless there is the funding to make it work and real new jobs for people on benefit to take up – it just won’t work.”
Sandra Osborne MP
Ends