Business of the House

Yvonne Fovargue Excerpts

Thursday 14th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Sir George Young]

I wholly agree with my hon. Friend’s point about the release, and I know that the British Government share that concern. He will have an opportunity on 16 November to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about this. Alternatively, he can apply for a debate in Westminster Hall or through the Backbench Business Committee.

[Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab)]

I would like to ask the Leader of the House for a debate on the real consequences for women of the proposed loss of child benefit—just one example of which would be the effect on their state pensions.

[Sir George Young]

The hon. Lady raises a legitimate point about whether the loss of child benefit will have an impact on the entitlement to a state retirement pension in the wife’s own right, and that is something that we will want to consider.