POVERTY IN THE UK

Early day motion 877, tabled 5 February 2008 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House notes the recent comments by the Government's welfare reforms adviser, David Freud, about those on incapacity benefits, by the newly appointed Work and Pensions Secretary of State on the unemployed and those on incapacity benefits and by the new Housing Minister on eligibility for council housing; further notes two recent reports by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and by the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, which respectively show the UK income inequality to be at its highest levels since the late 1940s and that fuel poverty targets will be missed, which follows the failure of the Government to meet child poverty targets; and therefore calls upon Government Ministers to concentrate on attacking poverty rather than attacking the poor.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.