Universal Credit: Delayed Roll-Out

Stephen Crabb Excerpts
Tuesday 4th February 2020

(4 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Will Quince Portrait Will Quince
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The hon. Gentleman raises a pertinent point. I am looking at that very issue. I would be happy to meet him to discuss it further; it does concern me. On his first point, I will always put disadvantaged and vulnerable residents at the forefront of my mind in any decision making that I undertake while in this role.

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)
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The Minister is exactly right in the careful, pragmatic approach that he is taking to roll-out; it is what responsible Ministers do. However, may I encourage my hon. Friend to follow his instincts and, in his discussions with the Treasury, make the case for improving universal credit? The truth is that if we are to improve this good policy further, it will require resource.

Will Quince Portrait Will Quince
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I thank my right hon. Friend for his helpful question and for all the work that he did while at the Department. He, like me, believes that work should always pay, and that we need a welfare system that helps people into work. My mind is full of ideas on how we can improve universal credit, and if he would like to help me in persuading the Treasury to get behind those, I would very much welcome that.