Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: Support for Universal Credit ClaimantsWe have injected over £7 billion into our welfare system, which includes increasing the universal credit standard allowance for a further six months until September, providing…08 Mar 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Support for Universal Credit ClaimantsI thank my hon. Friend for that question. She is a strong advocate for her constituents in Hastings and Rye. Since April 2019, and throughout the covid pandemic, we have provided…08 Mar 2021HANSARDLegacy BenefitsIn April 2020, legacy benefits were increased by £600 million, and they will increase by a further £100 million as part of the Government’s annual uprating exercise. Support is…08 Mar 2021HANSARDLegacy BenefitsThe temporary UC standard allowance uplift was introduced to support those facing the most financial disruption due to the pandemic. Legacy benefits were uprated by CPI—the…08 Mar 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for that question. We understand how vital this support is to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. We intend to take forward a remedial order…08 Mar 2021HANSARDBenefit Claimants: Rent ArrearsWe do not collect information about individuals’ rent accounts. For universal credit claimants with rent arrears, alternative payment arrangements and support with budgeting are…08 Mar 2021HANSARDBenefit Claimants: Rent ArrearsWe increased the local housing allowance rates in April 2020. We invested nearly £1 billion in LHA, lifting rates to the 30th percentile, giving an average increase of £600 more…08 Mar 2021HANSARDBenefit Claimants: Rent ArrearsI thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is a strong advocate on these issues. As I say, managed payment to a landlord is available where universal credit claimants are unable…08 Mar 2021HANSARDReducing PovertyMy colleagues and I at the DWP have frequent discussions with GEO Ministers on a wide range of issues. Throughout this pandemic the Government have sought to protect jobs and…10 Feb 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for her question. I appreciate that many people are facing financial disruption due to the pandemic, which is why the Government have put an unprecedented…10 Feb 2021HANSARDReducing PovertyThe female employment rate is at 72% and the female unemployment rate is at 4.7%. This is an issue we take incredibly seriously, not least the Minister for Employment, my hon.…10 Feb 2021HANSARDReducing PovertyAs far as I am concerned, one child in poverty is one child too many. All the evidence suggests that work is the best route out of poverty for families, and that is why we are…10 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI understand the point that the right hon. Gentleman has made. I know that his report goes into some detail on this issue. I gently remind the Chair of the Select Committee that…09 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI work very closely and meet with all the organisations that the hon. Lady references, but work coaches are an important reference point. They all say without hesitation, when I…09 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI will of course study in detail the report from the Select Committee, chaired by the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms), and look closely at the recommendations made,…09 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI beg to move, That the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2021, which was laid before this House on 18 January, be approved. There is no question but that this has…09 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention, but it was absolutely clear that the uplift of £20 per week was a temporary measure for one year, and we have also been…09 Feb 2021HANSARDSocial SecurityI begin by thanking all those who have spoken and taken part in the debate, which covered many important topics. Given the time constraints, I will not be able to cover off all…09 Feb 2021HANSARDWork and PensionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Maintaining the uplift would cost a huge amount of money—somewhere in the region of £6 billion. But it is not just about that. Throughout this…01 Feb 2021HANSARDWork and PensionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Maintaining the uplift would cost a huge amount of money—somewhere in the region of £6 billion. But it is not just about that. Throughout this…01 Feb 2021