Universal Credit and Welfare Changes Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit and Welfare Changes

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts
Thursday 21st June 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Esther McVey Portrait Ms McVey
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The hon. Lady has a great deal of knowledge in this area. I am more than happy to meet her so that we can ensure that we have continuous learning and continuous improvement. I am looking closely at the debt repayment that she talks about. I am very much focused on that at the moment. I would love to meet her.

Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)
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Despite what the right hon. Lady says, some 40% of individuals are still not able to access claims because of verification failures due to a lack of IT. In rural areas such as mine, it may be six to 10 miles to the nearest town or jobcentre. What steps can she take to improve verification for individuals who cannot access computers and cannot easily get to a jobcentre or town?

Esther McVey Portrait Ms McVey
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The right hon. Gentleman raises a fair point on how we get that connection. What we are really focusing on now, as we continue with this continuous improvement, is outreach work to the people who are most in need or most isolated, maybe in a rural community, to help them to get the support they need. That is a part of our continuous improvement.