Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the removal of the uplift to the standard allowance of universal credit and the end of the furlough scheme on youth homelessness (a) in general and (b) among black Britons.

a) The temporary £20 increase to universal credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and was part of a COVID support package worth £407 billion. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus now is on helping people back into work. Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes to help up to two million people get into and progress in work

b) We recognise that some people may continue to require extra support, which is why we have introduced a £500 million Household Support Fund to support vulnerable households across the UK with essential costs this winter. The Government has also announced a further £65 million to help vulnerable renters with rent arrears in England who may be at risk of eviction or homelessness.