Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alistair Carmichael and Esther McVey

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Ms McVey]

The hon. Gentleman is correct: there is a big disability gap in employment rates. That has come down, but we need it to come down even further. We have pledged to get 1 million more disabled people into work by 2027. Between 2013 and 2017, there were 600,000 more disabled people in work, but there is always more that we can do.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

2. What assessment she has made of her Department’s preparedness for the roll-out of universal credit to people in receipt of working tax credits.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther McVey)]

We are working closely with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and stakeholders to ensure that our testing covers the full range of tax credit claimants. With parliamentary approval, our managed migration regulations will allow for transitional protection. This will make sure that nobody loses out financially when they are moved to universal credit.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Carmichael]

Yes, but for how long? One of the fundamental principles of universal credit was to design a welfare system where people would always choose to be in work. The money that the Chancellor took out in 2015 fundamentally undermined that principle, so will the Secretary of State speak to the current Chancellor about restoring work allowances to the levels originally planned?

[Ms McVey]

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to know that I have of course been having discussions with the Chancellor, and we will all know the result of those discussions two weeks to this very day.