Food Banks

Part of Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day] — Accident and Emergency – in the House of Commons at 4:23 pm on 18 December 2013.

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Photo of Esther McVey Esther McVey The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions 4:23, 18 December 2013

It is only fair that I set the scene before taking interventions.

Labour left the UK with the highest structural deficit of any major advanced country. It wiped £112 billion off the economy, leaving a debt of about £3,000 to every household. Personal debt reached a staggering £1.5 trillion. That whirl of living beyond our means—that increase in prices, debt and unaffordability—had to come to a stop. It came to a stop suddenly and, sadly, we are all paying the price. The Government are paying the price, charities are paying the price, businesses are paying the price and individuals are paying the price as we try to balance not only our household budgets, but the budget of the country. [Interruption.]