Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Legacy Benefits: Universal Credit

Tuesday 1 December 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 to universal credit and working tax credit is benefiting claimants by a total of 6.1 billion this year.
  • The increase to universal credit and working tax credit is part of a wide-ranging package of Government support during the crisis.
  • The Government have not ruled out further action regarding legacy benefits beyond March.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

In the context of recent increases to universal credit and working tax credit, Stephen Timms seeks an assessment on the economic effect of raising legacy benefits by £20 per week.

Question

What assessment has been made of the economic effect of increasing legacy benefits by £20 per week in line with the recent increase to the standard universal credit allowance?

Answer from Steve Barclay

The £20 per week increase to universal credit and working tax credit is benefiting claimants by a total of £6.1 billion this year and is just one part of the wide-ranging package of Government support during this crisis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steve Barclay did not provide an assessment on the economic effect of increasing legacy benefits specifically, only referenced the benefit to claimants in general.

How: Did Not Address Economic Impact Directly

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Q2 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Referencing the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's observation that raising social security benefits not only aids families but also stimulates economic growth, Stephen Timms questions whether the Government recognises this and if they will address the current discrepancy in benefit increases.

Question

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation points out that raising social security benefits not only helps hard-pressed families, but boosts the economy because the increase is likely to be spent. Does the Chief Secretary recognise that raising legacy benefits in line with the £20 a week increase he has referred to that has already been introduced in universal credit would boost the economy while also addressing the current unfair discrepancy between them?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I recognise that the right hon. Gentleman has, as Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, raised this issue on a number of occasions, and he will know that the uplift continues until the end of March; the benefit to which he refers continues until then. The Government are not ruling anything out for the future, but it is right that we wait for more clarity on the national economic picture before making any further decisions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steve Barclay did not commit to raising legacy benefits in line with universal credit or provide an assessment of its economic impact.

How: Did Not Address Future Decision-Making, Referred To The Current Uplift

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