Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Hands Excerpts

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

We talk about giving support to people and, as the Secretary of State pointed out, £1.5 billion of support was put in, so those who are on housing benefit get two weeks’ housing benefit run-on in actual cash and of course people can take advances. I would say this to the hon. Gentleman and all his colleagues sitting there now who are talking about supporting the vulnerable: if that is what they want to do, why did they not support us when we voted for the £1.5 billion?

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

One certain way in which universal credit is helping the public purse is by getting more people into work. Can my hon. Friend confirm that universal credit is forecast to help an additional 200,000 people find work in the coming months?

[Alok Sharma]

I can—200,000 people over the roll-out period. Not only that, but people will be taking on extra work as well.