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MPs debate living standards

6 March 2012 (updated on 6 March 2012)

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Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves, moved an Opposition day debate in the House of Commons on Monday 5 March on living standards.

Living standards

The motion in the name of Rachel Reeves stated that the "Budget should include a real plan for jobs and growth in order to boost the stalled economy, help hard-pressed families, pensioners and small businesses, bring down unemployment, and so ensure that the deficit is brought down and done so in a fair way".

The motion was defeated on a division (Ayes 220; Noes 284).

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, responded on behalf of the Government.

Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debate on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard. Also find parliamentary material on the current economic situation in the Topics and News sections.

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.