Anger at rape victims asked to justify themselves to taxman

By The Press Association8th July 2015News EnglandNews England, Rape, Victim Support, Welfare Reform

Rape victims will be forced to justify themselves to the taxman to secure child tax credits under the Government’s reforms, MPs have heard.

The SNP’s Roger Mullin questioned the morality of Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget, as he argued women who have been raped would not receive “decent treatment”.

Support for children through tax credits and universal credits is to be limited to two children, affecting children born after April 2017, in a bid to save £1 billion.

The Budget document notes the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC will develop “protections” for women who “have a third child as a result of rape”, the Commons was told.

But Mr Mullin (Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) said: “What on earth is moral about dragging women to have to talk about the fact that they may have been raped to get some decent treatment out of benefits in this society? What can possibly be moral about that?

“I would appeal to the Government to, for goodness sake, you may seek savings in many other parts of welfare but don’t punish children and don’t force women who have gone through the trauma of rape to have to justify themselves to the taxman.”

Mr Mullin earlier said he was “stunned” by remarks from Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) that the Budget was highly moral.

He said: “It reminded me that today is the 131st anniversary to the day of the formation of the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children – on the very day that this Government brings in a Budget that attacks children, tax credits for children.”