Social Security System: Rising Cost of Living

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Tuesday 17th May 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con)]

I thank the noble Baroness for her contribution. I will reiterate what the Chancellor said:

“We stand ready to do more as the situation evolves.”


Child benefit does not sit with the DWP, but I will find the person it does sit with and pass on the noble Baroness’s message.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, would my noble friend help me with a problem I have? Could she explain why it was appropriate to increase universal credit by £20 a week during the Covid epidemic but not now, when people are faced with exponential increases in their food and energy bills? Will she tell the Chancellor that we cannot wait—we need the money now? He got enormous credit for what he did during Covid, but the need is greater and the Government need to act.

[Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con)]

I assure my noble friend and the whole House that the Chancellor does understand and is working hard on the issue that many noble Lords have raised today. I can tell my noble friend and others who are impatient to get something going—I do not mean that lightly—that the £20 uplift was a success but it was a temporary measure, and I honestly cannot make any promises that it might be reintroduced.