Jon
Trickett MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, responding to a
Regulatory Policy Committee report criticising the quality of departments’
impact assessments of policy decisions, said:

“Years
of Tory cuts are clearly taking their toll on civil servants who face increased
workloads, tight resources and worsening conditions.

“It
is utterly unacceptable that departments are diverting resources away from
providing rigorous impact assessment of their decisions
– what some might call ‘idiot-proofing’
the civil service from Tory policy.

“Ministers
could be leading us up the garden path and the departments themselves would be
none the wiser.

“It
is crucial that the Government urgently improve departmental monitoring and
evaluation measures.”

Peter
Dowd MP, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on
today’s ONS public sector finance figures, said:

“Today’s
figures show the Government’s debt still rising, seven years after the Tories
started their austerity agenda, and two years after they said they would
balance the books.

“It’s
clear that their slash and burn approach to public spending has not only given
us a crisis in NHS and social care but also failed as an approach to reducing
Government debt.

“Labour’s
Fiscal Credibility Rule gives us a firm commitment to addressing the public
finances while investing in our economy for the future as part of our programme
to rebuild and transform Britain.”

Teresa Pearce, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responding to the
Local Government Finance Settlement, said:

“Time and time again, this Government
has ignored warnings of the social care crisis, from health, social care and
local government experts and from MPs across the political
spectrum.“

“This Local Government Finance
Settlement is no different to what’s come before. It is all smoke and mirrors –
pushing numbers around but not offering any new money. Shifting the burden on
to council tax payers creates a postcode lottery in social care services.
Wealthy areas will prosper whilst poorer communities will struggle. This was
made clear by the revelation of the sweetheart deal offered to Surrey County
Council behind closed doors, whilst the rest of the country suffers.”

“The brutal cuts handed down by this
Tory government will leave local councils facing a £5.8billion funding gap in
just two years’ time. Libraries, youth centres and Sure Start centres have
closed. Child protection services are creaking. Frail elderly people and
vulnerable disabled people are being left lonely and isolated.”

“This is a crisis made in Westminster
but, as per usual, the Tories are pushing the blame on to councils,
communities, carers and families. The Government must come forward with
immediate funding, as well as a long-term, sustainable and strategic vision for
social care.”

Ends

Sarah
Champion, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, commenting on the Court of Appeal judgement on
Civil Partnerships, said:

“It is
disappointing news that Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan have lost their
Court of Appeal battle to enter into a Civil Partnership.

“Labour
are proud to have introduced Civil Partnerships in 2004 as a key step in
achieving true marriage equality for LGBT people.

“But, now
that same sex marriage has been legalised, it is an anomaly that Civil
Partnerships are not available to all couples regardless of their gender and
sexuality.

“Civil
Partnerships should be extended to heterosexual couples who wish to have a
legal union in accordance with their individual beliefs and values.

“Labour
will continue to push the government to look again at this important issue.”

Sarah
Champion MP,
Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, commenting
on the Government’s failure to act on cross-party recommendations to reduce the
gender pay gap, said:

“The cross party Women and
Equalities Committee’s recommendations aim to improve working conditions for
women of all ages and sectors right across the country.

“But, sadly, it seems that their
recommendations are again falling on deaf ears. 

“The Government has systematically
ignored the evidence the Committee, charities, experts and individuals have
worked so hard to produce.

“This Government continues to
ignore the voices and lived experiences of thousands of women in chronically
low paid, under-valued sectors of the economy such as care, hospitality and
retail.  Industries where zero hour contracts and bad practice have been
allowed to run rife.

“The structural causes of the
gender pay gap must be addressed, otherwise women will simply continue to be
left behind.

“The lack of meaningful response
to the Women and Equalities Committee shows that when it comes to tackling the
serious, underlying causes of gender inequality in our country, this Tory
Government isn’t willing to take the bold action needed.”