Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Poverty Levels: April 2023

Monday 11 July 2022 · 3 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

  • Stephanie Peacock asked about projecting poverty levels for April 2023, expressing concern over the difficulty in assessing the effectiveness of current anti-poverty measures without such projections.
  • Alex Cunningham questioned the government on the rise of absolute child poverty in the north-east of England, challenging the government's claim that child poverty has fallen.
  • Stephanie Peacock inquired about a constituent receiving universal credit, highlighting an issue where working additional hours led to a deduction in carer's allowance, despite the individual's efforts to supplement income.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Children & Families
Context

The question relates to the government's approach towards projecting and addressing poverty levels, specifically inquiring about estimates for April 2023.

Question

If she will make an estimate of projected poverty levels in April 2023. I am concerned that without such projections, it is difficult to gauge the effectiveness of current anti-poverty measures and plan future actions.

Answer from Therese Coffey

It is not usual to project poverty levels in terms of statistics. However, the latest official statistics show that in 2021, some 8 million people were in poverty in absolute low-income before housing costs, which was a fall on the previous year. The government provides a £15 billion support package targeted at those most in need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for projected poverty levels in April 2023, but no estimate was provided.

How: It Is Not Usual To Project Poverty Levels

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Q2 Alex Cunningham Lab
Children & Families
Context

The question relates to rising child poverty rates across multiple local authority areas in the North East. It highlights specific percentage increases and their significance.

Question

Even using the Government's preferred measure of absolute child poverty, the proportion of children living in absolute poverty rose in every north-east local authority area between 2014-15 and 2019-20, and continued to rise in the first year of the pandemic. Can the Minister tell the House which of the Tory leadership candidates will be content to see children in places such as Stockton go hungry, and which of them will take action to ensure they do not?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I would be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would give me the specific source of his statistics, because I believe that statistically, child poverty has actually fallen, something of which Government Members are proud. Nevertheless, he will be pleased by the fact that people have opportunities and are getting into work.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about specific Tory leadership candidates' stances on child poverty, but no direct answer was given regarding their views or actions planned.

How: I Would Be Grateful If The Hon. Gentleman Would Give Me The Specific Source Of His Statistics

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Q3 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The question relates to a constituent who is penalised financially when working overtime while receiving universal credit for caring for his disabled son.

Question

One in three children in Barnsley are living in poverty. My constituent cares for his disabled eight-year-old son. He recently started a part-time job to supplement his income, but after working just two hours' overtime, he had a whole month of carer's allowance deducted. Can she explain why those who receive carer's allowance are penalised for doing just that?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I expect that the hon. Lady's constituent is receiving the caring element of universal credit, rather than carer's allowance specifically, which is a slightly separate approach. Universal credit is a dynamic benefit reflecting the fact that when a person is working more, they receive less support from other taxpayers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for an explanation of why people are penalised for working overtime under universal credit, but no specific reason was given.

How: I Expect That The Hon. Lady'S Constituent Is Receiving The Caring Element Of Universal Credit

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