Poverty and Human Rights: UN Report

Baroness Corston Excerpts

Tuesday 25th June 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Buscombe]

My noble friend makes a very good point. We are in very good shape in this country and we deliver the fourth most generous level of welfare support in the OECD. We spend more on family benefits than any other country in the G7, and as a share of our GDP, our public spending on family benefits is the second highest in the OECD. We continue to listen and learn, but we are also very proud of what this Government are delivering.

[Baroness Corston (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Meacher (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Buscombe]

I have to tell the noble Baroness that that is not exactly my area, but I will take away what she asked. It is important to say that we are doing all we can to ensure that we are delivering more from our services and continue to increase spending—certainly from the Department for Work and Pensions—to support those in need.

[Baroness Corston]

My Lords—

[Baroness Meacher]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Buscombe]

I am pleased to report that we are looking at that very point at the moment and are about to carry out a pilot for a much easier work capability assessment, which will mean that people do not have to have repeats or assessments for different things. That is something we are taking on board very seriously.

[Baroness Corston]

My Lords, given the Minister’s dismissive reaction to the UN report, can she explain why, for the first time in the history of the welfare state, teachers are bringing food into schools because so many children are too hungry to learn?