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Child Poverty Bill

I realise I have to be politically correct in these matters. I was congratulating the Government on not subsidising a process of adjustment but allowing the market and the contracts between employers and employees to hold sway, albeit the employees took a hit. In practice, what happened economically was that instead of having another half-a-million people unemployed and fully dependent on the state, the misery was spread in that way. So, yes, I was congratulating the flinty heart of the Government on this occasion. That is what I was trying to do but I do not know whether they appreciated being congratulated on this. On the point about enterprise and self-employment, the Government have substantially downplayed self-employment as a solution for unemployment. I quoted a figure of 5,000 a year going down the self-employment route as compared with the figures for the end of the last recessions of nearly 100,000 a year. The noble Lord, Lord Martin, emphasised the point that, as a route out of unemployment, it is of great value. However, you need help. That is why I advertised our policy, which I knew the Committee would appreciate, of a mentoring process. You cannot expect people to do it on their own. That was why I wanted to push that particular aspect of supporting it. I am very grateful to the Minister for his response, although I am disappointed that he has not just automatically accepted the amendment. I cannot understand why he does not do that more often. On that basis, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 30 withdrawn.