Cost of Living 2022-03-21 (2)
2022-03-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of rising costs on families and individuals.
What steps her Department is taking to support people with the increase in the cost of living. Through the Department for Work and Pensions, that includes cutting the universal credit taper rate and increasing work allowances.
The Government are providing support worth over £21 billion across this financial year and the next to help families with the cost of living. Through the Department for Work and Pensions, that includes cutting the universal credit taper rate and increasing work allowances.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the real-term cut in benefits and pensions due to inflation, affecting the poorest in society.
Most benefits and the state pension will rise by just 3% in April, but inflation could be over 8%, so that is a real-terms cut of 5% for people who are already having to choose between eating and heating. Given that, how on earth does the Secretary of State think it acceptable to target the incomes of the poorest in our society like this? Will she commit today to action so that nobody's benefits are cut during the deepest cost of living crisis in decades?
The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley), has set out the inflation index that has been used consistently since 1987 in consideration of the inflation rate. I am very conscious that the House voted for the uprating order recently—apart from the hon. Gentleman, along with a handful of others. If his vote had been successful, benefits would not have risen at all.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment requested to prevent benefit cuts during the cost-of-living crisis was avoided.
Changing Subject To Voting Record
Discussing Historical Context
Response accuracy