Universal Credit (Reducing Poverty)
2020-06-29
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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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.
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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the lack of assessments on the impact of universal credit on poverty directly
Redirecting To Employment Statistics
Highlighting Support For Full-Time Work
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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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.
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.
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy