Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutI am not entirely sure about the correlation between that question and this urgent question but, nevertheless, the hon. Gentleman can write to me, or I would be happy to meet him…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I thank him for visiting his jobcentre. If more Members across the House did so, they would have a better understanding of the system and…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutMy hon. Friend is quite right. At every single jobcentre that I visit—I visit one every week on average —I get that same feedback, and the one thing that staff would like to…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutLet us instead look at the facts. Universal credit will give claimants an extra £2.1 billion a year, once it has been fully rolled out, compared with the system that it replaces.…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutI thank my right hon. Friend for his question. The previous system has been described as clunky and confusing, as leading to overpayments and therefore ongoing deductions, as…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutFirst, I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his election as Chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee. I take all issues around policy in my Department, in the areas in…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his kind words. The answer is a categorical yes: his constituents will be better off. Under our forecasting, around 900,000 people…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutThe hon. Lady says that I should be embarrassed. I will never be embarrassed about putting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our society first, and neither will the…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutI have not yet seen the BBC documentary, and I suspect that the hon. Gentleman has not done so either, because it is due to be aired shortly. However, it is important to stress…04 Feb 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Delayed Roll-OutThe Secretary of State and I informed Parliament yesterday that we had revisited our forecast for universal credit and were extending its completion date to 2024. Our planning for…04 Feb 2020HANSARDWork and PensionsI recommend that the hon. Gentleman visits his local jobcentre and speaks to work coaches, because they will tell him about the impact of universal credit. More people are getting…30 Jan 2020HANSARDWork and PensionsI recommend that the hon. Gentleman visits his local jobcentre and speaks to work coaches, because they will tell him about the impact of universal credit. More people are getting…30 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyNobody needs to wait for an initial payment. An emergency or urgent payment of up to 100% of the first indicative award can be made within the first day in many cases. It is…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyMay I welcome you, Mr Speaker, and the hon. Lady to your respective places? Since 2010, there have been more than 3.8 million more people in work and 730,000 fewer children…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyEmployment has increased by over 3.8 million since 2010; the employment rate is 76.3%; unemployment is at its lowest rate since the ’70s; wage growth is outstripping inflation and…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyI thank my hon. Friend for that question. She is absolutely right that real wages have risen for over a year—22 months in a row. Total wages have risen by 3.2%, but we want to go…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyAbsolutely. Income inequality has been falling under this Government in real terms, and the national living wage will rise to £8.72 in April and to £10.50 by 2024. My hon. Friend…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyI recommend that the hon. Gentleman visits his local jobcentre and speaks to work coaches, because they will tell him about the impact of universal credit. More people are getting…27 Jan 2020HANSARDIn-Work PovertyAs far as I am concerned, one person or family in poverty is one too many, and I will work to tackle that while I am in this role. The statistics show that full-time work…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsFurther to that point of order, Mr Speaker. I have now checked with departmental officials and I apologise unreservedly that such notification was not given. I think that the hon.…27 Jan 2020