Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit Uplift

Monday 17 May 2021 · 6 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government extended the temporary 20-a-week increase in universal credit for six months in March 2021.
  • Government views the 20 increase as temporary, reflecting the economic impact of covid-19.
  • Government's current focus is shifting to supporting people back into work via a comprehensive plan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Allan Dorans
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns over the impact of removing a temporary £20 per week increase in Universal Credit for recipients. The Government previously extended this measure to March 2023.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential effect on recipients of universal credit after removal of the £20 uplift?

Answer from Will Quince

Since the start of the pandemic, the Government's priority has been to protect lives and people's livelihoods. In March, we extended the temporary £20-a-week increase in universal credit for six months. Now it is right that the focus shifts to supporting people back into work via a comprehensive plan for jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment of impact on recipients was not provided.

How: Shift Focus, Comprehensive Plan

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Q2 Hannah Bardell SNP
Economy Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question refers to the Government's decision to remove the £20 per week Universal Credit increase in October, coinciding with the end of the furlough scheme.

Question

This Tory Government cut the universal credit £20 uplift in October. Will they apologise and ask for extension or continuation?

Answer from Will Quince

The Government views the £20 increase as temporary, reflecting the economic impact of covid-19. We have a comprehensive £30 billion plan for jobs to support people back into work after shifting focus from welfare.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No apology or continuation request was made.

How: Temporary Measure, Comprehensive Plan

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Q3 Allan Dorans
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question is about the impact of removing the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and its potential exacerbation of poverty, with reference to the Trussell Trust's findings.

Question

Does the Minister recognize that removing the £20 uplift will push more families into hardship?

Answer from Will Quince

Food bank reliance is not desired by anyone. We invest over £100 billion annually on benefits for working-age people and an additional £7.4 billion during the pandemic. The focus now is shifting to supporting people back into work, which is the best route out of poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Recognition of increased hardship was not addressed.

How: Supporting People Into Work, Comprehensive Plan

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Q4 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses the rising levels of in-work poverty since 2010 across all UK regions, questioning the government's commitment to reducing this trend despite their levelling-up agenda.

Question

Given the Government's stance, should we expect in-work poverty to continue rising?

Answer from Will Quince

We take this issue seriously and have measures like the In-Work Progression Commission. We spend over £100 billion annually on benefits for working-age people and added £7.4 billion during the pandemic. The focus is now on supporting people back into work, as all evidence suggests that work is the best route out of poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No direct acknowledgment of continued in-work poverty increase.

How: In-Work Progression Commission, Comprehensive Plan

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Q5 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question focuses on the negative impact of the £20 uplift removal on disabled people, who may be worse off on Universal Credit compared to legacy systems.

Question

If the universal credit cut goes ahead, what is the Government's solution for these disadvantaged disabled people?

Answer from Will Quince

Many disabled are better off on Universal Credit; we urge them to use benefits calculators. Labour wants more spending, which under their last Government left people trapped in poverty and incentivized not to work.

Not addressed: No solution for affected disabled individuals was provided.

How: Better Off On Uc, Benefits Calculator

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Q6 David Linden SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Work and Pensions Committee, the SNP, and over 100 Conservative MPs are urging for the £20 universal credit uplift to be made permanent. The question is prompted by concerns about removing a crucial financial support that households rely on during recovery from the pandemic.

Question

It is not just the SNP, the Work and Pensions Committee and a range of stakeholders who are urging the UK Government to make the £20 uplift permanent, but 100 Conservative MPs in the Tory Reform Group and the one nation caucus. Is the Minister really saying that he disagrees with 100 of his own MPs who say it would be wrong to slash £1,000 a year from household budgets just as we are coming out of the teeth of this pandemic?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him to his place. Throughout this pandemic, this Government have consistently stepped up to support the lowest-paid, poorest and most vulnerable in our society. During the pandemic, the focus has rightly been on ensuring that people facing the most financial disruption got the support that they needed as quickly as possible, but all evidence suggests that work is the best route out of poverty. We had a jobs miracle before the pandemic, and with the help of our £30 billion plan for jobs, the support of business and creating the right environment, we will do so again. That is exactly why we shift our focus to supporting people back into work and to progress in work. We are doing that with the extra 13,500 work coaches in our jobcentres up and down the country and our £30 billion comprehensive plan for jobs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about making the £20 universal credit uplift permanent was not addressed directly.

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