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Name:	Paul Rowen
Occupation:	Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale
Country:	UK
Total Questions:	5
Total Answers:	5

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"Should those who have been on benefits for a sustained period be required to do voluntary and community work to remain claiming welfare?"

Asker: Beebadmin

13 members also wanted to know

" I agree with the principles laid out in the Welfare Reform Bill that require individuals to do voluntary and community work to remain claiming welfare. However, as I expressed during the passage of..." Show more»"
I agree with the principles laid out in the Welfare Reform Bill that require individuals to do voluntary and community work to remain claiming welfare. However, as I expressed during the passage of the Bill some questions remain as to how this scheme will work in practice. For example, what work will individuals be required to undertake as part of the widely defined ‘work related activity’ as required under the Bill. Although voluntary and community activity could be beneficial and will ensure that claimants do not take paid employment from others in the present time of high unemployment. I was also concerned at the possibility of individuals with childcare responsibilities and mental and physical health problems being forced to undertake work related activity which may be detrimental to them and their children. However, the Government have conceded on this issue in the Lords and advisors are now obliged to take these factors into account when deciding a job seeking plan with a claimant.

As regards work for your benefit that will kick in after two years of claiming I have similar concerns about the nature of the work to be undertaken. However, if these issues can be ironed out I support this scheme. Not only will it satisfy the publics need for individuals to work for their state benefits but it may also equip claimants with skills which could prove indispensable should they seek work in the future."Show less«

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"The Lib Dems say they will reform the Tax Credit system. How?"

Asker: TheHawk

9 members also wanted to know

"We will reduce the number of people eligible for Tax Credits by over 2.5 million so only families on lower incomes are entitled. Means tested benefits allow the Government to target money at those on ..." Show more»"We will reduce the number of people eligible for Tax Credits by over 2.5 million so only families on lower incomes are entitled. Means tested benefits allow the Government to target money at those on lower incomes but they are highly complex and suffer from low take up. Currently, 9 out of 10 families are eligible for some Tax Credits; it makes far more sense to give money to families this far up the income distribution through a universal benefit which is simple and has high take up. This is why we are increasing the amount of Child Benefit paid to every family by up to £250 per year. People on lower incomes will continue to receive Tax Credits and will receive more Child Benefit making the poorest families better off.

We will also return to stable, 6 month fixed, awards – ending the chaos and instability of the existing system, which is particularly damaging for families on low incomes. This will ensure that once people are given an award, the Treasury cannot claw it back. We will create much simpler, clearer award notices, so people can understand what they are entitled to and why.

We will change the burden of proof in any overpayments from the assumption that is the fault of the claimant to that it was the fault of the Tax Credit Office. We will create a statutory right of appeal against overpayments, with all overpayments due to official error being written off.

We would also seek to remove the couple’s penalty within the system that means single parents get more than parents living together, i.e. their is an incentive for couples to live apart."Show less«

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"Is it not tiime that the UK government stopped fawning to the needs and wants of the City and makes efforts and commits money to stimulating a re-emergence of a manufacturing base in this country, based..." Show more »"Is it not tiime that the UK government stopped fawning to the needs and wants of the City and makes efforts and commits money to stimulating a re-emergence of a manufacturing base in this country, based on new green technologies or whatever else? Especially in thel ight of the news that it is not the South East or the City that has lost the most jobs in the recession, but traditional manufacturing heartlands that have suffered the most?" Show less »

Asker: stevenb

10 members also wanted to know

"As we have seen with last week’ Goldman Sachs revelations, bank executives clearly have short memories. In the space of ten months, they’ve gone from taking a begging bowl to the US Government to paying..." Show more»"As we have seen with last week’ Goldman Sachs revelations, bank executives clearly have short memories. In the space of ten months, they’ve gone from taking a begging bowl to the US Government to paying out massive bonuses. I strongly believe that this bonus culture must end, the public own majority shares in many banks and the Government should use this position to impose stricter controls of banks. Bonuses should be paid only as a consequence of results and long term bonuses should be paid at longer intervals. Whilst banks are losing money they should stop paying money to top executives. We need to ensure that the banks are profitable again so that, in the end, the British taxpayer may benefit from the recession.
As far as manufacturing is concerned we need to invest in green manufacturing. Earlier this year the Liberal Democrats launched a policy paper on the Green Road out of the recession containing plans to invest in green schemes that will make homes warmer, cut energy bills and improve public transport. These plans will cost £12.5 billion , which would be paid for by scrapping the proposed VAT cut. The vast majority of that money will be spent immediately, making a real impact on the economy and people’s lives right away.

Green Road out of the Recession proposals include:

·    A five-year programme to insulate every school and hospital, with 20% completed in the first year
·    Funding insulation and energy efficiency for a million homes, with a £1,000 subsidy for a million more
·    Building 40,000 extra zero-carbon social houses
·    Buying 700 new train carriages
·    Reopening old railway lines and stations, opening new ones, electrifying the Great Western and Midland mainlines and beginning the Liverpool light rail network
·    Installing energy and money saving smart meters in every home within five years

The plans proposed by Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats will give an immediate boost to the economy in Rochdale. And by insulating people’s homes, it will help thousands of residents whose heating bills have gone through the roof in the past year.

Whilst Labour and the Conservatives are quietly dropping serious interest in tackling climate change and damage to the environment, Liberal Democrats believe that moving forward with green action on homes and transport will create jobs, cut energy bills, put money back into people’s pockets and protect the environment."Show less«

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"Is the worth of a graduate degree being lessened by the sheer numbers of students going through universities and therefore resulting in higher gradute unemployment? Should government re-think its strategy..." Show more »"Is the worth of a graduate degree being lessened by the sheer numbers of students going through universities and therefore resulting in higher gradute unemployment? Should government re-think its strategy and encourage more vocational and apprenticeship routes after education and refuse to fund university courses with very low employment rates? " Show less »

Asker: naomi1

12 members also wanted to know

"I think that we should continue to encourage more people to go to University and invest in higher education, however, although the 50% target for young people in university set by the Government is laudable..." Show more»"I think that we should continue to encourage more people to go to University and invest in higher education, however, although the 50% target for young people in university set by the Government is laudable it is looking increasingly unrealistic.

Mandelson has today announced 10,000 extra places at university for this coming year, but without any extra funding for teaching, I question whether we should increase numbers of students, if the funding isn’t all there. Further to this questions still remain about the quality of education being received, often negatively impacted by lack of funding, do universities provide the right skills to make graduates employable?

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills committee has just finished a massive inquiry into students and universities; the report is expected to be published around August 1st, I think that this will answer many of the remaining questions when it is published, transcripts of the evidence heard by the committee is available on their website and may be of interest in the meantime.

Ultimately, we need to invest in skills for Britain’s future, in order to prepare for jobs in the post-recession economy, and sending young people to university is a good way to do that. The UKCES published their ‘Ambition 2020’ report on 7th May saying that the UK should be aiming to be in the top quartile (the top 8) of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for low, medium and high level skills. (high level skills translates roughly to degree level). At the rate we’re currently progressing, we won’t be in the top eight for any of those. We do, therefore, need to encourage young people to go to University so that the skills base is available when the job market picks up, keeping the UK globally competitive."Show less«

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"Would the Lib-Dems end the ridiculous situation where its is beneficial for a couple to stay un-married in terms of receiving benefits?"

Asker: alicia

14 members also wanted to know

"At present there is a “couple penalty” built into the welfare system whereby couples receive the same amount of working tax credit, £3,430, as single parents. The Liberal Democrats recognise that the..." Show more»"At present there is a “couple penalty” built into the welfare system whereby couples receive the same amount of working tax credit, £3,430, as single parents.
The Liberal Democrats recognise that the couple’s penalty that exists in the tax credit system is unfair and we have said we will introduce a couple’s premium when we can afford it. However, we are not in favour of introducing a transferable tax allowance for married couples as the Conservatives have promised. A transferable tax allowance which gives no benefit to married couples who are both employed, would be even less likely to make much impact on family stability."Show less«

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