Next debate - Thursday 14 October - Should universal benefits be capped?

DATE: Thursday, 14 October 2010

TIME: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

VENUE: Harcourt Arms, 32 Harcourt Street, W1H 4HX

MOTION: This House Would cap universal benefits to reduce the deficit

Last week, the coalition government announced plans to restrict child benefit payments to individuals earning under 44,000 pounds a year and to cap welfare payments overall to 26,000 pounds a year in keeping with the average wage.

The current level of welfare provision, the coalition claims, are no longer affordable at a time when the government's top priority is to reduce the sixe of the deficit. The Labour party and leading trades unions oppose the cuts, however, which they say will harm working families who are vulnerable enough already following the recent recession.

Who is right? You decide.

SPEAKERS:

If you would like to speak in this debate, get in touch and let us know which side you would like to speak on.

As ever, we will also be taking plenty of questions and comments from the floor. So, if you have something to say, come along and we'll make sure you get a chance to speak too.


GETTING THERE:

The Harcourt Arms is just a 10 minute walk from Baker Street tube station. We will be in the upstairs dining room of the pub. If you're not sure where to go, ask anyone behind the bar. For directions to the venue, see: http://tinyurl.com/33vmfp5

FURTHER READING:

Background

1) Coalition cuts child benefit for top earners (BBC News)

2) Ed Miliband opposes child benefit cut (New Statesman)

3) Cutting universal benefits (Guardian)


Arguments for the motion:

1) Public support child benefit cut (Sky News)

2) Universal child benefit is an unaffordable luxury (Politics.co.uk)

3) Universal credit vs universal benefits (Conservative Home)


Arguments against the motion

1) Child benefit cut is an attack on women (Liberal Conspiracy)

2) Benefit cuts don't add up (Hopi Senn)

3) Devolved leaders attack coalition cuts (BBC News)