Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the prevalence of child morning hunger in (a) early years, (b) primary and (c) secondary school settings in England on school (i) readiness and (ii) attendance.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The department appreciates the publication of the report and look forward to giving it our full consideration. This government is committed to tackling child poverty and delivering meaningful action to support children and families. The removal of the two child limit on Universal Credit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures set out in our Child Poverty Strategy, such as the expansion of free school meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.
We recognise the importance of a healthy breakfast at the start of the day for pupils and the impact this can have on attendance and readiness to learn. This is why we are rolling out free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England, so that all children can have the best start in life. Since April 2025, the programme has delivered seven million meals to almost 180,000 pupils across the country. We are investing a further £80 million to fund approximately 2,000 additional schools between April 2026 and March 2027.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that a message is included prior to starting the benefits claim process (a) online, (b) in print and (c) by phone to make it clear that (i) free and (ii) independent support is available.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Free help and support in applying for Universal Credit is available from Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. Free help and support for claiming other DWP benefits is widely available, including on GOV.UK, from the Department itself, and from organisations such as Age UK. There is no need for claimants to pay for advice and support with benefit applications.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of inflation on low-income households.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises inflation can place particular pressure on low-income households. Analysis from the Office for National Statistics shows that lower-income households spend a larger share of their income on essentials such as food, energy and housing.
The Government is committed to bearing down on inflationary pressures and cutting the cost of living.
Alongside this, the Government is going further to support those who need it most by removing the two-child limit in Universal Credit, increasing the National Living Wage, and committing to the pensions Triple Lock for the duration of this Parliament. The Government has also expanded the £150 Warm Home Discount to a total of 6 million lower-income households, and is expanding free school meals to children in households receiving Universal Credit in England.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of suspected misuse of Flexible Support Fund equipment have been identified in the last three years for which figures are available.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Work coaches must ensure all awards made under the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) are reasonable and represent good value for money in terms of improving employment prospects and reducing the time spent on benefits.
Where a work coach identifies concerns that FSF funded equipment may have been misused, this information is recorded on the customer’s Universal Credit account and considered as part of ongoing engagement, including when determining the appropriateness of any future FSF support.
Misuse of FSF support does not always indicate fraud. Where there is evidence that misuse may involve deliberate dishonesty or a criminal offence, work coaches are required to make a formal referral to the Department’s fraud team, who determine whether further investigation or enforcement action is appropriate.
The Department does not hold central records on the number of cases of suspected misuse of FSF funded equipment. Information is captured at individual customer level and is not collated nationally for reporting purposes.
A new digital FSF application system, being rolled out nationally, will strengthen oversight of FSF spend by providing improved data and enabling more detailed scrutiny of awards.
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by the Office of Budget Responsibility in Economic and fiscal outlook: March 2026, published on 3 March, that recent increases in labour force survey unemployment have not translated into higher numbers in the searching-for-work group of universal credit, what assessment they have made of whether the recent increase in unemployment is concentrated among individuals outside the benefits system, specifically (1) young people residing with parents, (2) individuals supported by partner income or savings, (3) individuals moving into other benefit categories, or (4) individuals becoming economically inactive rather than claiming universal credit.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many individuals, broken down by age group and region, are recorded as unemployed on the according to the labour force survey but are not captured in the universal credit unemployed caseload because they are (1) ineligible, (2) supported by savings or partner income, (3) recently unemployed with very short spells, or (4) otherwise not claiming benefits.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Office of Budget Responsibility's March 2026 forecast revisions, whether they have commissioned any independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals; and if so, what the findings are on eligibility, uptake rates, and claim timing relative to labour force survey unemployment spells.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the number of unemployed people by age and region is published and available at Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
Published information on Universal Credit Searching for Work by age and region is available at Stat-Xplore - Log in and in the attached spreadsheet.
Information on the Clamant Count of unemployment-related benefits is published and available at - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics and in the attached spreadsheet.
The ONS also publish statistics on estimates of the patterns of work and worklessness amongst household – which are published and can be found here - Working and workless households in the UK - Office for National Statistics, though no age and region split is available
Not every ILO unemployed jobseeker is in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance or expected to be. Some may be ineligible. Some may be eligible but choose not to claim unemployment-related benefits.
People in employment on low earnings; unemployed people and certain groups amongst the economically inactive can all claim Universal Credit.
The Claimant Count of people on unemployment-related benefits (UC searching for work conditionality and JSA) fell by 30,000 in the year to January 2026.
No independent analysis of benefit uptake among newly unemployed individuals has been commissioned by the Department.
The Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: release strategy, last updated in October 2025, and the Department for Work and Pensions statistical work programme, outline that a measure to assess Universal Credit (UC) and income related legacy benefit take-up for the working-age population is currently under development by the department.
We are aiming to achieve our long-term ambition of an increased employment rate by reforming the system to enable greater participation, progression and productivity in the labour market.
This agenda is key to delivering economic growth and rising living standards. It requires action to: reverse the trend of rising economic inactivity; support people into good quality work; help people to get on in work and increase their earnings; and develop the skilled workforce that key sectors need to grow.
In November 2024, we set out our plan in the Get Britain Working White Paper, with three pillars:
Asked by: Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to evaluate their progress towards the targets set out in the Child Poverty Strategy, including (1) reducing the number of children in relative low income and increasing household incomes, (2) ending the placement of families in bed and breakfasts beyond the six-week limit, (3) increasing accessible childcare for parents on Universal Credit, and (4) establishing a notification system for when a child is placed in temporary accommodation.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Monitoring and Evaluation framework published alongside the Strategy sets out how we will hold ourselves to account on delivering the impact we have promised through this Parliament and beyond as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and continued learning.
We are continuing our work across government, with devolved governments, local authorities, stakeholders and experts as part of the long-term evaluation.
Further details on our approach to monitoring and evaluation will follow in the baseline report in Summer this year, which will also set out the latest statistics and evidence. We will report on an annual basis thereafter to monitor and evaluate progress.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is considering extending the duration of Bereavement Support Payment from 18 months to a longer period.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the press release entitled Almost a million young people to benefit from expanded support, new training, and work experience opportunities, published on 6 December 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Youth Guarantee to young people not in education, employment or training who (a) do not qualify for and (b) choose not to claim Universal Credit.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government’s ambition is to transform young people’s prospects, by ensuring every one of them, including those outside the benefits system, has the chance to earn or learn through the Youth Guarantee.
We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations across Great Britain, so that all young people can access opportunities and wider support regardless of whether they are on benefits. This expansion will mean that every young person in Great Britain, regardless of where they live, can access high-quality, holistic support in their local area. This includes mental health, housing, essential and vocational skills, and employer engagement at every Hub.
In addition, we have launched eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers, backed by £90m of funding, particularly to find innovative ways to reach young people outside the benefits system. The Trailblazers are bringing together national entitlements with locally tailored provision, strengthening local leadership and coordination, and working with partners including the voluntary sector, employers and colleges to reach and support young people who need additional help. Learning from these Trailblazers will inform the future design and development of the Youth Guarantee as it rolls out across the rest of Great Britain.
Alongside this, reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy will play an important role in reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training, including those outside the benefits system. The Government is investing an additional £725m to deliver more opportunities for young people and provide greater flexibility to employers in support of the industrial strategy. This includes a £140 million pilot with Mayors to work with local employers to connect young people, including those who are not in education, employment or training, to local apprenticeship opportunities. It will also enable us to fully fund apprenticeship training for all eligible young people aged under 25 in small and medium sized businesses from August 2026, removing the 5 per cent employer co investment requirement and making it easier for these employers to take on young talent. In addition, we will expand foundation apprenticeships into sectors where young people are traditionally recruited, exploring occupations such as hospitality and retail.