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07/10/2010
Cap On Benefits Will Encourage 'Responsibility'
The Culture Secretary has said the state should not support families who get more in benefits than the average family earns.
He said that introducing a new cap on family benefits will encourage "responsibility" about the number of children people have.
In his latest interview, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, told BBC's Newsnight the new ceiling was not a "penalty" on large families.
Following on from the party conference speech in Birmingham, Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans for a maximum limit on the amount of benefits a family can claim, with the exception of the disabled.
In the interest of fairness, Mr Hunt said no family would receive more in benefits than the average family got from going out to work.
He added: "The number of children that you have is a choice and what we're saying is that if people are living on benefits then they make choices but they also have to have responsibility for those choices.
"It's not going to be the role of the state to finance those choices."
Mr Hunt continued: "You can have children but if you are going to ask for support that is more than the average wage that people earn then we're saying no, the state shouldn't support that.
"That's not fair on working people who have to pay the taxes to pay those benefits."
He also stood by the right to withdraw previously universal child benefit from families where one parent was paying the higher rate of income tax.
He concluded: "If ever there was a week when the Conservative Party and the coalition demonstrated its commitment to fairness, it's this week when they removed child benefit from top-rate taxpayers."
(BMcN/KMcA)
He said that introducing a new cap on family benefits will encourage "responsibility" about the number of children people have.
In his latest interview, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, told BBC's Newsnight the new ceiling was not a "penalty" on large families.
Following on from the party conference speech in Birmingham, Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans for a maximum limit on the amount of benefits a family can claim, with the exception of the disabled.
In the interest of fairness, Mr Hunt said no family would receive more in benefits than the average family got from going out to work.
He added: "The number of children that you have is a choice and what we're saying is that if people are living on benefits then they make choices but they also have to have responsibility for those choices.
"It's not going to be the role of the state to finance those choices."
Mr Hunt continued: "You can have children but if you are going to ask for support that is more than the average wage that people earn then we're saying no, the state shouldn't support that.
"That's not fair on working people who have to pay the taxes to pay those benefits."
He also stood by the right to withdraw previously universal child benefit from families where one parent was paying the higher rate of income tax.
He concluded: "If ever there was a week when the Conservative Party and the coalition demonstrated its commitment to fairness, it's this week when they removed child benefit from top-rate taxpayers."
(BMcN/KMcA)
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Independent research published today shows that 90% of people prefer having benefits put directly into a bank account, according to a Downing Street spokesperson. The Direct Payment system is now on track to reach 85% of pensioners, mothers, carers and jobseekers by April 2005.
09 January 2014
Benefits Capped For Almost 33,000 Households
Almost 33,000 households had their benefits capped by November 2013, new figures reveal. Capping benefits so that households can no longer get more in benefits than the average family earns is a key part of the government’s long-term economic plan to make sure we deliver for hardworking people and fix the broken welfare system.
Benefits Capped For Almost 33,000 Households
Almost 33,000 households had their benefits capped by November 2013, new figures reveal. Capping benefits so that households can no longer get more in benefits than the average family earns is a key part of the government’s long-term economic plan to make sure we deliver for hardworking people and fix the broken welfare system.
21 January 2005
Report criticises benefits system for families
A couple with children are only £1 better off than a lone parent, a new report has claimed. However, if the couple were to split up, the government would increase their income by between 35% and 65%, the report, published by the Centre for Policy Studies, claimed.
Report criticises benefits system for families
A couple with children are only £1 better off than a lone parent, a new report has claimed. However, if the couple were to split up, the government would increase their income by between 35% and 65%, the report, published by the Centre for Policy Studies, claimed.
01 September 2006
Children to be consulted on family courts
Young people are to be consulted on plans to make the courts more child friendly in an online forum which becomes active today.
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23 June 2004
Government hails family benefits of Sure Start programme
The Sure Start programme is helping parents to improve their relationships with their children, according to research published today. Local Sure Start programmes aim to improve the health and wellbeing of families and children up to the age of four. There are now 524 local programmes, helping up to 400,000 children living in disadvantaged areas.
Government hails family benefits of Sure Start programme
The Sure Start programme is helping parents to improve their relationships with their children, according to research published today. Local Sure Start programmes aim to improve the health and wellbeing of families and children up to the age of four. There are now 524 local programmes, helping up to 400,000 children living in disadvantaged areas.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
