"Does the Conservative party not fail to understand what tax credits are all about? The tax credit policy was successful in that it moved people into work, and, in particular, underpinned the major progress that was made when single parents were allowed to move into work. When we talk about …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"The right hon. Gentleman makes a good point about the importance of allowing people to keep more of their money when they work longer hours. How does he square that commitment with the fact that the changes coming in next April will increase the tapers on higher earnings so that …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"Before the election, the Prime Minister promised to maintain the value of tax credits. He has broken that promise. He also said on 22 April that the Government were
“using all the tools at our disposal”,
including the “tax and benefit system”, to “make work pay”. Today, we are debating …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"I will not give way because many people want to speak.
My particular concern is that London has the highest level of child poverty of any region in the country and, with 356,000 families receiving tax credits, almost 750,000 children will be losers as a result of this policy. A …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"This is a budget that does little or, in many cases, nothing for the millions in the lowest income groups in this country. Unsurprisingly, the chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said:
“This is a Budget for the people who already have, not the people who need to …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"I am talking about the 13 million people on very low incomes, many of whom have incomes that are so low that they will not benefit from the change in the income tax threshold, welcome though that is. It will do nothing for the people whose earnings are already below …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"Social care workers do one of the most important jobs in our society. Does my hon. Friend share my concern that in my borough, Westminster, and, I am sure, in others, social care workers are not even guaranteed the minimum wage as the travelling time between appointments is not counted …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"I thank my hon. Friend for giving way, and I am sure that Members on both sides of the House would like to welcome her back from her maternity leave. Does she share my concern that 4.8 million people are now earning below the living wage? Does she agree that …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"Does it cause the Minister any concern at all that since his Government took office in 2010 there has been a 50% rise in the number of working people who require help with their housing costs and that this Government will spend £14 billion more on supporting private tenants with …..." Karen Buck - View Speech
"The housing investment that the Government have announced must be set against the halving of the affordable housing programme inherited from the previous Government, which led to a halving of social house completions last year. Is it not true that the right hon. Gentleman’s affordable rent model is based on …..." Karen Buck - View Speech