Oral Answers to Questions

Tracy Brabin Excerpts

Monday 13th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and it was about not only the high marginal deduction rates, which obviously we do not see with universal credit, but the fact that people who moved in and out of work, or whose hours fluctuated, could find themselves moving from one benefit system to another. That created additional hassle and uncertainty for claimants, and discouraged people from taking on additional hours.

[Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) (Lab/Co-op)]

17. If he will make an assessment of the effect of the length of waiting time to receive universal credit on levels of rent arrears.

[Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab)]

19. What assessment he has made of the effect of the length of waiting time to receive universal credit on levels of rent arrears.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Caroline Dinenage)]

The Department for Work and Pensions is currently undertaking work to investigate the reality of rent arrears in universal credit. It aims to understand the true level of rent arrears for tenants, what is causing them, and any impacts universal credit may be having.

[Tracy Brabin]

New findings say that 49% of landlords are less likely to rent to those in receipt of universal credit. In Kirklees, only 121 social homes are available for the 9,700 people on the waiting list. What steps will the Minister take to prevent those on universal credit from being discriminated against?

[Caroline Dinenage]

The hon. Lady is right to ask the question, but alternative payment arrangements are available. We have listened carefully to housing providers and we are seeing improvements all the time.