Conservatives undecided on benefit cuts
30/03/2015
The Conservatives have not made any decisions yet in regards to benefit cuts they might make if they win the oncoming general election, the BBC has reported.
Ian Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said that the party has not yet made any concrete decisions on how they will cut £12 billion from the welfare budget by 2017/18. Leaked documents revealed that taxing disability benefits was among the options, as well as restricting Carers Allowance, limiting child benefit to the first two children and regional variations in benefit caps.
Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC that none of the above options had been discussed with Chancellor George Osborne. A benefits freeze and a bid to reduce the current benefits cap by £3,000 will account for a quarter of the savings the Tories are hoping to make, and Mr Duncan Smith advised that they will continue to make cuts in these ways. He said:
"What we've come in to do is to reform the welfare system, so that we don't waste money on organisations and groups and things that don't actually help life change.
"No decisions have been made. As and when decisions are made of course we will be very open to the public."
Labours campaign chief has also said that they will not be outlining any further plans for cuts before the general election.
Shadow work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves, said:
"Iain Duncan Smith's refusal to admit how children, disabled people, carers and working families will be hit by secret Tory plans six weeks before the election is completely unacceptable."
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