Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Cat Smith and Will Quince

Monday 14th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Will Quince]

First, I welcome the hon. Lady to her place. I am afraid that I have to start by disagreeing. It is wrong to attribute a rise in rent arrears solely to universal credit. We know that many tenants are arriving on universal credit with pre-existing rent arrears, which universal credit actually appears to be helping to clear over time. There is no wait for universal credit; people can get an advance immediately. We recognise that this has been a very difficult time for people on low incomes, and that is why we have injected more than £9.3 billion into our welfare system.

[Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

When she plans to publish the findings of her Department’s review of how well the welfare system supports terminally ill people, which was announced in July 2019.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Cat Smith and Will Quince

Wednesday 12th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Will Quince]

I thank my right hon. Friend and recognise his huge expertise in this area. The Scottish Government, and indeed this Government, want to address these issues, and I am committed to working with my counterparts in the Scottish Government to tackle child poverty and poverty in all its forms.

[Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)]

2. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the renewable energy sector in Scotland.