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Tax credit 'rape clause' becomes law without parliamentary vote Tax credit 'rape clause' becomes law without parliamentary vote
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A controversial proposal to ask new mothers who have been raped for verification if they wish to claim tax credits for more than two children has become law without any debate or vote in parliament.A controversial proposal to ask new mothers who have been raped for verification if they wish to claim tax credits for more than two children has become law without any debate or vote in parliament.
The so-called rape clause, which will be applied as part of new restrictions on tax credit entitlement, was added to legislation late on Wednesday as an amendment to an existing act. The plans will come into effect within a month.The so-called rape clause, which will be applied as part of new restrictions on tax credit entitlement, was added to legislation late on Wednesday as an amendment to an existing act. The plans will come into effect within a month.
Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP who first highlighted the issue of the so-called rape clause, led a furious response to the idea, saying it was an “underhand parliamentary tactic” to introduce such a measure without proper parliamentary scrutiny. Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP who first highlighted the issue of the clause, led a furious response to the idea, saying it was an “underhand parliamentary tactic” to introduce the measure without proper parliamentary scrutiny.
She also described as “frankly astonishing” that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP ) had introduced the scheme without seemingly having trained any of the people who will judge whether someone claiming the exemption had been raped. She also described the fact that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP ) had introduced the scheme apparently without having trained any of the people who will judge whether someone claiming the exemption had been raped as “frankly astonishing”.
The regulations, announced in the 2015 budget by the chancellor at the time, George Osborne, were put into law through a statutory instrument, a form of legislation that can allow laws to be amended without parliament’s approval. The regulations, announced in the 2015 budget by the chancellor at the time, George Osborne, were put into law through a statutory instrument, a form of legislation that allows laws to be amended without parliament’s approval.
The policy coming into force on 6 April restricts tax credit entitlement for any new claimants to a maximum of two children, with exceptions for multiple births and also for women who could show their third or subsequent child was conceived because of rape. The policy coming into force on 6 April restricts tax credit entitlement for new claimants to a maximum of two children, with exceptions for multiple births and for women who could show that their third or subsequent child was conceived as a result of rape.
Those seeking to claim the exemption for rape must be assessed by what the government has described in a consultation as a “professional third party”, which could include health workers, police, social workers or rape charities.Those seeking to claim the exemption for rape must be assessed by what the government has described in a consultation as a “professional third party”, which could include health workers, police, social workers or rape charities.
However, with the regulation now in force there has been no indication of how a woman who has been raped could begin the process of claiming the tax credit exemption, or whether any of the third parties has been trained. With the regulation about to come into force, however, there is no indication of how a woman who has been raped could begin the process of claiming the tax credit exemption, or whether any of the third parties has been trained.
Thewliss said she had tabled what is known as a motion of prayer for annulment, a somewhat arcane version of the early day motion, in which a group of MPs sign a paper calling for the statutory instrument to be scrapped. Thewliss said she had tabled what is known as a motion of prayer for annulment, a somewhat arcane version of the early day motion, in which a group of MPs sign a paper calling for a statutory instrument to be scrapped.
While these can be used to register displeasure with a government plan, they rarely see statutory instruments overturned. According to Thewliss, the previous time one was annulled in this way was 1979. Such motions can be used to register displeasure with a government plan, but they rarely overthrow statutory instruments. According to Thewliss, the previous time one was annulled in this way was 1979.
Thewliss said: “Using such an underhand parliamentary tactic to railroad the rape clause into law is just the final insult this government could possibly dish out. “Using such an underhand parliamentary tactic to railroad the rape clause into law is just the final insult this government could possibly dish out,” she said.
“Not only did ministers sneak out their shameful consultation response as the eyes of the world were watching Donald Trump’s inauguration, but they’re now trying to put the rape clause on the statute books without a vote or debate, let alone any detailed scrutiny by MPs.“Not only did ministers sneak out their shameful consultation response as the eyes of the world were watching Donald Trump’s inauguration, but they’re now trying to put the rape clause on the statute books without a vote or debate, let alone any detailed scrutiny by MPs.
“The government must accept this policy is unworkable as well as immoral. With just days until nurses, doctors and social workers are expected to verify whether women had their third child as the result of rape, it’s clear there’s been no sexual violence training for those working with such vulnerable women.“The government must accept this policy is unworkable as well as immoral. With just days until nurses, doctors and social workers are expected to verify whether women had their third child as the result of rape, it’s clear there’s been no sexual violence training for those working with such vulnerable women.
“This is frankly astonishing, especially when you consider that the government is trying to railroad this through using medieval parliamentary procedures.”“This is frankly astonishing, especially when you consider that the government is trying to railroad this through using medieval parliamentary procedures.”
The plan has caused worry among other MPs, and women’s charities, with a number calling for it to be dropped. But the DWP announced in January that it was to go ahead after the consultation. The plan has caused worry among other MPs and women’s charities, with a number calling for it to be dropped. The DWP announced in January that it was to go ahead after the consultation.
The department has described the changes to tax credits as “a key part of controlling public spending”, and has pledged to implement the exemptions in “the most effective, compassionate way”.The department has described the changes to tax credits as “a key part of controlling public spending”, and has pledged to implement the exemptions in “the most effective, compassionate way”.