Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Catherine McKinnell and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 11th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

In March, the Government postponed the closure of the childcare voucher scheme to new entrants to 4 October, during the forthcoming parliamentary recess, reflecting concerns about its impact on low-income families in particular. With the closure now imminent, what work have the Government done to assess the impact on low-income families?

[Elizabeth Truss]

The issue with the current childcare vouchers scheme is that only people whose employers sign up to the scheme are eligible. Under tax-free childcare, everybody will be eligible, regardless of whether they are self-employed or working for an employer. We wanted a bit more time to transition from one scheme to the other. Tax-free childcare is now up and running, and we are ready to transition to that system.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Catherine McKinnell and Elizabeth Truss

Tuesday 18th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

The increase in the national living wage to £7.50 an hour means that a full-time worker on minimum wages has had a pay rise of £2,800 since 2010. More than 150,000 low-wage workers in Scotland are benefiting from that extra money.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

The Tyne and Wear Metro is in urgent need of investment if we are to see the new rolling stock rolled out by 2021. What conversations has the Chancellor had with the Transport Secretary about funding that vital piece of infrastructure for the north-east?