§ Mr. Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)I seek the permission of the House to present a petition in relation to proposals originally published by the Government in December in the White Paper as a consequence of the social security reviews undertaken by the Secretary of State for Social Services.
The petition has garnered 32,641 signatures since that time, across the length and breadth of the four kingdoms. The petition is addressed to the proposals contained in the White Paper on reform of social security, which will lead to millions of needy people losing benefits. They will seriously affect pensioners, women, young people, the unemployed and those with exceptional needs such as the chronically sick and disabled.
The petition concludes:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House do not proceed with legislation arising from the proposals set out in the White Paper on the reform of social security.I beg to present the petition.
§ To lie upon the Table.