Topic Archives: Social Security and pensions

The Financial Privilege Amendment

Baroness Murphy 02/02/2012 – 1:50 pm

Yesterday afternoon in the Commons, just before the debate on the Lords’ Amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill, the Speaker announced  “I must draw the House’s attention to the fact that financial privilege is involved in a substantial number of Lords amendments. If the House agrees to these amendments, I shall ensure that the appropriate entry is made in the Journal.” Thus the Governmen […]

Written at 1:50 pm on 02/02/2012, by Baroness Murphy

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The Benefit Cap and Child Support

Baroness Murphy 27/01/2012 – 2:10 pm

No-one who has been reading this blog for a while will be surprised that I voted with the Government on the Benefit Cap last Monday night and also for the Changes to the Child Support Agency on Wednesday. There is however a good case for compromise on the benefit cap in one respect. The cap is the same for the whole of England and Wales, and yet we know that of the 67,000 families or so who are r […]

Written at 2:10 pm on 27/01/2012, by Baroness Murphy

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Welfare Reform Again

Baroness Murphy 13/01/2012 – 11:53 am

Lord Norton has referred to the Welfare Reform Bill defeats in the Lords, which I’ve been giving some considerable thought to. I voted with the Government against the amendment by Baroness Meacher to continue ESA for young disabled people who have resources of their own to support them and have not contributed to what is essentially a contributory benefit. The House voted to continue giv […]

Written at 11:53 am on 13/01/2012, by Baroness Murphy

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Happy New Year

Baroness Murphy 30/12/2011 – 10:20 am

I am not a believer but I love a good sing-along carol service by candlelight with all the traditional carols and hymns, a local schoolboy doing his solo out of tune and readings from the King James version of the Bible. This year we once again gathered in our tiny medieval village church and as we launched into ‘See Amid the Winter’s Snow’ the vicar Fiona suddenly pointed to the windows whe […]

Written at 10:20 am on 30/12/2011, by Baroness Murphy

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The Strike

Baroness Murphy 30/11/2011 – 12:49 pm

I just heard the PM say that 40% of schools are open in spite of the strike and there is a video clip on BBC news of passport control moving at a pace at Heathrow I haven't seen it for years. No doubt tomorrow we'll get a better picture but possibly the strike will not be as damaging as feared. I am in receipt of one of those generous NHS doctors pensions which makes me pause before criticising to […]

Written at 12:49 pm on 30/11/2011, by Baroness Murphy

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