Poverty (Hansard, 16 July 1974)

§ 3. Mr. David Steel
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now recommend setting up a Royal Commission on poverty.

§ Mr. O'Malley
For the reasons I gave to the hon. Member in replying to his Question of 7th May, I do not consider that any new general inquiry into poverty is required at the present time.—[Vol. 873, c. 192–3.]

§ Mr. Steel
Since that Question the hon. Gentleman has been kind enough to give me a Written Answer setting out some of the excellent research that is being undertaken in his Department. Does he not accept, however, that research into individual aspects of poverty is not the answer to my Question and that as a society we have still failed to tackle poverty? Is there not a case for an inquiry of an all-embracing and powerful kind?

§ Mr. O'Malley
I consider the hon. Gentleman's Question very sympathetically and without prejudice. But I believe that we know enough of the scope and the extent of poverty in the country at present to know that what is most important is to bring forward financial measures to relieve that poverty. That is what the Government will be doing in the coming months.
As to a detailed examination by a Royal Commission which the hon. Gentleman has suggested, the situation could arise that Governments again could have to wait for the report of a Royal Commission before legislating, and there is need for urgent legislation on pensions and child poverty for example. I think that it is more useful to do that in the near future rather than to be embarking on another detailed survey.

§ Mr. William Hamilton
Does not my hon. Friend agree that an immediate short-term solution to this problem would be an increase in the family allowance, and particularly the introduction of an allowance for the first child?

§ Mr. O'Malley
I understand very well the point raised by my hon. Friend. These are matters which the Government will examine as resources become available. On the part of the question relating to the first child, my hon. Friend will know that we have a manifesto commitment to introduce a family endowment system, including payment for the first child. This matter, with all our other manifesto commitments, is at present being considered by the Government. The present Government, as my hon. Friend will know, keep their manifesto promises.

§ Sir G. Howe
Will the Minister give the House an assurance that the Government have now repented of their dilatoriness about the tax credit scheme and will proceed to implement a scheme based upon the tax credit idea, which would be the most effective way of relieving poverty and has already been devised and considered by the House?

§ Mr. O'Malley
I have already explained to the right hon. and learned Gentleman at previous Question Times that we have rejected the tax credit scheme put forward by the previous administration. I ask him to await the policy proposals which will be put forward by the Government. He can then judge, as the nation will judge, how effective our total antipoverty strategy is.