§ Mr. Alfred Dubs (Battersea)I wish to present a petition on behalf of 2,000 or more residents of my constituency and others who live or work in the London borough of Wandsworth. The petition has my full support and that of my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox), but, alas, it does not have the support of the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor). The petition says:
We believe that the measures proposed in the green paper "Reform of Social Security" are an affront to the principle established by Beveridge, of the prevention of poverty by paying benefit as of right without a means test.We protest that the abolition of payments for special needs; including heating additions for the elderly, disabled, sick and young will force poor families further into poverty.We deplore the proposed cuts in housing benefit, the abolition of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme and the withdrawal of maternity grant, death grant and widows allowances.We call on the Government to withdraw these proposals and introduce new plans to develop the social security system for the benefit of all by redistributing wealth away from the rich.
§ To lie upon the Table.