Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living 2022-03-21 (2)

Monday 21 March 2022 · 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 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Richard Burgon asked about steps the Department for Work and Pensions is taking to support people with the increase in the cost of living.
  • The Government are providing over 21 billion in support across this financial year and the next to help families with the cost of living.
  • Most benefits and the state pension will rise by 3% in April, less than the projected inflation rate.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Burgon Lab Leeds East
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of rising costs on families and individuals.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support people with the increase in the cost of living. Through the Department for Work and Pensions, that includes cutting the universal credit taper rate and increasing work allowances.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Government are providing support worth over £21 billion across this financial year and the next to help families with the cost of living. Through the Department for Work and Pensions, that includes cutting the universal credit taper rate and increasing work allowances.

Answered
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Q2 Richard Burgon Lab Leeds East
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the real-term cut in benefits and pensions due to inflation, affecting the poorest in society.

Question

Most benefits and the state pension will rise by just 3% in April, but inflation could be over 8%, so that is a real-terms cut of 5% for people who are already having to choose between eating and heating. Given that, how on earth does the Secretary of State think it acceptable to target the incomes of the poorest in our society like this? Will she commit today to action so that nobody's benefits are cut during the deepest cost of living crisis in decades?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley), has set out the inflation index that has been used consistently since 1987 in consideration of the inflation rate. I am very conscious that the House voted for the uprating order recently—apart from the hon. Gentleman, along with a handful of others. If his vote had been successful, benefits would not have risen at all.

Not addressed: The specific commitment requested to prevent benefit cuts during the cost-of-living crisis was avoided.

How: Changing Subject To Voting Record, Discussing Historical Context

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