David Rutley
Throughout the pandemic, the Government acted decisively to protect lives and livelihoods, continually supporting individuals and businesses. Our social security system had a key component—universal credit—which provided a vital safety net for about 6 million people during the pandemic, and stood up to those testing times. We were able to prove, in a real-life environment, how resilient the system was, and I am incredibly proud of the work that the Government did to keep the country going. Our support package was worth a total of £407 billion between 2020 and 2022, and constituted the biggest single fiscal intervention since world war two.
[Official Report, 5 July 2022, Vol. 717, c. 766.]
Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley):
An error has been identified in my response to the debate.
The correct information should have been:
David Rutley
Our support package was worth up to £400 billion between 2020 and 2022, and constituted the biggest single fiscal intervention since world war two.
Unemployed People: Help into Work
The following is an extract from questions to the Secretary of state for Work and Pensions on 11 July 2022.
Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab)
I welcome the Minister to her new role. Does she share my concern at recent data showing up to 70,000 armed forces veterans in receipt of universal credit? Does she think that the 50 armed forces champions around the country, who are no doubt doing their absolute best, have the capacity to provide the support to those who have served our country so that they can weather the cost of living crisis?
Julie Marson
That is a vital area. Our veterans deserve our respect and every bit of help and assistance that they can receive. We are extending the veterans champions scheme; I will be looking at that in much more detail. This is day one, but I look forward to focusing on that and ensuring that I engage with the hon. Gentleman and others who are concerned about it.
[Official Report, 11 July 2022, Vol. 718, c. 9.]
Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Julie Marson):
Errors have been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis).
The correct response should have been:
Julie Marson
That is a vital area. Our veterans deserve our respect and every bit of help and assistance that they can receive. We extended the veterans champions scheme in April 2021; I will be looking at this area of our work in more detail. This is day one, but I look forward to focusing on that and ensuring that I engage with the hon. Gentleman and others who are concerned about it.