Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of Budget 2021 on levels of (a) poverty and (b) household debt; and if she will publish that assessment.

No such assessment has been made.

This Government champions the principle of work as the best route out of poverty and towards financial independence. Our approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risk of poverty and is underpinned by our Plan for Jobs which will support economic recovery through new schemes including the Kickstart Scheme, the Restart Scheme and our Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme. We are also on track to fulfil our commitment to recruit 13,500 Work Coaches this financial year. Through our Jobcentre network, these Work Coaches will provide our claimants with the tailored support they need to move into work.