Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Welfare Reforms

Monday 18 March 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Phase 1 of universal support has been activated, and phase 2 will be rolled out later this year.
  • AJS has been rolled out in parts of the country at six weeks and will be extended and strengthened for two weeks at the 13-week stage.
  • The government is looking closely at issues related to universal credit for the self-employed, including inconsistent income levels.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nigel Mills Con
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is inquiring about the timeline for welfare reform roll-out, given recent initiatives.

Question

What his planned timetable is for the roll-out of welfare reforms. Phase 1 has been activated and phase 2 will follow later this year.

Answer from Mel Stride

Phase 1 of our universal support has already been activated, and phase 2 will be rolled out later this year. Next month we will announce 15 WorkWell areas—about a third of England—that have been successfully selected, and they will be rolled out live this autumn.

Answered
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Q2 Nigel Mills Con
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is following up on the need for more intensive job centre support after 13 weeks of unemployment.

Question

Could he update the House on the additional jobcentre support roll-out, and when my constituents might get access to those benefits? The data is clear that after 13 weeks out of work, the chances of someone finding work starts to fall off rapidly.

Answer from Mel Stride

AJS has been rolled out in parts of the country at six weeks and will shortly be extended and strengthened for two weeks at the 13-week stage of the unemployment journey. That is part of the more intensive conditions that we apply to ensure that we help—and in many circumstances, require—people to go back into work.

Answered
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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Employment Business & Trade Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of universal credit rules on small business owners, particularly hill farmers in his constituency who have seen a 41% drop in income over four years.

Question

Will the Secretary of State urgently look at that, so that small business owners—especially hill farmers in my constituency—are not made even poorer because of the Government's rules? The welfare system does not work for them, as they are paid less than the minimum wage and access to universal credit is less due to the minimum income floor.

Answer from Mel Stride

The hon. Gentleman is right inasmuch as universal credit for the self-employed has to recognise inconsistent levels of income month to month. That is why we have a minimum income floor and arrangements around that; I am looking closely at these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Urgent look into the issue

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