Inherited Social Housing Tenancies Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Inherited Social Housing Tenancies

Philip Davies Excerpts
Monday 24th March 2014

(10 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Esther McVey Portrait Esther McVey
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I know that the Secretary of State is in discussions with the Deputy First Minister, and obviously we will do the right thing and speak with her.

Philip Davies Portrait Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con)
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Given that we are talking about inherited social housing tenancies, may I urge the Minister to stick to her guns to ensure that the welfare state is about being a safety net for people in need and that it is rebalanced to make sure that it is just as fair for taxpayers as it is for people claiming benefits? May I also give some free advice to the Opposition? Given their lamentable response to the Budget last week, they need to do better than to keep flogging this particular dead horse.

Esther McVey Portrait Esther McVey
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As my hon. Friend knows, we are ensuring that welfare works and we have a benefits system that works for the 21st century. We know that we are reaping rewards from that: the number of people living in workless households has fallen; the number of people in employment is at a record level; and youth unemployment has fallen for six consecutive months. What the Government are doing is correct, and in the future the Opposition will no doubt follow.