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Old 23-01-2012, 23:39   #26
MargaretR
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Re: Benefit cap goes before the Lords.

To provide you with a historical background to this Benefit Cap legislation I provide you with some facts about something very similar operated from 1966 to 1974.

It was called a 'Wage Stop' applied to Supplementary Benefits of that time.

Here are the arguments for and against, as debated in Parliament at the time -

WAGE STOP RULE (Hansard, 12 July 1974)

The historical differences between then and now are -
..we now have an acute shortage of social housing - (housing people in mansions didn't happen).
..we now have fewer jobs available
..child benefit wasn't paid for the first child and the rate for subsequent children was paltry.

I can see both sides of the argument have value, but the Benefit Cap needs to be accompanied by a large scale building of affordable rented housing and an increase in employment opportunities.
Without those additions, some families will be homeless, some children will be raised malnourished - which will cause an expense burden on other areas of our welfare state.
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