What the hon. Gentleman fails to see is that there are 100,000 drug addicts who are not on any programmes. Many of them have children. There is no compulsion on them. Their lives are often chaotic, and there is no order that requires them to take responsibility. One of the reasons why people in Edinburgh who work in the field—I will name them if I catch Mr. Deputy Speaker's eye—support the measure, as do I, is that if there is a degree of compulsion, there is a chance that the drug addicts will get into parenting and other schemes. However, frankly, if their No. 1 priority is not keeping a roof over their children's heads and giving their children a decent upbringing, their children would be better off in the hands of those who care more about them.
Welfare Reform Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Nigel Griffiths
(Labour)
in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 27 January 2009.
It occurred during Debate on bills on Welfare Reform Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
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487 c210 Session
2008-09Chamber / Committee
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