Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit Uplift

Monday 13 September 2021 · 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 government has not made a specific assessment of the temporary universal credit uplift during the pandemic.
  • Youth hubs are planned to be crucial in supporting people of all ages in acquiring new skills and increasing their working hours.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions aims to have 150 youth hubs open by the end of the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Fell
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the need to assess the impact of temporary measures taken during the pandemic on supporting people into work. The focus is specifically on the universal credit standard allowance uplift.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effect of the uplift to the standard allowance of universal credit on supporting people into work?

Answer from Mims Davies

Throughout the pandemic, jobcentres remained open to support vulnerable claimants and those affected. No specific assessment has been made of the temporary universal credit uplift due to the pandemic. The government's plan for jobs continues to offer tailored Jobcentre Plus support to help people find work and develop their skills.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific assessment of the effect of the universal credit standard allowance uplift on supporting people into work.

How: Throughout The Pandemic, Jobcentres Remained Open To Support Vulnerable Claimants And Those Affected.

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Q2 Simon Fell
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner acknowledges the hard work of local teams in helping people into jobs and looks forward to opening a youth hub. However, many constituents are concerned about changes to universal credit and potential 'cliff edge' effects.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for her response. I pay tribute to the local team in Barrow and South Lakes for their hard work in helping people into jobs, and giving them the skills and experiences they need to get into the job market. Indeed, I am looking forward to opening Barrow youth hub on 30 September. That said, many of my constituents are concerned about the changes to universal credit and the potential cliff edge. Will the Minister explain what mitigations are in place to protect those who have concerns about their future?

Answer from Mims Davies

Youth hubs are crucial, with plans for 150 to be open by year-end. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is focused on a multibillion-pound intervention called the plan for jobs, which supports people of all ages in acquiring new skills and increasing their working hours while identifying and addressing barriers to employment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address specific mitigations in place regarding changes to universal credit or potential negative impacts on individuals.

How: Youth Hubs Are Crucial; We Have Heard About One In Darwen And One In Barrow.

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