---

Social Security

I would not wish to characterise any Administration—not even the hon. Gentleman’s—by picking out one statistic. I merely point out that, happily for all parts of this House, poverty in 2007 is perhaps considered a more important issue for debate than it has ever been, and certainly in my recent political memory. That is a good thing, and the debate should be about the future and not too much about the past. The Government have policies that they champion and talk about, which is fine, but to say that everything is fine and dandy, and everything in the garden is rosy, will not do, because people out there do not believe it. They want a simpler, fairer benefits system and a Government who will deliver it. They will judge a Government by their results, not just by their policy announcements—and that goes for any Government, I hasten to add.