Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Amesbury Excerpts
Monday 5th December 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Guy Opperman Portrait Guy Opperman
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

A huge amount is being done to increase the time that individual claimants spend with work coaches. More intensive support is being provided. The additional earnings threshold, which my hon. Friend will be fully aware of, is also being rolled out across the country to ensure that we see claimants in better-paid jobs on a longer-term basis.

Mike Amesbury Portrait Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

9. What assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the cost of childcare on incentives for people to transfer from universal credit into work.

Mims Davies Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mims Davies)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Government are providing generous, tailored support for parents through universal credit, the free childcare entitlement and skills support to help parents to get into work and to progress. Eligible claimants can receive financial support for up-front childcare costs as well as support for ongoing costs.

Mike Amesbury Portrait Mike Amesbury
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Sandra in the Northwich part of my constituency—like many people up and down the United Kingdom, predominantly women—faces a significant barrier as a result of increased childcare costs. The childcare element of universal credit has been frozen since 2016. When does the Minister intend to do the right thing and unfreeze that element of universal credit?

Mims Davies Portrait Mims Davies
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

Universal credit-eligible claimants can claim up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month, regardless of the number of hours they work; I would compare that favourably with 70% in tax credits. What I would say to employers who may be overlooking single parents is that they are not understanding the wide range of childcare challenges. I am a single mum—I get it. Looking at job design and flexibility is equally important.