Universal Credit

Rushanara Ali Excerpts
Tuesday 16th October 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma
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We have put in support for individuals—I have talked about that. Of course, also very importantly, we now have this partnership with Citizens Advice, which is a respected, nationwide, independent organisation. It is there to help and assist the most vulnerable.

Rushanara Ali Portrait Rushanara Ali (Bethnal Green and Bow) (Lab)
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The two-child policy limiting the financial support to low-income families has already affected 400,000 children, making their families £4,000 a year worse off. When it is eventually rolled out through universal credit, some 3 million children will be affected. Will the Minister commit today to scrapping this abhorrent part of the wider welfare policy?

Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma
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Universal credit is a welfare system that is about being fair to the most vulnerable people and to taxpayers, and being sustainable. The reason for that policy is that taxpayers face similar choices. It is important to say that we have exemptions in place, which will include kinship carers.