Universal Credit Two-child Limit 2024-11-11
2024-11-11
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Liberal Democrat MP questioned the government's approach to child poverty, referencing the two-child limit for universal credit which has affected many families.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing the two-child limit for universal credit?
The last Labour Government dramatically reduced child poverty, and we want to repeat their success. The child poverty taskforce is exploring how to harness all available levers, including social security reform, and it will publish its strategy next spring.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide an assessment of the merits or demerits of removing the two-child limit for universal credit specifically.
Referring To A Taskforce'S Work
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Liberal Democrat MP highlighted the negative impacts of child poverty on children's education, health, and vulnerability to criminal justice system involvement. She questioned why immediate action was not taken to remove the two-child limit for universal credit.
Given that by the time the child poverty taskforce reports next spring, a further 16,000 children will have been dragged into poverty, and given the devastating impact that poverty can have on a child's education, their health and their vulnerability to the criminal justice system, why will the Minister not do the right thing and scrap the two-child benefit cap to lift 300,000 children out of poverty immediately?
The strategy will be very clear about how we will tackle the scourge of child poverty, and the hon. Lady is absolutely right to highlight the importance of doing that. Labour voted against the two-child limit, but we will not promise change until we know how we are going to pay for it. That will be addressed in the work of the taskforce, with the results published in the spring.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to scrapping the two-child limit and focused on future taskforce reports rather than immediate action.
Future Taskforce Reports
Response accuracy