Parliamentary Search

Proceeding contribution from Lord Harper (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 17 March 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill on Welfare Reform Bill.

Welfare Reform Bill

The hon. Gentleman should recognise that, as the official Opposition, we cannot find any money because we are not in government. We do not know the state of the public finances. If we won a general election, we would face a deficit of more than £100 billion in the current financial year, and probably £200 billion next year—the worst public finance figures that the country has faced—and that is only what we are told. When one is in opposition and thinking about how we would behave in government, one has to reserve judgment until we know what we will find.

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
489 c841 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Staff Poverty Disability living allowance Contracts Childcare Benefits rules Department for Work and Pensions Equality Jobseeker's allowance Income support Jobcentres Eligibility Disqualification Domestic abuse Drugs Rehabilitation Private sector Jobcentre Plus Mental illness Low incomes Misuse Lone parents Reform Unemployment Pathways to work programme Social security benefits Scotland Social security Visual impairment Young people Unemployment benefits Work experience Sanctions Welfare to work
Legislation
Welfare Reform Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk