Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will meet representatives from the registered social landlords sector to discuss the potential effect of the introduction of universal credit on levels of rent arrears.

Ministers and senior leaders in the Universal Credit Programme meet regularly with representatives from the registered social landlords sector to discuss all issues related to Universal Credit.

The Universal Credit Strategic Landlord Group meets quarterly and is made up of a representative group of social landlords and their trade bodies from England, Scotland and Wales. This group examines a range of issues including rent arrears and actively works with landlords to inform both current and future design – specific examples include the design of a landlord portal and of the Trusted Partner Pilot.