Clause 23 - Payments
Tax Credits Bill
11:45 am
Ms Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury; Bristol South, Labour)
The hon. Member for Hertsmere spoke about swings and roundabouts. I would put it more in terms of balance. Although I appreciate the importance of ensuring that requirements and obligations on business are reasonable, the arguments so far have been one-sided and isolated from a wider set of changes that the Government are making with regard to facilitating the efficient and productive operation of large and small businesses. The Government's preoccupation in considering changes in legislation was not shared by our predecessors.
The CBI brief has been widely quoted in the debate. It states:
''The CBI supported the introduction of the tax credits system, including paying via the pay packet, as a valuable way of incentivising work. In that context, it also supports the extension of the principle of tax credits to employees without children.''
That is the CBI's principled position.
The debate has been long. I am more than happy to give way to the hon. Gentleman, but I should put more of my argument on record.