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Benefits changes will push children into poverty, says archbishop of Canterbury Benefits changes will push children into poverty, says archbishop of Canterbury
(35 minutes later)
The archbishop of Canterbury is among 43 bishops who have written an open letter to a newspaper condemning government plans to change the benefits system, saying it will have a "deeply disproportionate" effect on children. The archbishop of Canterbury has warned that planned changes to the benefits system will have an adverse effect on children and families, urging the government to support the most vulnerable in society.
Justin Welby has warned that "children and families will pay the price" if plans to change the system go ahead in their current form. The archbishop of York, John Sentamu, has also backed the letter, in the Sunday Telegraph. In his first significant political intervention since taking office, Justin Welby said capping benefits at below inflation would make children and families "pay the price".
The newspaper said the move would come as a blow to Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, who is attempting to steer the reforms through parliament. Under reforms championed by the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, rises in welfare payments would be capped at 1% annually for the next three years, as part of the government's austerity measures. In a statement released by Lambeth Palace, former oil executive Welby said: "As a civilised society, we have a duty to support those among us who are vulnerable and in need. When times are hard, that duty should be felt more than ever, not disappear or diminish. It is essential that we have a welfare system that responds to need and recognises the rising costs of food, fuel and housing.
He has said the welfare benefits up-rating bill, which will cap benefit rises at 1% a year until 2016, is needed to help get spending "back under control" and create a fairer deal for taxpayers.
But the archbishop, who will be formally enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March, said the legislation would remove families' protection against the rising cost of living and could push 200,000 children into poverty.
He said: "As a civilised society, we have a duty to support those among us who are vulnerable and in need. When times are hard, that duty should be felt more than ever, not disappear or diminish.
"It is essential that we have a welfare system that responds to need and recognises the rising costs of food, fuel and housing.
"The current benefits system does that, by ensuring that the support struggling families receive rises with inflation."The current benefits system does that, by ensuring that the support struggling families receive rises with inflation.
"These changes will mean it is children and families who will pay the price for high inflation, rather than the government.""These changes will mean it is children and families who will pay the price for high inflation, rather than the government."
He added: "Politicians have a clear choice. By protecting children from the effects of this bill, they can help fulfil their commitment to end child poverty." Welby's comments came after 43 bishops wrote to the Sunday Telegraph, warning that the changes "will have a disproportionate impact on families with children, pushing 200,000 children into poverty". The letter, which has been backed by Welby and the archbishop of York, John Sentamu, urged the House of Lords to take action to protect children from the impact of the bill.
The newspaper said the archbishop's intervention signals his willingness to enter political debates on issues he believes are the church's responsibility to address, a policy for which his predecessor, Rowan Williams, faced criticism. Duncan Smith has said it is unfair for benefits to rise at a higher rate than wages, highlighting figures showing jobless benefits rose 20% in the last five years, compared with an average 12% rise in private sector pay. But Labour, which is fighting the 1% cap, says that jobseeker's allowance has risen by 32% over the past decade, whereas wages have gone up by 36%.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "In difficult economic times we've protected the incomes of pensioners and disabled people, and most working-age benefits will continue to increase 1%. This was a tough decision but it's one that will help keep the welfare bill sustainable in the longer term. The Children's Society says that, under the changes, a single parent earning £530 a week would lose £424 a year by 2015. A couple with two children, where one parent is working and earning £600 a week would also lose £424 a year, according to its analysis.
The letter from the bishops says the change will "hit the poorest the hardest" by transferring the risk of high inflation from the Treasury to children and families.
Welby's intervention suggests he will not be discouraged from speaking out despite criticism of his predecessor, Rowan Williams, who was accused of meddling in politics. Among Williams's targets was David Cameron's "big society", which he suggested was aspirational waffle.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "In difficult economic times we've protected the incomes of pensioners and disabled people, and most working age benefits will continue to increase [by] 1%. This was a tough decision but it's one that will help keep the welfare bill sustainable in the longer term.
"By raising the personal allowance threshold, we've lifted two million people out of tax altogether, clearly benefiting people on a low income.""By raising the personal allowance threshold, we've lifted two million people out of tax altogether, clearly benefiting people on a low income."