Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Monday 18th March 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

1. What comparative assessment her Department has made of the levels of financial support available through (a) universal credit and (b) the legacy system.

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

3. What comparative assessment her Department has made of the levels of financial support available through (a) universal credit and (b) the legacy system.

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

When fully rolled out, universal credit will be £2 billion per year more generous than the support it replaces. As a single system that integrates six legacy benefits, universal credit will enable 700,000 households to access approximately £2.4 billion of welfare that previously went unclaimed. Our welfare reforms are about targeting support at those who need it most.

[Bob Blackman]

At the Budget, additional funds, which are to come into effect in the new financial year, were allocated to pay for work allowances,. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on when those work allowances will come in, how much they will be, and how much extra the working people in my constituency who receive universal credit can expect to receive each week?

[Amber Rudd]

My hon. Friend is right that an extra £1.7 billion a year will be put into work allowances to increase them by £1,000 from April 2019. That will provide a boost to the incomes of the lowest paid that will result in 2.4 million families keeping an extra £630 per year of what they earn.