Covid-19: Social and Economic Inequalities

Baroness Meacher Excerpts

Monday 26th October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Meacher (CB)]

My Lords, UK inequality has increased greatly over the past decade, in part because of the Cameron Government’s swingeing benefit cuts as universal credit rolled out, as evidenced by the huge increase in the use of food banks. As the Government review this year’s benefit uplift, will the Minister attempt to persuade her colleagues to take account of 10 years of real-terms cuts?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, I cannot anticipate the outcome of future fiscal events in this House, but I assure the noble Baroness that I will take her contribution and views back to the Treasury to ensure they are heard.