Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out universal credit on (a) women and (b) BME women.

I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss these matters with my Rt. Hon Friend, but I look forward to covering these matters with my Ministerial colleagues soon.

It is important that women, including BME women, have opportunities to enter employment and to progress in work. The introduction of Universal Credit helps to support people who are in work to progress their earnings, and is designed to ensure that it is always worth working by allowing people to keep more of their benefit in the transitional period back to work. The Government will monitor employment rates and the BME employment gap quarterly.