Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

In-work Poverty

Monday 19 June 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government spent 400 billion supporting the economy during the COVID pandemic.
  • The Secretary of State offered to review a specific case of a 68-year-old constituent regarding in-work poverty and state pension.
  • The Secretary of State stated that the benefits system supports those in and out of work, encouraging longer hours and higher earnings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paula Barker Lab Liverpool Wavertree
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about in-work poverty and the government's failure to address it despite low unemployment rates.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to tackle in-work poverty. Despite my question relating to in-work poverty, the Government often herald historically low unemployment rates to avoid their shame over falling living standards and endemic wage stagnation.

Answer from Mel Stride

It is not appropriate to dismiss completely the significant downside of covid—we spent £400 billion supporting the economy during that—the significant impact through energy price spikes of the war or the deleterious impact of the last Labour Government. The simple fact is that since 2009-10, there are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs, and 400,000 fewer children and 400,000 fewer pensioners in that position.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address steps to tackle in-work poverty without blaming external factors or previous government

How: Blaming The War In Ukraine, Referencing The Last Labour Government

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Q2 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is assisting a constituent who is working at minimum wage and facing in-work poverty due to errors in her state pension.

Question

Can the Secretary of State help me get my 68-year-old constituent out of the in-work poverty bracket and receiving her state pension? I am happy to share the details of the case with the Secretary of State.

Answer from Mel Stride

If the hon. Lady would like to share those details with me, I will make sure that I and the Minister for Pensions, the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Laura Trott) will have a close look at the case she raises.

Answered
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Q3 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the increase in public sector workers relying on universal credit due to inadequate pay and benefits.

Question

Can I draw the Secretary of State's attention to the GMB trade union's research, which found a shocking 155% increase in the number of public sector workers relying on universal credit? How will the Department rectify this alarming trend?

Answer from Mel Stride

I do not think we should make any apology for having a system of benefits that is there whether someone is out of work or in work, and which encourages those who are in work to work longer hours if that is appropriate and to earn more through many of the kinds of provision that we provide through our jobcentres.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address how to rectify the trend but acknowledged the benefit system's role

How: Discussing Benefits System

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Q4 Paula Barker Lab Liverpool Wavertree
Economy Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of government policies on living standards and wage stagnation.

Question

Can the Secretary of State answer this without blaming external factors? Do the Government now accept that there is an inextricable link between their failed economic policies and the fact that British workers are financially worse off since they came to power?

Answer from Mel Stride

It is not appropriate to dismiss completely the significant downside of covid—we spent £400 billion supporting the economy during that—the significant impact through energy price spikes of the war or the deleterious impact of the last Labour Government. The simple fact is that since 2009-10, there are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs, and 400,000 fewer children and 400,000 fewer pensioners in that position.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the link between policies and financial hardship but discussed external factors

How: Blaming The War In Ukraine, Referencing The Last Labour Government

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Q5 David Linden SNP
Economy Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about people working hard but feeling poorer due to rising mortgage costs.

Question

Has the Secretary of State made any assessment as to how many staff in his Department will struggle to make ends meet when their mortgages skyrocket under this Conservative Government?

Answer from Mel Stride

The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies) has already addressed the approach that we would recommend to those struggling with mortgages and the approach that the Government are taking to that. There are also the £150 payments to those who are disabled and £300 payable to pensioners along with their winter fuel payments. Those, along with increasing the national living wage and the energy price guarantee, are real things that the Government are doing to help those who are feeling the most financial pressure.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address an assessment of struggling staff but discussed government measures

How: Discussing Government Measures

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