Universal Credit

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Thursday 23rd November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

I saw that report on “Money Box”. It was confused and misleading in its alarmist tone. It was inaccurate in the numbers it was using. The principle of UC is that if someone earns more, they get less UC, whereas if they earn less, they get more UC. That is the principle that applies and it should not be shocking to anybody.

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s statement, and I thank him and the Minister for Employment for their hard work and for this additional support to the most vulnerable in society. Can the Secretary of State confirm that the housing benefit payments will not be repayable and that that again will help the most vulnerable as they make the transition on to UC?

[Mr Gauke]

Absolutely. This will not be recoverable and will not reduce what people are entitled to under UC. This is additional support for people as they move over from housing benefit to UC, and I hope that it will have the support of the whole House.