Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the proposed roll-out of universal credit in Liverpool Riverside constituency on the household finances of claimants of benefits in that constituency; and if she will make a statement.

When fully rolled out, Universal Credit will support low income families with around £60 billion a year across the whole of Great Britain. In addition, Universal Credit covers up to 85% of childcare costs, up from 70% in the old system.

The Department has made no assessment in Liverpool Riverside specifically. However we continue to evaluate progress as we roll out Universal Credit nationally in a careful and co-ordinated way, reviewing against key measures, to ensure safe and secure delivery.

We know that work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives to move into and progress in work. The impact of Universal Credit cannot be considered in isolation– it is a key component of a broader strategy to move Britain to a higher wage, lower welfare, lower tax society.