Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUniversal Credit: AdequacyWhat I would say is that I am proud that this Government stepped forward at the beginning of the pandemic to put in place the largest cash increase in our welfare safety net to…13 Sept 2021HANSARDUniversal Credit: AdequacyThe Secretary of State is legally required to conduct an annual review of benefits and pension rates to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general…13 Sept 2021HANSARDUniversal Credit: Removal of UpliftThe hon. Gentleman references cancelling the cut. As I said before, there is no cut because there is no financial saving. If this measure were to continue, the Treasury would need…13 Sept 2021HANSARDUniversal Credit: Removal of UpliftIt is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of removing the £20 uplift on poverty. That is particularly the case at the moment, given the uncertainty around the…13 Sept 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for that question. As she knows, we have brought forward two of the exemptions to the shared accommodation rate. We have committed to the third, and if I can…13 Sept 2021HANSARDChildren in Relative PovertyNational statistics on the number and percentage of children in low-income households are published annually in the “Households below average income” publication. In 2019-20, 19%…13 Sept 2021HANSARDUniversal Credit: AdequacyThere is no objective way of deciding what an adequate level of benefit should be, as everyone has different requirements. Income-related benefit rates are not made up of separate…13 Sept 2021HANSARDChildren in Relative PovertyWe know—all evidence suggests—that full work dramatically reduces the risk of poverty. As our economy improves, we will increasingly focus on progression to improve opportunities…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionThe hon. Lady is conflating two issues. She is conflating the two-child policy, in and of itself, which is a matter of fairness—it is about putting those who are in receipt of…21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionThe hon. Lady is right to point out that universal credit has provided a vital safety net for approximately 6 million people during the pandemic and, as she rightly suggests, we…21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionIt is a pleasure to serve under you in the Chair, Ms Bardell. May I personally thank you for your enlightened approach and position in relation to jackets and the wearing thereof,…21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionI thank the hon. Lady for raising that issue. I know that the two-child policy is not supported by the Scottish National party, and it is regularly raised at oral questions. What…21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionLet me finish answering first. Even if we park the fact that it would cost around £2 billion a year to reverse the policy decision, it is based on fairness, because the idea is…21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionOn this particular issue, the hon. Lady and I will have to agree to disagree. The policy is based on the principle of fairness.21 Jul 2021HANSARD Social Justice and Fairness CommissionAgain, on this particular policy, we are not going to agree. It is one of many issues on which the hon. Member for Warrington North and the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire will…21 Jul 2021HANSARDWelfare System and Child Poverty: WalesIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Paisley. I thank the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts) for securing a debate on this hugely…20 Jul 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am afraid I fundamentally disagree with the hon. Lady. I appreciate the question, but the two-child limit is a question of fairness and of putting those who are in receipt of…28 Jun 2021HANSARD£20 Universal Credit UpliftNo assessment has been made. Projecting the impact of an individual policy on poverty levels is complex and inherently speculative. It is difficult to isolate the specific impact…28 Jun 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. The vast majority of veterans make a successful transition to life outside the armed forces, with around 85% securing employment easily. The…28 Jun 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I believe that I have written to him—if I have not written to him, I know that I have written to a number of his colleagues on this…28 Jun 2021