In-work Poverty 2023-06-19
2023-06-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about in-work poverty and the government's failure to address it despite low unemployment rates.
What steps his Department is taking to tackle in-work poverty. Despite my question relating to in-work poverty, the Government often herald historically low unemployment rates to avoid their shame over falling living standards and endemic wage stagnation.
It is not appropriate to dismiss completely the significant downside of covid—we spent £400 billion supporting the economy during that—the significant impact through energy price spikes of the war or the deleterious impact of the last Labour Government. The simple fact is that since 2009-10, there are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs, and 400,000 fewer children and 400,000 fewer pensioners in that position.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address steps to tackle in-work poverty without blaming external factors or previous government
Blaming The War In Ukraine
Referencing The Last Labour Government
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is assisting a constituent who is working at minimum wage and facing in-work poverty due to errors in her state pension.
Can the Secretary of State help me get my 68-year-old constituent out of the in-work poverty bracket and receiving her state pension? I am happy to share the details of the case with the Secretary of State.
If the hon. Lady would like to share those details with me, I will make sure that I and the Minister for Pensions, the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott) will have a close look at the case she raises.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the increase in public sector workers relying on universal credit due to inadequate pay and benefits.
Can I draw the Secretary of State's attention to the GMB trade union's research, which found a shocking 155% increase in the number of public sector workers relying on universal credit? How will the Department rectify this alarming trend?
I do not think we should make any apology for having a system of benefits that is there whether someone is out of work or in work, and which encourages those who are in work to work longer hours if that is appropriate and to earn more through many of the kinds of provision that we provide through our jobcentres.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address how to rectify the trend but acknowledged the benefit system's role
Discussing Benefits System
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of government policies on living standards and wage stagnation.
Can the Secretary of State answer this without blaming external factors? Do the Government now accept that there is an inextricable link between their failed economic policies and the fact that British workers are financially worse off since they came to power?
It is not appropriate to dismiss completely the significant downside of covid—we spent £400 billion supporting the economy during that—the significant impact through energy price spikes of the war or the deleterious impact of the last Labour Government. The simple fact is that since 2009-10, there are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs, and 400,000 fewer children and 400,000 fewer pensioners in that position.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address the link between policies and financial hardship but discussed external factors
Blaming The War In Ukraine
Referencing The Last Labour Government
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about people working hard but feeling poorer due to rising mortgage costs.
Has the Secretary of State made any assessment as to how many staff in his Department will struggle to make ends meet when their mortgages skyrocket under this Conservative Government?
The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies) has already addressed the approach that we would recommend to those struggling with mortgages and the approach that the Government are taking to that. There are also the £150 payments to those who are disabled and £300 payable to pensioners along with their winter fuel payments. Those, along with increasing the national living wage and the energy price guarantee, are real things that the Government are doing to help those who are feeling the most financial pressure.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address an assessment of struggling staff but discussed government measures
Discussing Government Measures
Response accuracy