Jacqui
Smith calls for debate in Parliament on threat
to
Redditch
Children Centres and family tax credit
Jacqui Smith has
called for a Parliamentary debate on support for families so that
she can raise concerns about Conservative plans to cut Redditch
Children centres and tax credits.
Jacqui visited all the Sure Start
Children’s Centres in Redditch in recent months and was impressed
to see the range of work they carried out. This week, in their family
manifesto, the Conservatives proposed limiting Sure Start to
parents who were not working.
Jacqui also criticised Conservative
proposals for a tax break to promote marriage.
Jacqui called
for the debate during questions to the Leader of the House, Harriet
Harman on Thursday.
Extract from Hansard:
Jacqui Smith
(Redditch) (Lab): May I push my right hon. and learned Friend on
the subject of a debate about support for families so that I can
raise the concerns of working parents across Redditch-married and
unmarried-who fear that they will lose the little bit of help that
comes from their tax credit as well as access to Redditch's
children's centres so that funding can be given to an
unthought-through and ill-conceived tax break to encourage them up
the aisle?
Ms Harman: It
might well be a good idea to have a debate on this issue. On that
occasion, we will ask the Opposition to explain whether they think
that any couple has got married thinking, "Well, we weren't
going to get
married but we will get married now because we have heard that
there will be a tax break." Relationships do not work like that and
there is no evidence that couples can be made to stay happy
together simply on the basis of a tax break. The point about the
proposed tax break is that it will not work when it comes to making
families happy together. However, it will penalise those who find
that their marriage has failed and stigmatise children in families
who have not stayed together. Such a debate might be a good
opportunity to air the subject on the Floor of the
House.”
Commenting on
the call, Jacqui said:
“Conservative
plans to restrict access to Sure Start, would inevitably lead to
some people who
currently use the Redditch centres being turned away. Proposals to limit tax credits
will mean families losing out when they’re facing all the costs of
bringing up children.
That’s
precisely the sort of pressure that adds to family break down, but
the Conservatives would rather spend the money on tax breaks for
married people. How
will that make the Redditch widow or hard working single mum
feel? Hard working
families – married or unmarried – will lose out under these
plans.”
Jacqui Smith MP
To contact Jacqui about this
article, please email her at smithjj@parliament.uk
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