All 1 Debates between Alok Sharma and Owen Smith

Mon 14th Jan 2019

Universal Credit

Debate between Alok Sharma and Owen Smith
Monday 14th January 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Owen Smith Portrait Owen Smith (Pontypridd) (Lab)
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I welcome the fact that the Minister will disapply the policy for 15,000 children and families, but will he confirm whether he will still take more than £2,500 from 640,000 families? What is fair or compassionate about that?

Alok Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma
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The hon. Gentleman is right that the policy will support 15,000 families, but we anticipate that 77,000 families and 113,000 children will benefit over a five-year period. It is important that we provide support, but ultimately, as he will know, the overall policy was tested in the courts and was found to be sound.