Parents have to pull their weight.

That was the message from Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan as his controversial proposals to double the amount of time lone parents would have to work in order to receive certain benefits came under scrutiny in Tynwald on Tuesday.

Although the move to seek approval for the changes to the Employed Person’s Allowance and income support has been put back several months, following a backlash, Mr Cannan still faced a number of questions.

He said the aim remained to encourage more lone parents into work.

As MHKs pointed out other factors that could contribute to difficulties, including the impact school holidays a parent’s ability to work, Mr Cannan said other issues could be examined, including whether the government was providing enough in the way of facilities for children during school holidays.

But he added: ’There is also an onus on society to ensure that individuals who are in these circumstances are pulling their weight.

’Parents have been pulling their weight for years to make sure that in the school holidays their children are facilitated and looked after.

’A lot of those parents are on low incomes, may not necessarily be in the EPA system but are having to work using family support and the opportunities made available by relevant agencies.’

Originally Mr Cannan was due to move changes to the EPA that would have meant lone parents with children over 13 would have to increase their current working hours from 16 to 30 to be eligible. There would also be increases to the amount of work required from couples.

The age of the youngest child at which lone parents could claim income support was set to be reduced from 12 to six.

But last week, the Treasury announced it was withdrawing the items, citing an ’oversight’ and had not provided enough detail before members had to take a vote.

During question time on Tuesday MHKs queried whether there were enough jobs with flexible hours that would help lone parents find work and also pointed to other matters that indicated problems parents faced, such as an increased demand on food banks during school holidays, because their parents were unable to work.

He said the Council of Ministers was looking at these issues but warned: ’The point is not every sector can be catered for.

’We have to act in a manner that is fair and appropriate.’

He added: ’My experience of politics is that if you try to solve all of the world’s issues you will never get anywhere.’

He said that feedback from employers had suggested that in some circumstances, lone parents had turned down the opportunity for more hours.