Households Below Average Income Statistics

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Amber Rudd

Thursday 28th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Amber Rudd]

It is because we care so much about the changes in poverty that I have come here to make a statement about today’s statistics and to answer questions.

It is because of the Government’s commitment to the triple lock that pensioner poverty is at a near-record low. I gently point out to the hon. Lady that the only reason we are able to fund the triple lock is that this Conservative Government are running a strong economy. A focus on how we deliver benefits, whether to pensioners or working-age people, is absolutely key to being able to deliver those important contributions.

The hon. Lady mentioned the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, but its analysis shows that universal credit will reduce the number of people in working poverty by 300,000. That she continues to attack universal credit shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the changes it brings to people’s lives. I urge her to engage with her jobcentre and speak more to the work coaches and clients. If she does, she will find, as I have, how positive the response to universal credit is. Many people I know are still concerned about it, but in my experience, and that of many other MPs from across the House, once people have engaged with universal credit—once they are on it—they realise it is a much more positive source of income than the previous benefits.

There are many different sources of poverty. One area we have particularly made sure we put more money into is the lowest-income children in schools, because that is a way to bridge the gap between people born into different households. Under this Government, the education attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and all other pupils at key stage 4 has narrowed by 9.5% since 2011. The pupil premium, which most colleagues will be aware of, is incredibly important for focusing additional funds on pupils on the lowest incomes. This combination of initiatives, funded by this Government, will help to reduce the poverty gap.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

To what extent does the growth of tax credits actually reduce wages?

[Amber Rudd]

I would invite my right hon. Friend to come to my Department and find out a bit more about how universal credit works and how the taper rate has changed the benefits system—how people who start a job and earn more receive less from their benefits but only on a very gentle trajectory. The taper ensures there is not the sort of trade-off he is hinting at from the previous system of tax credits.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Amber Rudd

Monday 11th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Amber Rudd]

It is difficult to make policy based on individual cases discussed across the Chamber, but if the hon. Lady wants to show me that individual case, I will certainly look to see whether it should impact on the changes we have already made and will look at going forward.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

When does that start from?

[Amber Rudd]

I am happy to say that it has already started.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Amber Rudd

Monday 19th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

22. What steps she has taken to improve the roll-out of universal credit.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Amber Rudd)]

The regulations were laid before the House on 5 November, following consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee. We are working with a wide range of stakeholders on processes to ensure that vulnerable claimants are moved smoothly on to universal credit.

[Amber Rudd]

I have a number of matters that I will be looking into, having taken on this important new role. My hon. Friend raises an important point. I would point out to him that universal credit is successfully a dynamic assessment, so if somebody is paid twice during one month, the benefit payments will reflect that and then be adjusted the following month, but I am quite prepared to look at any issues he wants to bring me.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

I am very glad that my right hon. Friend is back. Another thing to look into is the case of Emily Lydon, reported in The Sunday Times, because it is vital that the roll-out of universal credit is both measured and continually improved.

[Amber Rudd]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his welcome. I share his view that it is vital that as universal credit is rolled out, we learn from any errors and adjust it, to ensure that it properly serves the people it is intended for. Of course I will look into that case—I saw the report—and, if appropriate, come back to him.

Home Office Removal Targets

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Amber Rudd

Thursday 26th April 2018 Commons Chamber

[Amber Rudd]

The right hon. Lady raised that with me yesterday, and I said to her then, as I repeat here, that I will look into that and come back to her with an answer to that question as soon as I can.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

The Home Secretary’s remedy has been rightly generous, but should not the target for law breaking always be zero?

[Amber Rudd]

That is a target we can all agree with.

Salisbury Incident

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Amber Rudd

Thursday 8th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Amber Rudd]

I thank the hon. Lady for her support for the general tone of the Government’s approach, and I of course join in her admiration and support for the emergency services, which are doing such excellent work. I must repeat to the hon. Lady that the investigation is ongoing at pace, and the police and the other services involved appreciate the urgency. It does not help their work, which must be our priority, to speculate about what might happen when we make an attribution. When we are ready to bring more evidence to the House, I reassure the hon. Lady that I hope to be able to go further in answering her questions. For now, she must allow me to say that we will not be drawn any further as we allow the investigation to complete.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Whoever the culprit, it is just as well that we are currently reviewing our defence capabilities, so that we can increase them—can’t we?

[Amber Rudd]

As far as our security at home is concerned, I reassure my right hon. Friend that we have already put in substantial extra funds. The security services are recruiting 1,900 new people between now and 2020, and I am reassured by them that that recruitment is proceeding at pace and with success.