Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has commissioned research into the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household debt.

DWP are currently undertaking work, in conjunction with a housing association, to investigate the reality of rent arrears in Universal Credit. It aims to understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants, what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having.