There are pros and cons to the two-child child benefit limit. There are strong arguments on both sides of the debate. But one argument is very wrong: that parenthood is a choice, and the state has no role to play.
For our society to function, we need people to have children. As future generations grow older, and leave the workforce, they must be replaced. Relying on imported foreign labour is not sustainable. For one thing, when migrants arrive into Britain, they often bring dependents with them. This places pressures on our public services that we do not experience from natural born citizens. It’s important this is recognised.
It’s a common misconception that the state pension is funded by National Insurance Contributions. Many believe their payments go into a pot, which funds their state pension in retirement. This is not the case. There is no pot. The state pension is paid out of general taxation. Today’s workforce foot the bill for today’s pensions. That’s how it works.
To continue paying the state pension, we need our workforce to be replenished. Similarly, other forms of welfare we access in old age, and of course our NHS, are funded by the working population. Our society will collapse if we continue to allow birth rates to decline.
When families have children, they’re serving our society and our nation. But there are many barriers to having children, or at least limit the numbers families believe they can afford. Housing. Childcare. The cost of living. These financial constraints are real. And the state must play a role in easing them.
When people say those who do not have children shouldn’t have to pay for those who do, they miss the point. This is not a slight against those who are childless. Many couples who long to start a family cannot, and I can only imagine the anguish they must go through.
But this does not take away from the fact our society must ensure having children is affordable.
Is scrapping the two-child child benefit cap the solution? Possibly, it is. But there are other things we could do instead. More support with childcare. Tax incentives. Allowing married couples, for tax purposes, to ask HMRC to treat their incomes as one, to make it financially viable for one parent to stay home. These are all options that should be considered.
It’s quite ironic to see calls for a crèche in the Senedd, presumably funded by taxpayers, for politicians to use. Attention should be focused on making it affordable for all families to have children. The discussion should not centre on what makes Senedd members’ lives easier.
Whatever the solution, it’s clear we need to address declining birthrates. Our society is dependent on it. We do not have a choice.