Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Single-parent employment levels

Monday 6 March 2023 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government has cut the earnings taper on universal credit and increased work allowances, benefiting families by 1,000 a year.
  • The Universal Credit system allows eligible parents to claim up to 85% of their childcare costs and provides support for up-front expenses through the flexible support fund.
  • Since 2010, lone parent employment rates have increased from 56.1% to 65.5% in 2022 under the current government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Employment Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

Single-parent employment has fallen between 2019 and 2022, raising concerns about government policies.

Question

What assessment have you made of the implications for your policies of the fall in single-parent employment between 2019 and 2022?

Answer from Mims Davies

We have cut the earnings taper on universal credit and increased work allowances, meaning that families are better off by £1,000 a year. Eligible parents can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs through UC, and further assistance is available through the flexible support fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment requested about policy implications was not directly addressed

How: We Are Committed

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Q2 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Single parents face challenges with the childcare element of universal credit being capped at a level set in 2005 and paid in arrears.

Question

What steps have you taken to ensure benefits go up in line with cost of childcare and to look at paying this element upfront?

Answer from Mims Davies

We are committed to helping lone parents through work. The UC childcare element can be used to top up free childcare hours, and we support up-front costs through the flexible support fund. However, employers also play a crucial role in supporting lone parents.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps requested were not provided; only general commitment was given

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Q3 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The single-parent employment rate had the biggest annual fall last year, breaking a long-term upward trend since the mid-1990s.

Question

Surely you would agree that the eligible cost limit on childcare in universal credit needs to be uprated to reflect today's costs?

Answer from Mims Davies

Under this Government since 2010, we have seen a significant increase in lone parents in work from 56.1% to 65.5% in 2022. However, there are challenges for lone parents and it is right that we look at these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request about updating cost limits was not addressed directly

How: We Are Committed

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Q4 Karen Buck Lab
Employment Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The Centre for Progressive Policy reports that a quarter of parents are underemployed due to lack of affordable childcare, costing the UK over £20 billion.

Question

How long will it be before you expect lone parent employment rates to rise again to where they were three years ago?

Answer from Mims Davies

We have amazing childcare opportunities and support through universal credit, claiming back 85% of costs. Further assistance is available through the flexible support fund. However, it's important that not everyone goes straight back to work; individual needs must be considered.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline requested was not provided

How: We Are Committed

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