TUC CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE JOBSEEKER'S ALLOWANCE

Early day motion 543, tabled 21 January 2009 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 60 members.

That this House notes with concern that unemployment has risen to around two million; sympathises with those newly redundant workers who will find themselves on unemployment benefit; expresses concern at the low level of such benefits at just 60.50 per week for those over 25 years old and 47.95 for those under 25 years old; refutes the justification for such low payments that higher benefits would be a disincentive to work; draws attention to a wealth of evidence that suggests that the descent into poverty has proved to be a greater cause of economic inactivity; therefore supports the TUC campaign to increase jobseeker's allowance by 15 per week in order to allow people to live a healthy lifestyle for both physical and mental wellbeing in order to best encourage and assist such people back into work; and points out that, although this would cost more to the Treasury, higher benefit payments would also stimulate demand in the economy, which would help to avoid further rises in unemployment.

Signatures by party: Labour 47, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 2, Conservative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.