Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Sharma and Catherine West

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I can—200,000 people over the roll-out period. Not only that, but people will be taking on extra work as well.

[Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)]

Astronomical numbers of people are applying to food banks during that critical five-week period. Has the Minister—yes or no—read the Trussell Trust report on universal credit roll-out?

[Alok Sharma]

I met the Trussell Trust last week and had a very constructive discussion. [Interruption.] I had a very constructive discussion. What I would say to the hon. Lady is that, when it comes to food banks, as she knows, the all-party group on hunger put out a very good report and said there were complex reasons for the use of food banks. You cannot put it down to any one reason.