SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson has called on David Cameron to clarify how the Government will exempt rape victims from his policy to restrict child tax credits to two children for new parents.
The Moray MP raised the matter twice in the Commons chamber yesterday – first during Scotland Questions and then directly with the Tory leader at Prime Minister’s Questions.
As part of the plan- announced in the Budget – the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have been asked to “develop protections for women who have a third child as a result of rape or other exceptional circumstances”.
Mr Robertson asked the Government to explain how this would work in practice.
Mr Cameron defended the principle behind the proposal but said he was happy to look “very closely” at the issue because there was “absolutely no intention to penalise people who have been treated in this way”.
He added: “Of course in cases like those you raise, we will have to look very carefully to make sure we look after them.”
The prime minister also highlighted the investment in women’s refuges and rape crisis centres outlined in the Budget.
Earlier, Mr Robertson put the same question to Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
Replying in his place, Treasury minister David Gauke said the details would be set out “in due course”.
He added: “We think it is right that all families face the same situation of having to make choices, bearing in mind the financial consequences of the number of children that they have.
“It is right there’s an exceptional regime for exceptional circumstances put in place.
“If you don’t want to restrict tax credits in future to two children per family, you are able to bring in top ups paid for by the Scottish taxpayer under the powers provided under the Scotland Bill.”
Commenting after the session, Mr Robertson said women who had been raped should not have to justify it for tax reasons.
He added: “Rape is one of the most unreported and poorly prosecuted serious crimes in the UK – most surveys suggest that 85% of women who are raped just don’t report it for a whole variety of reasons.”
Meanwhile, shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray has called for a review into the DWP’s sanctions regime.
According to Citizens Advice Scotland, more than 200 people a day are being sanctioned, he said during Scotland Questions in the Commons, with 100,000 children affected.
Employment minister Priti Patel said individuals were asked to meet “reasonable requirements” to account for their circumstances, which was “right and proper”.
She also told MPs that 70% of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants say the system of conditionality leads them to positively engage with the support on offer to get them into employment.