HC Deb 02 June 1997 vol 295 cc12-3
11. Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to change the level of benefits paid to lone parents. [885]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. Keith Bradley)

The Government have given a commitment to remain within spending totals this year and next and, in the light of the 20 social security cuts made by the previous Administration, we are examining a range of options to do so. The Secretary of State for Social Security has made it absolutely clear that the best way of tackling poverty among lone parents and children is to help parents back into work.

Mr. Lidington

Is it the Government's policy to implement the previous Government's plans to integrate payment of lone parent premium and lone parent benefit for new claimants with the comparable benefits available to married couples? If not, where does the Minister expect to find the money to fill the consequent gap in his Department's spending plans?

Mr. Bradley

The Secretary of State has already made it clear that, because of our inheritance from the previous Administration, we are examining a range of options. An announcement will be made in the Budget.

Mr. Rowlands

That was the second time in this Question Time that Ministers mentioned 20 cuts that they discovered, but which were not announced by previous Ministers. Will the Minister describe those 20 cuts, please?

Mr. Bradley

I welcome my hon. Friend back to the House. He makes a very important point, because those cuts cover all aspects of social security spending. We have inherited a complicated situation, which we are urgently reviewing. We will consider how to deal with it in the forthcoming Budget and in the subsequent uprating order.