Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the Chairman of the Select Committee for his question. As he knows, I gave evidence to the Committee recently on this very matter. I have worked closely with food bank…14 Sept 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Covid-19 Income Support SchemesThe hon. Lady is right to say that the coronavirus job retention scheme has been a huge success—it has protected up to 10 million jobs—but it is important to point out that…14 Sept 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Covid-19 Income Support SchemesSince mid-March we have received more than 3 million claims for universal credit, which ensures that people have a welfare safety net in their time of need. I am proud that more…14 Sept 2020HANSARDAdequacy of BenefitsThe increase was introduced for an initial period of one year as part of the Government’s measures to assist with the financial consequences of covid-19. It was part of a £9.3…14 Sept 2020HANSARDAdequacy of BenefitsThe Government introduced a package of welfare measures worth more than £9.3 billion this year, to help those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. We…14 Sept 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: BonusesI want to thank all the key workers across our country who have done so much during the pandemic. Universal credit makes sure that people are always better off in work. Under the…14 Sept 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: BonusesBonuses are earnings and are treated in the same way as any other earnings in the calculation of universal credit awards, reflecting HMRC guidance and ensuring fairness across the…14 Sept 2020HANSARDWelfare Benefits: Rent ArrearsI thank my hon. Friend for that question. He is a passionate and knowledgeable advocate on housing issues, and I always listen carefully to his representations. Alternative…14 Sept 2020HANSARDWelfare Benefits: Rent ArrearsAs my hon. Friend knows, alternative payment arrangements are already available to enable housing costs to be paid directly to the landlord. We have listened to feedback, and in…14 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Universal Credit ApplicationsI do not recognise the picture the hon. Gentleman paints. Universal credit advances are available for those who need them. They are interest free for 12 months and as of next year…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Universal Credit ApplicationsSince mid-March, we have processed about 3.2 million individual universal credit claims. Despite that surge, the system is standing up to the challenge and demonstrating the…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe recognise that people face unprecedented financial pressure as a result of covid-19. That is exactly why the Government have invested £6.5 billion in our welfare system,…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe keep all policy under review. The particular policy change the hon. Lady references would not only cost around £2 billion a year but could not be operationalised now even if we…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Food InsecurityOver and above the £6.5 billion we have pumped into our welfare system, there is the more than £16 million for food redistribution charities, the £3.5 million for the food…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Food InsecurityI regularly engage with my counterpart in DEFRA, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Victoria Prentis), on…29 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit (Reducing Poverty)For a start, the hon. Gentleman knows that that is well above my pay grade, but I gently remind him that universal credit will be over £2 billion a year more generous when fully…29 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit (Reducing Poverty)As I just said, in 2020-21 we will spend more than £120 billion on benefits for working-age people. We spend more on family benefits than any other country in the G7, at 3.5% of…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for that question, and he is absolutely right. The amount paid in UC reflects as closely as possible the actual circumstances of a household during each…29 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit (Reducing Poverty)I answered an urgent question on this matter on Thursday for some 45 minutes, as the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned. I confirmed that we would not be appealing against the…29 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit (Reducing Poverty)Our focus today is rightly on what the Government can do to support people financially through these unprecedented times. However, our broader ambition remains to build an economy…29 Jun 2020