Oral Answers to Questions

Caroline Nokes Excerpts

Monday 27th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[David Mackintosh (Northampton South) (Con)]

13. What assessment he has made of whether the benefit cap encourages people into work.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery (Caroline Nokes)]

The evaluation of the previous cap speaks for itself: capped households were 41% more likely to move into work than similar uncapped households, contributing to the record levels of employment we see today. Since 2013, over 26,000 previously capped households have moved into work.

[David Mackintosh]

Can my hon. Friend give me some examples of how the benefit cap is working in my constituency?

[Caroline Nokes]

In Northampton South, of 110 house- holds capped since April 2013, 90 are no longer capped. Of those, about 48%—40 households—have moved into work, demonstrating that my hon. Friend’s constituency is outperforming the national average.

--- Later in debate ---

[Damian Green]

rose—

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery (Caroline Nokes)]

The hon. Lady will of course be aware that tax credits fall within the remit of Her Majesty’s Treasury, and I will be happy to ensure that that is raised with the relevant Minister.

[Mr Speaker]

Forgive me, I could not hear the Secretary of State and did not lip read effectively, but I now realise at what he was hinting. No doubt an answer will be furnished in due course.