Universal Credit

Debate between Alok Sharma and Stephen Lloyd

Tuesday 16th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

Universal credit is a new benefit that simplifies the system. Ultimately, this is about having a system that helps the most vulnerable, that is fair to the taxpayer, that is sustainable and, importantly, that helps people into work and to get better-paid work. That is precisely what we are doing through universal credit.

[Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) (LD)]

I thank the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Frank Field) for securing this important urgent question. There has been movement from the Government on the gig economy for the self-employed, which pleases me because I have advocated that for a few years, including when I was in the coalition. There has also been movement on making rental payments to private sector landlords, which again I am pleased about, as it was something I advocated. In that spirit of positivity, will the Minister acknowledge that if the Chancellor were to replace the work allowance money that was cut in 2015 by the previous Chancellor, it would make a substantial difference to the success of universal credit?

[Alok Sharma]

I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman outlines some of our positive changes, which prove that “test and learn” works. I am sorry to disappoint him once again, but those are matters for the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, and we will hear more about the Budget at the appropriate time.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Stephen Lloyd

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) (LD)]

T4. Shortly after the 2015 general election, the then Chancellor removed £3 billion per annum from universal credit. That would never have been allowed to happen had the Liberals still been in government. Members of all parties in the House have urged the Secretary of State to urge the Chancellor to replace the £3 billion work allowance so that work really does pay; will she do so?

[Alok Sharma]

It is absolutely clear that under universal credit work is paying. That is why we have over 3 million more people in jobs than in 2010.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Stephen Lloyd

Monday 21st May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

Yes, I can absolutely confirm that under universal credit claimants can get into work faster and stay in work longer than under the legacy system.

[Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) (LD)]

5. What assessment she has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the number of evictions in the private rented sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alok Sharma and Stephen Lloyd

Monday 5th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) (LD)]

T6. One of the challenges in the design of universal credit is that it does not take into account the fluctuating incomes of people who are freelance. They can earn a low amount one month and a high amount the next, but universal credit does not manage that properly. A self-employed person who has earned £15,000 in a year will get less under universal credit than an employed person who has earned the same amount. Will the Government commit to fixing that anomaly?

[Alok Sharma]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, universal credit works on a monthly basis. When someone earns a large amount in a month, we apportion that over the following months. It is worth pointing out that it is entirely possible for people with those kinds of earnings to budget over the year, just as many businesses do.