If Govt was serious about cutting welfare bill “it would get serious about fixing health and social care”

Responding to the Government’s Green Paper on Welfare reforms, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

“If the Government was serious about cutting welfare spending it would get serious about fixing health and social care and the broken Department of Work and Pensions.

“That is why it has been so disappointing to see the Government’s lack of urgency in this area, putting their social care review on a three-year timeline, kicking projects like new hospitals into the long grass, and still no overhaul of the Department.

“Until that changes, no meaningful drop in the welfare bill will arrive, and the misery that people are suffering will continue.”

In the House of Commons debate this afternoon other Lib Dem MPs also responded including Richard Foord, Lisa Smart and Alison Bennett.