Oral Answers to Questions

Catherine West Excerpts

Monday 6th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

5. What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of support to low-income households with the cost of living.

[Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)]

6. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of benefits rates in the context of the rise in the level of inflation.

[Richard Thomson (Gordon) (SNP)]

9. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of universal credit payment levels in the context of the rise in the cost of living.

--- Later in debate ---

[Catherine West]

My constituent, who is severely sight impaired and has learning difficulties, lives with his mother, who is basically supplementing his day-to-day living from her own pensioner poverty pot, because of the relentless increase of inflation. What action will the Minister take urgently to address this terrible injustice, with one person who is already in poverty having to try to help her severely disabled son? Will he step in to assist in this terrible cost of living crisis?

[David Rutley]

I do not know the exact details of that case, but there may be opportunities in that household to explore pension credits. Of course, the Chancellor, with support from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, recently announced that the household support fund has also been increased by a further £500 million, until April next year.