Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the two-child limit on families with a low income; and if she will make a statement.

It is the Department’s view that providing support for a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit will ensure fairness between those supporting themselves solely through work and those receiving benefits.

The Government continues to take action to help families with the cost of living, including raising the national living wage, reducing the Universal Credit earnings taper, raising the income tax personal allowance, introducing tax-free childcare and 30 hours a week of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.

Furthermore, under Universal Credit, working families can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job. For families with two children this could be worth up to £13,000 a year.

The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective throughout its development and in preparation for its implementation. The Department published statistics related to the first year of policy implementation in June 2018, and have committed to subsequent annual releases.