Pre-paid benefit cards to stop people spending on booze, drugs & gambling. Is it fair? #BBCNolan

Sep 30, 2014, 08:48 AM

Pre paid benefit cards to stop claimants spending their money on alcohol, drugs or gambling habits. It's been called an attack on the poor but others say it will help those "on the margins break the cycle of poverty". The idea was launched at yesterday's Tory conference by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith. So are pre paid benefit cards a good idea? The cards will only be used for some items in some stores, and would not be valid in betting shops or off licences. Is it a way to help the very poorest in our society or will it stigmatise them? How would you feel if you were forced to use one? Tara gets the views of Businessman and former NI conservative chairman Irwin Armstrong who is at the Tory party conference and Daniel Waldron campaigns on unemployment