New Clause 2
Child Poverty Bill
5:45 pm
Steve Webb (Northavon, Liberal Democrat)
No, for reasons that I will explain. There is a fair point about rates of benefits and tax credits to couples relative to their poverty line, which is different from that of lone parents. There are relativities in the system. Why do lone parents get more money? It is not necessarily pro rata to their needs but because they are, on average, more deprived in other ways. The amount they are paid in benefits and tax credits is trying to do something else, as well as meet needs.