I am pleased to have the opportunity to open for my party in this important debate on ending poverty and inequality.

Since 2010, youth unemployment has fallen by more than 50 per cent, 1.1 million Britons are back in work, the number of children in workl

Yes, but I have not had nearly as many such representations as the member implies, and those that I have had I have been able to resolve.

Is the member arguing that we should return to the legacy systems as they existed?

Universal credit might have its flaws, but the thinking behind the system is sound, and that point has been reiterated by all the witness

Your sarcasm does you no credit.

In reality, a quarter of a million people never received the tax credits for which they were eligible.

Will the member take an intervention?

I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak in this afternoon’s debate to mark challenge poverty week, and I thank Elaine Smith for lo

I do not dispute that. There is no doubt that there have been winners and losers as a result of the welfare reform process.