Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit (Reducing Poverty)

Monday 29 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Social Mobility Commission reports UK Government has taken little or no action on a third of its recommendations, including those related to child poverty and universal credit.
  • Stephen Flynn questioned the effectiveness of Universal Credit in reducing child poverty, citing the Social Mobility Commission's report.
  • Minister responded by emphasizing the positive impact of full-time work on reducing poverty rates for children, noting the statistics on poverty levels for children in full-time versus part-time work households.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Flynn SNP Galloway
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The Social Mobility Commission has highlighted that there has been little or no action on a third of its recommendations, including ensuring child poverty is not exacerbated by universal credit. The commission criticised the DWP for failing to provide a detailed assessment of how benefit changes are tied to these poverty rates.

Question

The Social Mobility Commission has highlighted that in the last seven years there has been 'little or no action' by the UK Government on a third of its recommendations, including ensuring child poverty is not exacerbated by universal credit. Indeed, its damning report criticised DWP for failing to provide a detailed assessment of how benefit changes are tied to these poverty rates. On that basis, how can the Minister possibly know whether Universal Credit is increasing or decreasing poverty?

Answer from Will Quince (The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)

The statistics show that full-time work substantially reduces the chances of poverty. The absolute rate of poverty for a child where both parents work full time is 4% compared with 44% where one or more parents are in part-time work. We are supporting people into full-time work wherever possible, for example, through our childcare offer, and Universal Credit, where work always pays, is a fundamental part of that offer.

Answered

Not addressed: Did not address the lack of assessments on the impact of universal credit on poverty directly

How: Redirecting To Employment Statistics, Highlighting Support For Full-Time Work

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Q2 Neil Gray SNP Airdrie and Shotts
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There is growing pressure on the UK Government to act regarding universal credit benefits. The former DWP Secretary of State has called for uprating legacy benefits.

Question

Neil Gray notes that the Minister did not answer his question and calls on the Prime Minister and colleagues to accept recommendations from organisations such as Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Save the Children, urging them to convene a cross-party meeting to look at ways to make these recommendations happen. The Poverty Alliance's report shows that universal credit is pulling people into poverty.

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Will Quince

For a start, the hon. Gentleman knows that that is well above my pay grade, but I gently remind him that universal credit will be over £2 billion a year more generous when fully rolled out compared with the legacy benefits system it replaces. He also fails to recognise the £6.5 billion to £7 billion that this Government have put in place to support people through covid-19. As the Chancellor has said, we will do “whatever it takes”, and this Government are doing that: we are supporting people and this Department is getting that support to those who need it quickly.

Answered
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