Letter: Discreditable

I was appalled by Nicholas Timmins's article "Low-income families to lose pounds 54 a week" (7 July) for two reasons.

First, that Peter Lilley can decide on his own whim that the rules be immediately changed so that Family Credit is withdrawn on the date a child leaves school. How are mothers supposed to support their children until they find work or go into higher education? Second, that such a change can be slipped through without Parliament debating and voting on it. This, despite the Government's Social Security Advisory Committee advising against the change.

J W Barr

Petworth, West Sussex