​At the government control session

Mariano Rajoy says we have managed to enable Spaniards to lead "a decent life" despite the difficulties of recent years

President's News - 2015.3.11

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Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

In response to a question from the Member of Parliament for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) [Republican Left of Catalonia], Alfred Bosch, about the measures being taken to combat child poverty in Catalonia, the President of the Government said that "we are a country that has managed to enable Spaniards to lead a decent life, sometimes difficult but always decent", despite the problems we experienced in recent years.

Mariano Rajoy also explained that "the main factor responsible for child poverty is unemployment among parents" and that the most important steps to be taken in that regard should be "to create jobs in our country and end unemployment". The President of the Government went on to add that, fortunately, "2014 saw substantial progress" in the fight against unemployment; progress that, if maintained in 2015, will enable one million new jobs to be created in two years.

Pool MoncloaHe stressed that "we are willing to do everything necessary to improve the situation for children", something he said has not been done in the 2015 Budget from the Regional Government of Catalonia, supported by ERC.

The President of the Government then listed some of the measures that have been implemented to combat child poverty. These include a social inclusion plan to which 32 million euros have been allocated this year; a plan targeted at and agreed with the social services and local authorities to which 27 million euros have been allocated; social grants in Personal Income Tax (600 million euros during this legislature); and a food payment fund to which 40 million euros have been allocated.

Promoting industrial policy

Pere Macías, Member of Parliament for Convergència i Unió (CiU) [Catalan Nationalist Party], referred in his speech to the industrial policy. The President of the Government underlined the important nature of this sector "for generating economic growth and creating jobs". He said that industry generates stable, qualified employment, accounts for the majority of Spanish exports (approximately 80%) and is also associated with significant R&D+i activity. In other words, "industrial policy is very important in our country", said Mariano Rajoy.

Furthermore, the President of the Government stressed that all the reforms implemented to date and those that will be implemented in the future are targeted at industrial policy. For example, that was the goal of the labour, energy and financial reforms. Mariano Rajoy also recalled that other, more specific measures have been adopted to improve the business environment in which "the industrial productive fabric operates". Those efforts have been accompanied by the PIVE and PIME Plans for the automotive sector and the Food Chain Act.

Help for those affected by the floods

The last question received by the President of the Government was asked by the Socialist Member of Parliament, Pedro Sánchez, who enquired about the steps taken by the government in response to the flooding along the River Ebro. After expressing solidarity with those affected, Mariano Rajoy highlighted the excellent coordination with which efforts have been made "from the outset" by the regional governments, local councils, the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Spanish National Police Force, the Military Emergency Unit, fire and rescue services, technicians and other personnel from the Regional Government of Aragon. In his opinion, "they have all risen to the challenge posed by these circumstances".

Pool MoncloaThe President of the Government recalled the presence by members of the government in the areas affected during the most critical days and highlighted the approval at the last Council of Ministers of a Royal Decree Law to alleviate the consequences of this flooding. "Naturally, the ideal situation would be for this type of circumstances to not arise in the first place, but I think what needed to be done has indeed been done", he said. On this point, he recommended that Pedro Sánchez should not "campaign politically at the cost of people's suffering".

Remembering the victims of the 11-M terrorist attacks

Today, 11 March, marks 11 years since the terrorist attacks against the suburban trains in Madrid, at the stations of Atocha, El Pozo and Santa Eugenia. Before beginning the government control session in the Lower House of Parliament, all Members of Parliament held a minute's silence in tribute to the victims of those explosions - 192 dead and over 2,000 injured.