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MPs debate living standards

1 December 2011 (updated on 1 December 2011)

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liam Byrne, moved an Opposition day debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday 30 November on the subject of living standards.

Living standards

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, responded on behalf of the Government. Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debate on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.

Opposition day debates

Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition. Seventeen days are at the disposal of the leader of the largest opposition party to decide which topics are debated. Three days are also allocated to the other smaller opposition parties.

The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.