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Press
release on survey of MPs
Friday
20th August 2004
Parliamentary
support for a Royal Commission on income maintenance
A
large number of MPs believe that our tax and benefits system
no longer meets the needs of our society, that the system
needs radical change, that change needs all-party support,
and that a Royal Commission on income maintenance would
be a good idea.
With
the encouragement of Dr. Lynne Jones MP and of Sir Archy
Kirkwood MP (Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee)
the Citizen's Income Trust recently distributed a questionnaire
to all MPs.
Seventy-one
completed questionnaires and eleven letters were returned:
an excellent response.
The
Citizen's Income Trust was very encouraged by the level
of support for a Citizen's Income: an automatic, unconditional
and nonwithdrawable income for every citizen. Forty-one
respondents were in favour, and only eleven against.
Sir
Archy Kirkwood and Dr. Jones were particularly impressed
by the level of support for a Royal Commission: Forty-six
in favour, and only sixteen against.
Sir
Patrick Cormack MP, one of the respondents, comments: "I
have long advocated a Royal Commission to look at the Welfare
State fifty years on."
Ends
For
information:
For
t he full results of the survey, click
here.
For
an introductory booklet on a Citizen's Income, click
here.
Further
information is available from: Dr. Malcolm Torry, Director,
Citizen's Income Trust.
The
Citizen's Income Trust is an educational charitable trust.
It aims to promote debate on the feasibility and desirability
of a Citizen's Income.
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