Alex White (Labour)

On the budget, there are many injustices. I want draw attention to one, in particular, the impact of the cut in child benefit on the poorest families. Child benefit was also cut last year, but some compensatory measures were taken to protect the children of poorer families. Why have no compensatory measures been taken this year? Presumably, the Social Welfare Bill 2010 will be before the House next week. If the Government found it possible last year to take ameliorative measures to protect poorer families following the cut in child benefit, why is it not doing so this year? Perhaps the Deputy Leader might like to comment, although his answer to all of these questions will be the mantra that it does not matter who is in government because they would all do the same. That is what he keeps telling us.