Public Expenditure

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:48 pm on 16 July 1998.

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Photo of Alistair Darling Alistair Darling The Chief Secretary to the Treasury 4:48, 16 July 1998

Not just now.

The number of lone parents on benefit is now below 1 million for the first time in many years. We have tackled the waste that we said we would tackle. In our manifesto we promised to do more for families in need and that is why we increased child benefit by a record amount. At the same time, we have been able to improve the position of many pensioners, which is something else that we promised in our manifesto.

Conservative Members cannot have it both ways. If they think that we are spending too much on pensions, child benefit and on helping the disabled—all the things we said we would do—they have to say what they would cut.

That is not the only thing that Conservative Members have to explain. Conservative Members are saying that we are spending far too much money—that is the view of the shadow Chancellor—while, at the same time, some Opposition spokesmen and women are saying that they want to spend more on health, education, pensions and defence. They must explain which view is right. Do they want more or less money to be spent? I am inclined to believe the view of the shadow Chancellor because he is an extremely important person in the Opposition and because the Leader of the Opposition was saying the same yesterday.