On Wednesday in Parliament the Labour party referred to a letter written by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett in March on the subject of paying all benefits in the form of a special credit card with restricted purchases.

The letter suggests such a system would be unnecessary, cumbersome and contrary to a "key principle" of the benefit system.

This weekend the Government announced plans for youth benefits to be paid on a restricted card.

Labour have released a PDF copy of Ms Bennett's letter.

Click for big version.