Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the letter from the Minister for Employment to the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion of 15 November 2017 on universal credit, what the evidential basis is for the Minister’s statement that those on universal credit are moving into work significantly faster and working longer than under the previous benefits system.

Three separate studies have provided evidence that people on Universal Credit move into work faster: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-estimating-the-early-labour-market-impacts-updated-analysis.

In addition, latest analysis of the short term impacts of Universal Credit on labour market outcomes can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-employment-impact-analysis-update.