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Written Question
Welfare Tax Credits
Tuesday 10th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish an equality assessment of the Government's changes to tax credits.

Answered by Damian Hinds


As the Chancellor has made clear, the Government will set out at Autumn Statement how we plan to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.


The Government carefully considers all relevant legal obligations – including the equalities duty – when formulating welfare policy.


Written Question
Welfare Tax Credits: Older People
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many people over the age of 55 are likely to be affected by the Government's changes to tax credits.

Answered by Damian Hinds

This information is not available.


This Government is committed to moving from a high welfare, high tax, low wage economy to a lower welfare, lower tax, higher wage society. As the Chancellor has made clear, the Government will set out at Autumn Statement how we plan to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.


Written Question
Public Expenditure
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many households are likely to be negatively affected by the measures announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Answered by Damian Hinds

The Government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.


The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.



Written Question
Welfare Tax Credits
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many working households including people under 25 are likely to lose income as a result of changes he has announced to tax credits.

Answered by Damian Hinds

The Government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.


The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.



Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Pontypridd of 9 October 2015 on the cumulative effect on working families of his reforms to tax credits and benefits.

Answered by Damian Hinds

I have replied to the hon member.


Written Question
Housing Benefit: Young People
Monday 9th November 2015

Asked by: Owen Smith (Labour - Pontypridd)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people aged 18 to 21 in receipt of housing benefit also received tax credits in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the effect on those people of planned reforms to tax credit.

Answered by Damian Hinds

The Government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.


The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.



Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2015
Welfare Reform and Work Bill

"I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time...."
Owen Smith - View Speech

View all Owen Smith (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2015
Welfare Reform and Work Bill

"I rise for a second time to speak to new clause 1 in my name and those of my hon. Friends the shadow Chancellor, the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and my shadow Work and Pensions team. The new clause is very straightforward. It would repeal the Tax Credits …..."
Owen Smith - View Speech

View all Owen Smith (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2015
Welfare Reform and Work Bill

"I will start with a different figure, because 5,000 of the hon. Gentleman’s constituents who will be hit by this change should ask him what he thinks is fair or just about asking them—hard-working families in his patch—to take a 10% cut to their income. That to me is the …..."
Owen Smith - View Speech

View all Owen Smith (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 27 Oct 2015
Welfare Reform and Work Bill

"I have heard that argument a lot recently, and there is no evidence to support such a contention. It is nice to believe that were we to reduce the amount of money people have—withdraw the subsidy, as the hon. Gentleman would say—some employers would increase their payments to people and …..."
Owen Smith - View Speech

View all Owen Smith (Lab - Pontypridd) contributions to the debate on: Welfare Reform and Work Bill