Proposes two additional motions: the draft Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2023, both laid before this House on 16 January.

Asks whether it is true that the Government introduced the order to support those most in need—those with fixed incomes who require extra assistance at this time.

Questions the Minister about how carer’s allowance changes interact with working hours, particularly in light of the national living wage increase. Asks for the Government's recent thinking on this issue.

The failure to uprate benefits over recent years has led to a rise in poverty, as seen through absolute and relative measures. While this year's uprating will maintain benefit values, it does not address the inadequacy of the safety net that has contributed to increased child poverty and food bank usage. The Government deserve no praise for an action they should have taken anyway. Childcare support and local housing allowance costs are frozen despite rising inflation, making it harder for low-income families to afford housing and childcare. This leads to financial hardship and undermines living standards during a cost of living crisis.

Responding to Karen Buck's speech, Luke Evans argues that the universal credit taper has been changed from 63p to 55p. This reduction benefits those earning money by putting more in their pockets.

Guy Opperman asserts that the process of benefit uprating has not changed since 1987, suggesting consistency across multiple governments. He highlights improvements such as fewer pensioners in absolute poverty and an increase in the living wage.

Supporting Karen Buck's speech, Margaret Greenwood agrees that Labour previously took 1 million children out of poverty. She calls for immediate action from a future Labour Government to address rising poverty.

Richard Graham counters by pointing out the Government's increase in benefits beyond inflation and argues that those on universal credit will be £1,000 better off due to a reduction in the taper rate. He questions Labour's social justice proposals.

In an intervention, Jeremy Corbyn agrees with Karen Buck about the need to look at local housing allowance levels given rising rent costs, especially in London where many are paying well over £100 a month out of remaining benefits.

Responding to Richard Graham's intervention, Stephen Timms corrects the record by stating that Labour has not uprated benefits in line with inflation during their 13-year period in power. He emphasises the current headline rate of benefits being the lowest for 40 years.

Mills emphasises the current welfare increase of 10%, while acknowledging its limitations due to outdated data. He praises the government for ensuring benefits and pensions rise with inflation but warns that people might still be worse off due to energy bill increases and reduction in support. Mills suggests the Government should keep reviewing cost-of-living support rates, improve decision-making processes using more recent data, and consider rebasing welfare payments based on current needs.

The hon. Member David Linden criticised the current economic situation and highlighted the dire state of poverty in Britain, especially child poverty. He cited statistics from the Child Poverty Action Group that showed an increase of 700,000 children in poverty since 2010. He argued that while the uprating orders are welcome, they do not address the four years of benefit freeze prior to the pandemic. Linden referred to data from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s cost of living tracker showing that over seven in ten families are going without essentials due to financial strain. He also quoted his local food bank's report stating that 24% of children in Hexham were growing up in poverty, an increase by 6% since 2015. He criticised the Government for refusing to fix known policy failures such as universal credit and the two-child limit, which are contributing factors to child poverty.

The hon. Member Justin Tomlinson intervened to ask why the Scottish Government does not mirror proposed changes to disability benefits for terminal illness patients and suggested that Members encourage constituents to check if they qualify for Pension Credit, which could provide up to £3,000 per year.

The hon. Member Jim Shannon encouraged pensioners in his constituency to look at Pension Credit and welcomed a project by Citizens Advice aimed at helping more people access the benefit. He questioned whether the Government should focus specifically on raising awareness of Pension Credit.

The hon. Member Jerome Mayhew cited the triple lock on pensions, which raises pension amounts by 2.5%, inflation rate or average earnings, as a positive measure to protect pensioners from economic downturns.

The hon. Member Jeremy Corbyn highlighted the issue of pensioner poverty and specifically mentioned WASPI women who are experiencing financial stress due to changes in retirement age that they were unaware of.

Expresses satisfaction with the Government's decision to uplift benefits by CPI. Discusses the impact of inflation on disadvantaged constituents, emphasising the importance of protecting those in receipt of benefits from inflation. Critiques the Labour Party's stance on conditionality in welfare systems and highlights pensioner poverty issues. Welcomes the extension of CPI protection to pension credit recipients and urges more support for claimants and flexibility in pension policies. Addresses concerns about energy bills affecting those with medical equipment and advocates for a fairer system that ensures better value and fairness. Highlights issues related to local food markets, emergency food aid, and the need for fairness within the benefits system.

Echoes relief about the benefits uprating decision and discusses the inadequacies of current benefit systems. He highlights that legacy benefits will be claimed until at least 2028 and calls for faster IT system improvements to adjust rates. Discusses recent high inflation leading to hardship, with benefits being too low in real terms for over four decades, resulting in a surge in food bank demand. Acknowledges the government's decision to uprate by 10% this year but notes it won't improve conditions significantly. Suggests that social security support needs to be increased in real terms to lower food bank demand and discusses productivity issues due to inadequate safety nets forcing people into unsuitable jobs. Mentions cross-party efforts, including the Poverty Strategy Commission, aiming for economic efficiency through better benefit levels. Critiques the reduction of the benefit cap over years without increases, noting it pushed more families into deeper poverty and suggests reconsidering its necessity given current conditions. Raises concerns about the local housing allowance being frozen despite rising rents, contributing to homelessness and housing crises. Urges consideration of childcare support within universal credit and calls for a revision in local housing allowances.

Critiques the delay in benefits increases and highlights poverty statistics in Scotland. Emphasises that the benefit cap is unkind, with more than 70% of those affected being single-parent families. Contrasts the Scottish child payment with the UK government's two-child limit policy.

Highlights poverty caused by low wages, insufficient benefits, high rents and inflation. Criticises the Minister for inadequacy of benefits and suggests nationalisation of energy companies to protect citizens from price hikes.

Welcomed the Government's draft benefits uprating order but questioned whether it is fair to increase benefits at inflation rates during full employment when wages are rising by about half as much. Emphasised that protecting the purchasing power of the poorest families is morally right, especially given their high personal inflation and food costs. Highlighted low unemployment in his constituency with a significant demand for staff across various skill levels. Criticised the SNP's stance on immigration, arguing that limiting low-skilled immigration increases bargaining power for the lowest paid workers. Reiterated support for policies ensuring work pays, including reducing the taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing the work allowance by £500.

Questioned the assertion that immigration is a problem for low pay, pointing out issues with fruit left unharvested due to insufficient seasonal workers. Argued that food banks are increasingly being used by people in work suffering from in-work poverty.

Called for more information on the number of jobcentre staff using nearby food banks, suggesting it would provide insights into in-work poverty and its impact on employment opportunities.

Welcomed the uprating of social security benefits in line with inflation, emphasised the importance of social security as a public service during uncertain times such as the pandemic. Criticised the disparity between universal credit for under-25s and over-25s, calling it misguided and asked for review. Highlighted issues with PIP assessments being outsourced to private providers and suggested in-house assessment processes. Discussed carer's allowance, proposing reforms to keep carers connected to the workplace. Raised concerns about pension errors and compensation for WASPI women.

McDonnell raised concerns about the benefit cap, arguing that it has disproportionately affected London constituencies, particularly the black, Asian and minority ethnic community. He highlighted that 44% of those impacted are in London, while only three out of every twenty people in the population belong to these communities. McDonnell pointed out that the impact is severe for single-parent families with children, affecting about 308,000 individuals, pushing them into deep poverty. Scrapping the cap would cost an estimated £500 million and lift many households above the government’s own poverty line by around £65 a week. He also addressed the triple lock on pensions, expressing regret that it was broken last year despite his initial support for its introduction under a Conservative Government. McDonnell advocated for applying the principle of maintaining benefit values over time to all benefits, not just pensions. Additionally, he called for recognition and better financial support for carers through an increase in the carer’s allowance to at least match maternity allowance.

Welcomes the decision to uprate benefits in line with inflation but argues it is insufficient given the rise in costs for low-income families. Mentions a report by CPAG which states that costs for low-income families have risen by 21% in the past two years compared to a 14% increase in benefits. Emphasises the inadequacy of current benefit levels, especially as child poverty has increased since 2010. Highlights shocking findings from the Bevan Foundation's report on poverty in Wales, including that people on universal credit are five times more likely than the general population to struggle with affording basics and that over half of severely disabled people have gone without heating recently. Calls for urgent investment into the benefits system beyond current proposals. Argues against restrictions like the two-child limit and benefit cap, suggesting they unfairly penalise poor families and certain communities. Questions why some benefits are enshrined in law to rise with prices while others are not. Urges the government to bring forward cost of living payments.

Shannon highlighted the impact of inflation and cost of living on people in Northern Ireland, noting higher costs due to the Northern Ireland protocol. He mentioned an increase in referrals to food banks and advocated for lowering thresholds to allow more people access to benefits. He also called for changes to child benefit thresholds and asked about support for those with disabilities.

Rodda criticised the Government's response to the cost of living crisis, noting inadequate safety nets leading to increased poverty and need for food banks. He questioned a policy that prevents pensioners from claiming pension credit when one partner is on universal credit.

The Government are supporting the most vulnerable by uprating benefits by over 10%, providing £37 billion in cost of living support, and implementing various measures such as the energy price guarantee to cap energy prices for households. The national living wage will increase by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour from April 2023.

The hon. Member accused the Government of policy failures, highlighting issues with their approach towards universal credit and benefit conditionality.