Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Benefit Levels

Monday 5 February 2024 · 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

  • Ministerial benefits were increased by 6.7% for 2024-25 and by 10.1% in 2023-24.
  • Benefits are under review, with plans to raise the national living wage by about 10% over two years.
  • The government plans to increase local housing allowance to the 30th percentile, providing an annual benefit of 800 for 1.6 million people.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Grant SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the need to assess whether current benefit levels are sufficient given rising inflation and its impact on low-income families.

Question

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of benefits. The rate of inflation for low-paid families is higher than the headline rate, leaving many struggling even worse this year compared to last year. Citizens Advice shows that low-income families have less disposable income in 2023-24.

Answer from Mel Stride

Welfare is there to help the most vulnerable, which is why benefits were increased by 6.7% for 2024-25 and by 10.1% in 2023-24.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of higher inflation rates for low-income families was not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Peter Grant SNP
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question stems from the observation that low-income families are struggling more due to higher inflation rates compared to the general population, leading to decreased disposable income.

Question

Despite benefit increases, inflation for low-paid families is significantly higher. Families on low incomes have less disposable income this year than last year. Does he accept it's time to introduce an essentials guarantee so no one on universal credit or another income-based benefit falls below basic essentials?

Answer from Mel Stride

Benefits are under review, and measures include increasing the national living wage by about 10% over two years, raising local housing allowance to the 30th percentile worth £800 a year for 1.6 million people, and tax cuts of £450 a year for an average earner.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about introducing an essentials guarantee was not addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 David Linden SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There is criticism that the government focuses on penalising people through measures like the two-child cap, despite known policy failures in the benefits system.

Question

Rather than address policy failures within the benefits system, the Government seems focused on penalties like the two-child cap. The Labour party recently prioritised lifting bankers' bonuses caps over working women's benefits caps. Does he take comfort that his cruel legacy will be protected by Labour?

Answer from Mel Stride

I am not going to engage in crossfire between parties, other than to note—[Interruption.]

Not addressed: The question about policy failures and political alignment was entirely avoided.

How: Crossfire Avoidance

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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