Universal Credit

Debate between Alok Sharma and Rachel Maclean

Monday 14th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I know that we have had this exchange before, and I am sorry if the right hon. Gentleman feels that I repeat myself. Of course it is important that we get money in people’s pockets early. There is no question about that, and that is why we made the changes when we said we would make sure that absolutely anyone who needed it could get up to 100% of their advances up front. I have talked about the two-week run-on for those on housing benefit, which does not have to be repaid, and as the right hon. Gentleman knows in the last Budget we also announced that from July 2020 those on out-of-work DWP benefits will also get a two-week run-on.

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

The manager of the Jobcentre Plus in Redditch said that this is the best system she has seen in 30 years; she has been on the frontline. Does the Minister welcome the fact that today the Resolution Foundation has pointed out that it is those on the lowest end of the income spectrum who are getting back into work, so this is a truly progressive benefit? It is great to see these reforms.

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend highlights an important point. I was at the launch of the Resolution Foundation report this morning, which highlighted precisely the point she has raised. I encourage all colleagues on both the Government and Opposition sides to go to their jobcentres and talk—[Interruption.] No, if they would talk directly to the people responsible for providing that advice, I think they would find that the system is working.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Rachel Maclean

Monday 7th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I know the right hon. Gentleman cares very deeply about these issues, and we have had many discussions about this. It is precisely to help people with their cash flows that we have made advances available up front—up to 100%, if that is what they require—as well as two weeks of housing benefit run-on.

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

13. What steps the Government have taken to deliver the pensions dashboard.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Rachel Maclean

Monday 19th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I encourage the hon. Lady to look at the document we have published about what we will be doing to measure this number. However, I also point her to the record levels of employment: the fact that there are more people in work in the economy right now than ever before, and that unemployment is at a 43-year record low. Jobs are being created and people are moving into work, and that is largely due to the welfare reforms that we have introduced.

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

Will the Minister elaborate on how much better off families on universal credit are now as a result of measures introduced in the Budget?

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. Earlier this year we introduced £1.5 billion of support, and in the Budget there was £4.5 billion of support. I say to Opposition Members that it is all very well calling for support, but they also have to vote for these measures, which they never actually do.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Rachel Maclean

Monday 2nd July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

I do not want to see any young person in Redditch unemployed, which was why I set up Redditch Mentors, a scheme to help young people to reach their full potential. The last Labour Government presided over a record rise of 45% in young people being unemployed. What more are the Government doing to improve that?

[Alok Sharma]

May I commend my hon. Friend on all the work she does in her constituency? Youth unemployment is at a record low—it is 40% lower than it was under the last Labour Government—and programmes such as the youth support programme are available to help individuals. We value young people. It is about time that Labour did the same.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Rachel Maclean

Monday 21st May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I will look at it, but if the hon. Lady would come forward with specific cases, that would make it easier.

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

Between 2010 and 2017, the basic state pension rate rose by £1,250. What will the Minister do to ensure that pensioners in my constituency continue to be protected and looked after by this Government?