Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit Standard Allowance: End of Uplift

Monday 8 November 2021 · 5 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

  • Sarah Olney questioned the Government about supporting families affected by the end of the Universal Credit uplift, citing a constituent's struggle.
  • The Minister emphasized the Government's focus on job creation, highlighting 1 million vacancies and a comprehensive jobs plan.
  • Ben Spencer inquired about addressing both income and expenditure issues, particularly childcare and housing costs, receiving updates on measures like increased local housing allowance and childcare cost coverage.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The £20 uplift to universal credit was a temporary measure, but claimants argue it is necessary for their survival.

Question

What steps are being taken to support families affected by the end of the uplift to the standard allowance of universal credit? I have a constituent who has struggled since the pandemic and is now desperate due to the removal of the £20 uplift. Will the Minister commit to reintroducing the uplift?

Answer from David Rutley

The Government's focus is on helping people into work, particularly in the hospitality sector. There are 1 million vacancies and a comprehensive plan for jobs.

Not addressed: Commitment to reintroduce the uplift was not addressed

How: Changing Subject To Job Opportunities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The £20 uplift was a temporary measure, but claimants argue it is necessary for their survival.

Question

My constituent Simon Holroyd lost his mother to covid and is now struggling to find work in the hospitality industry. The removal of the £20 uplift has left him desperate. Will the Minister commit to reintroducing the uplift?

Answer from David Rutley

With 1 million vacancies and a comprehensive plan for jobs, our focus is on helping people into work. I hope there might be a vacancy for the hon. Member's constituent.

Not addressed: Commitment to reintroduce the uplift was not addressed

How: Changing Subject To Job Opportunities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Stephen Crabb Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Minister and Secretary of State have been pushing for the reduction in the universal credit taper rate.

Question

May I thank the Minister and especially the Secretary of State for really pushing for the cut to the universal credit taper rate that we saw in the Budget? It will make a real difference to families on low incomes. Does not this, along with more than 1 million job vacancies and measures to strengthen work incentives, represent the best opportunity in more than a generation to bear down on long-term unemployment?

Answer from David Rutley

Absolutely. I credit my right hon. Friend: he has been a champion of improving the taper rate over many years. Now is the time for us to take forward opportunities for people through the sector-based work academy programme and the restart programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on long-term unemployment reduction was not provided

How: Crediting Colleague, Talking About Programmes

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Economy Employment
Context

Unemployment support is now at the lowest level in real terms for more than 30 years.

Question

Unemployment support is now at the lowest level in real terms for over 30 years, even though the economy has grown by more than 50%. Why is unemployment support set at this historically extremely low level?

Answer from David Rutley

It is important to have a safety net, but it is also very important to get people into work. With 1.1 million vacancies and a plan for jobs, that has to be our focus.

Not addressed: Explanation of low unemployment support level was not provided

How: Changing Subject To Job Opportunities

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Ben Spencer Con Runnymede and Weybridge
Housing Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The cost of living is causing pressures for worse-off families.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that we must look at both money in and money out, particularly childcare and housing costs? Will he update the House on the work being done to address these issues?

Answer from David Rutley

We have already provided measures such as covering 85% of childcare costs with universal credit and increasing local housing allowance. Steps are being taken, but we need to focus further on childcare.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific update was not fully addressed

How: Mentioning Existing Measures

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email