§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has studied "Children and Poverty" by the Child Poverty Action Group; and what is his policy towards the recommendations contained therein.
§ Mr. NewtonI have studied the report with interest. Within the supplementary benefit scheme, the Government have made a point of channelling extra resources towards families with children. But I cannot endorse the basis of the report's argument. Successive Governments have agreed with the view of the Supplementary Benefits Commission that the supplementary benefit scale rates should not be based on a list of requirements which is bound to be arbitrary in nature.