Oral Answers to Questions

Gavin Newlands Excerpts

Monday 21st November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Richard Harrington]

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, there is a very good benefit system in this country and people in every area are well aware of how to access it. There are Jobcentre Plus offices and help available in every local area. If right hon. or hon. Members wish to write to me about individual constituents, as they do, I will be happy to refer them to the places in their local areas.

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

8. What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential effect of the autumn statement on his Department.

[Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP)]

12. What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential effect of the autumn statement on his Department.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Damian Green)]

I am happy to confirm that I work closely with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, and hon. Members will not be surprised to hear that I will not be pre-empting what he will be saying in his statement to the House on Wednesday.

[Gavin Newlands]

That is a shame. The Resolution Foundation has suggested that the best way to help the 6 million just-managing households would be to scrap the planned cuts to universal credit, including the reduction in work allowances that could see losses of up £2,800 for a working single parent. Does the Secretary of State agree that, on Wednesday, the Government need to move beyond the soundbites and reverse these cuts before low-income families pay the price?

[Damian Green]

No, I do not agree. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the tremendous successes we have achieved in getting people into work. We have employment at historic high rates. Very specifically, because of the introduction of the living wage, the latest Office for National Statistics data show that the group whose pay is going up the most—more than 6% last year—are the lowest-paid workers. I think that that is the system working exactly as it should.