Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit: Covid-19

Tuesday 20 October 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The 20 per week increase in universal credit and working tax credit is part of a government package to protect jobs and incomes.
  • The government has provided an additional 9 billion in welfare support.
  • The right hon Gentleman acknowledges the additional support put into welfare.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The temporary £20 per week increase in universal credit was introduced during the pandemic. The question assesses the economic effects of removing this uplift while the outbreak continues.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effect on the economy of removing the temporary uplift in universal credit from April 2021 while the covid-19 outbreak continues?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The £20 per week increase in the universal credit standard allowance and working tax credit basic element forms just one part of the package of support the Government have provided to protect people's jobs and incomes, including income support schemes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific economic assessment was not provided.

How: Forms Just One Part Of The Package Of Support, Protecting People'S Jobs And Incomes

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Q2 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The previous question discussed the temporary increase in universal credit. This supplementary question asks about maintaining these benefits as a stimulus measure.

Question

Surely, it would now be inconceivable to remove those increases in April as planned, before the pandemic is even over. Does the Minister accept that of the indirect levers available to the Government to stimulate what is, as we have heard already, going to be a weak economy for some time, measures that raise the incomes of low-income households are the most effective, and benefit increases are a good example?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I am grateful that the right hon. Gentleman recognises the additional £9 billion of support that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has put into welfare. That is reflected, as the right hon. Gentleman will further recognise, in the distributional analysis showing that that has protected those on the lowest incomes. That support is temporary, but it does extend to the spring, and it helps those families facing covid with the challenges over the coming months.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to maintain benefit increases was not addressed specifically.

How: The Right Hon. Gentleman Recognises The Additional £9 Billion, Support Is Temporary

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