Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Duncan Smith and Ann McKechin

Monday 3rd November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan Smith]

First, let us start from where we are: more women are now in work than ever before, which is a huge start. I also accept—[Interruption.] The rate is even better: it is a record rate. Of course, it is absolutely vital and right to ensure that women who go to work get paid a decent salary. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Employment has been leading the charge for the Department, doing a lot of campaigning. Universal credit, as it rolls out nationally, delivers for working women a far better deal, with higher wages, than they would get under the present system.

[Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab)]

Given that 20% of workers are struggling on the minimum wage alone, when was the last time the Secretary of State spoke to employers about adopting a living wage for their workers?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

I have talked to employers endlessly about making sure that they pay a decent wage—first, making sure that people pay the minimum wage, which the last Government were rather slack about but we have done a lot on. My own Department pays our employees in London the London living wage, and we negotiated with the contractor to make sure everybody gets it, including all the cleaners.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Duncan Smith and Ann McKechin

Monday 11th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab)]

T5. Local housing associations in my area are deeply concerned about their ability to provide services as a result of this year’s welfare changes. What assessment will the Secretary of State make of their credit ratings, both this year and next? Does he expect them to go down the way?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

The best thing for me to do is to ensure that I write to the hon. Lady properly and place the reply in the Library of the House.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Duncan Smith and Ann McKechin

Monday 24th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab)]

T8. As the Minister will be aware, there are approximately 2,000 local government employees in Scotland who administer housing benefit. He said in a recent parliamentary answer to me that those people are in his thinking in relation to the introduction of universal credit. Can he give any reassurance to the House that those people’s jobs will be protected and will be considered as part of the new system?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

We have said all along that, when it comes to administering universal credit, all those who are responsible for administering various parts of it now will have an equal opportunity to show that they are the most efficient and most effective.