(11 years, 7 months ago)
Commons Chamber Nicky Morgan
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Nicky Morgan 
        
    
        
    
        My hon. Friend is entirely right. The Government have taken difficult decisions to place the public finances on a sustainable footing, while protecting important areas of expenditure such as the NHS. The Government’s long-term economic plan to return the public finances to a sustainable path has restored fiscal credibility. It is notable that the Labour party has no plan, long-term or otherwise, other than to borrow more, spend more and tax more.
 Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West) (Lab/Co-op)
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Mr Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West) (Lab/Co-op) 
        
    
        
    
        Does the Minister accept that the cuts to the welfare budget will lead to an increase in poverty, particularly child poverty? Does she believe that that is a price worth paying?
 Nicky Morgan
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Nicky Morgan 
        
    
        
    
        The number of children in poverty has fallen and the number of children in workless households has gone down by 100,000.