Universal Credit Statement House of Commons

absolutely want to look at specific

cases like the one he mentions, to

see what more can be done to

regenerate that area.

Thank you.

Statement, the Secretary of State

for Work and Pensions.

With

permission, following the

announcement made by my right

honourable friend the Chancellor in

his budget speech yesterday, I would

like to make a statement on

Universal Credit. Universal Credit

is the biggest modernisation of the

welfare state in a generation. It

supports those who can work cares

for those who cannot. Under

Universal Credit, people are working

faster and staying in work longer.

Once fully rolled out, Universal

Credit will boost employment by

250,000, equivalent to around 400

extra jobs for every constituency.

Universal Credit was introduced to

replace a complex and field benefit

system of the previous government,

which created cliff edges,

discouraging people from working

more than 16 hours a week, trapping

many people on out of work benefits

for nearly a decade. Colleagues from

across the house of all voiced their

support for the principles

underpinning Universal Credit. Visit

is a modern welfare system, which in

one simple monthly payment, makes

sure that workplace, mirrors the

world of work and helps people work

their way out of welfare dependency.

As we introduce Universal Credit, we

are constantly improving how the

system works. We recently introduced

changes to make sure that everyone

who needs has access to advance

payments and we're making our

telephone lines freephone numbers. I

have consistently made clear we

would introduce it gradually. Of the

total number of households that will

move on to Universal Credit, 9% are

receiving it and that will increase

to 12% in February. This shows we

are doing it over time. Colleagues

have concerns about waiting times

for the first period. I am grateful

to my colleagues when a constructive

engagement on this issue. There have

been several debates here and in the

other players. This statement

response of these fulfil the

commitments made on behalf of the

government by the Leader of the

House, in relation to the resolution

of the house on the 18th of October

20 17. We are now offering a

balanced package of improvements,

which puts more money into

claimants' hands earlier and ensures

extra support for those who need it

most. Next month, new guidance will

be issued to staff, to ensure that

claimants in the private rented

sector, you have their housing

benefit paid directly to landlords,

are offered this option when they

join Universal Credit. In January,

we are making two changes to

advances. First, the period of time

over which an advance is recovered

will increase

from six to 12 months, making it

easier for claimants to manage their

finances. This will apply regardless

of the level of advance claimed.

Secondly, we are increasing the

amount of support agreement can

receive, from up to 50% of the

estimated entitlement to up to 100%

interest free. In practice, this

means new claimants in December had

already received an advance of up to

50% of the estimated overall

entitlement and may be seen a second

advance ticket up to 100% in the New

the money they would previously have

got. In addition, from spring next

year taken with the first payment,

this means claimants could receive

nearly double the money they would

previously have got. In addition,

from spring February, we are

removing the seven-day waiting

period, reducing the length of time

claimants might wait to receive

their first full payment. From

April, four new claimants already

receiving support towards housing

costs, we are providing an

additional payment of two weeks of

their housing benefit to support

them as they transition onto

Universal Credit, helping to we will

be making it possible to apply for

an advance online, further eight

increasing accessibility for those

who need it. From February, we are

removing the seven-day waiting

period, reducing the length of time

claimants might wait to receive

their first full payment. From

April, four new claimants already

receiving support towards housing

costs, we are providing an

additional payment of two weeks of

their housing benefit to support

them as they transition onto

Universal Credit, helping the issue

of rent arrears for those who most

need it. This is a well targeted

measure, which 1.3 million people,

including the most vulnerable, with

an. This is a one-off investment of

£550 million to make sure it

Universal Credit supports those who

need it. This is a one-off

investment of £550 million to make

sure it Universal Credit supports

those who need it. To make as a

short-term measure, we will change

her claimants in temporary

accommodation receive support for

the housing costs, to housing

authorities can recover all of their

costs and therefore can continue to

offer this to those who need it

most. We will also managing their

finances, but personal budgeting

support and digital skills training

is provided to claimants through

universal support, delivered through

local authorities. Older numbers, we

are exploring with Citizens Advice

the scope for term solutions to this

issue. The majority of claimants are

comfortable managing their finances,

but personal budgeting support and

digital skills training is provided

to claimants through universal

support, delivered through local

authorities. Older numbers, we're

exploring with Citizens Advice the

scope for greater collaboration

people move to Universal Credit. It

is aimed at supporting those out of

work to move into work and once in

work, to progress and increase their

earnings. That is why, in addition

to these measures, the government

people move to Universal Credit. It

is aimed at supporting those out of

work to move into work and once in

work, to progress and increase their

earnings. That is why, in addition

to these measures, the support than

a simple allocated £8 billion over

four years to conduct tests and

trials, to support development of

the evidence of what works to help

people progress in work. This is a

comprehensive and wide-ranging

package worth £1.5 billion, offering

significantly more support than a

will place an updated roll-out plan

in the House of Commons library.

This does not choose a of the wait

for the first payment to one month.

To deliver this package, we have

carefully revised the Universal

Credit roll out plan, to make sure

we continue to safely and gradually

roll out this important welfare

reform. I will place the updated

roll-out plan in the House of

Commons library. This does not

change the at which be completed. To

help ensure the smooth transition to

full service, we have also decided

to close your claims to a prototype

Universal Credit finally will be

completed. To help ensure the smooth

transition to full service, we have

also decided to close your claims to

a prototype universal service. This

will not affect any existing claims.

In addition, any new claim from a

family with three or more children

listed ' will shift to the end of

January 20 19. This is a

comprehensive package, which, this

will shift to the end of January 20

19. This is a comprehensive package,

ensure that as many people as

possible get the opportunity to work

response to concerns inside and

outside the house. We have a clear

objective, to ensure that as many

people as possible get the

opportunity to work and maximise

transform lives. I commend this

statement to the to better their

circumstances.

We will continue to

roll-out Universal Credit in a

steady and consistent manner and in

doing so, deliver it welfare reform

that will positively transform

lives. I commend this statement to

the I thank the Secretary. It is

little surprise to see the for the

statement. It is little surprise to

see following months of Labour

campaigning, the unanimous defeat on

the announced reforms to the

embattled Universal Credit programme

in the budget yesterday. Following

months of Labour campaigning, the

unanimous defeat on the opposition

day motion, with the rising debt and

evictions, the reforms are causing

so many of their constituents

problems. We welcome any steps to

improve the programme, not least the

small disappointed that with the

rising debt and evictions, the

reforms are causing so many of their

constituents problems. We welcome

any steps to improve the programme,

not least the detail of today's

announcement. Let's sit back and

look at the big picture. The

government introduced Universal

Credit with the promise is, to

reduce child poverty by the head and

30,000, to simplify the security

system and to ensure that work

always pays. As the mounting

evidence has shown, Universal Credit

is in the long hello. Those on lower

incomes will only be is expected to

wait for five weeks compared to the

current six. Before I address the

detail of today's announcement.

Let's sit back and look at the big

picture. The government introduced

Universal Credit with the promises,

to reduce child poverty by the head

and 30,000, to simplify the security

system and to ensure that were

always pays. As the mounting

evidence has shown, Universal Credit

living up to these ambitions. Now it

is announcements meet the

government's contests. First, the

reforms announced today are not

being introduced until next year and

will do nothing for the tens of

thousands that are stuck in the

six-week waiting period over

Christmas. Anyone who has tried to

to see if the Chancellor's

announcements meet the government's

contests. First, the reforms

announced today are not being

introduced until next year and will

do nothing for the tens of thousands

that are stuck in the six-week

waiting period over Christmas.

Anyone who has tried Universal

Credit since Tuesday the 14th of

November will now not get the first

payment until after Christmas Day.

This will mean tens of thousands of

families going without over the

festive period. Secondly, we are

concerned that the government has

only decided a single week, waiting

period, taking it down to five.

Under existing di WP guidance,

claimants should be offered the

option of being paid every two

weeks, reflecting their previous

employment a report published by the

Resolution Foundation many people

were paid more regularly than there

was monthly to the monthly. I want

to press him on why, given that it

is so punitive. In relation to the

advance payment, we have concerns in

relation to the details of the

extended repayment period. What

additional debts does he expect the

average claimant to incur? What is

this department predict will be the

average amount deducted from

claimants' income? Our position

remains the same. The Social

Security system should prevent

people getting into debt, not make

matters worse. It is contrary to the

conditions of Universal Credit that

instead of affecting the

self-employed. I want to press him

on why, given that it is so

punitive. In relation to the advance

payment, we have concerns in

relation to the details of the

extended repayment period. What

additional debts does he expect the

average claimant to incur? What is

this department predictable but the

average amount deducted from

claimants' income? Our position

remains the same. The Social

Security system should prevent

people getting into debt, not make

matters worse. It is contrary to the

conditions of Universal Credit that

instead of alleviating poverty, it

will cause it, let alone an insult

to people who are not able to make

ends meet under reforms, to be under

more risk, stress and concern.

Turning to housing benefit proposal

is not due to be introduced until

April next year, nearly six months

after the budget. Support for Red

Bull two for the first when they

receive payment. This is a

three-week gap, which is still too

long for people to call, leading to

our viewers and evictions. Finally,

this announcement is after the five

when they receive payment. This is a

three-week gap, which is still too

long for people to call, leading to

our viewers and evictions. Finally,

this announcement did nothing to the

key ambition that work will always

pay. The swingeing cuts to Universal

Credit have not been addressed,

condemning war disabled people,

children and other families to in a

further nonsensical approach, the

tans leaving a full-time worker on

their minimum wage £900 a year worse

off by 2020. Why has the government

failed to give our workers the pay

rise they deserve? The government

seems content to leave the 17 year

pay stagnation. In some planned

increase to the national living

wage, leaving a full-time worker on

their minimum wage £900 a year worse

off by 2020. Why has the government

failed to give our workers the pay

rise they deserve? The government

seems content to leave the 17 year

pay stagnation.

In these measures for Universal

Credit are not enough.

They must be

brought forward and amended and

added to. We stand ready to work

with the government to make the

necessary changes. Failing that,

they should stand aside and let a

Labour government get on with the

where to start? Let's start first of

all with about people having to wait

five wait five weeks. They can get a

payment within five people do not

have to wait five weeks. They can

get a payment within five and an

interest-free of an immaterial, I'm

afraid is just completely

unreasonable. And as being

immaterial, I'm afraid is just

completely unreasonable. And it as

to when they receive the payments.

We are making it more generous,

we're getting people a longer period

of time in which they. What an

advance enables people to do is to

have control as to when they receive

the payments. We're making it more

generous, we're getting people a

longer period of time in which they

repay it. But we more flexible by

enabling people to get a making it

more flexible by enabling people to

get a what they if that is what they

want. If that is what they she said

the the honourable member suggests

that we should move towards paying

fortnightly, and she said the system

how people's previous employment

package how people's previous

employment package paid only 3% of

people in employment are paid 3% of

people are if we are to have a

system that has the flexibility of

coping with people who are out of

work, who are moving into work, a

monthly. If we are to have a system

that has the flexibility of coping

with people who are out of work, who

are moving into work, a is

absolutely sensible, but we need to

people can get access to money

earlier, and that's exactly what we

in that first assessment period, so

that people can get access to money

earlier, and that's exactly what we

are delivering.

They have sought to stand any of

Universal Credit.

I am not sure

whether we heard a request for a

report on zero by the honourable

member today. In terms of reports, I

would be fascinated what they mean.

Not rolling it out to any new job

centres? Or stopping any new

claimants going on to Universal

Credit at all? I am happy to talk

afterwards. Is it new job centres

are everybody? We are not getting an

answer on that, Mr Speaker. If it

means stopping it across the board,

that would be a woeful lack of grasp

of the operational realities. The

idea you can suddenly switch

everybody back onto jobseeker's

allowance and ESA overnight would be

ridiculous. We have listened to the

constructive comments we have heard

from members of all sides. And made

some sensible reforms which can help

people. Let's not forget, this is a

welfare reform that will positively

transform lives. I am proud that

this Government is delivering eight

and the party opposite might reflect

on the fact that they are seen as a

roadblock to this welcome reform.

With crystal clarity I will say

members who arrived after the

statement began should not be

standing and will not be called. In

conformity with very long

established practice in this House.

I have often said this, I do not

know why it is so difficult for some

to grasp, but that is the reality of

the matter. There is heavy business

to follow, a very large number of

colleagues wishing to participate in

the continuation of the Budget

debate. The pity in your questions.

These are synced -- these are

the whole roll-out of Universal

Credit was set their ability by this

so they could respond to needs and

problems that exist.

I will say I

congratulate him for having secured

from the chance that what is nearly

£1.5 billion to help in the process

of the roll-out, particularly people

transferring across housing benefit

and on the waiting days, giving

flexibility to advisers. Can I urge

him that Universal Credit is not

just about getting people into work,

it was to find the people who have

the greatest problems and with

universal support helped change

their lives. Can I urge him to look

carefully at universal support and

make sure that is rolling out

absolutely alongside that to make

this a very good, successful

roll-out and my congratulations

again.

Can I thank him for his kind

words. And once again acknowledge

the tremendous work that my right

honourable friend made in driving

forward Universal Credit. I think it

will be a truly great achievement

for this Government as we deliver

this. In terms of universal support,

he is right. I recently visited a

Jobcentre. Because of the support

they had received in regard to

information technology in making a

claim, they were more confident,

made their first grocery order

online. That might be a small matter

to some of us but that was helping

someone make progress in life. That

is what Universal Support and

Universal Credit is delivering.

I

have no desire to be unkind. The

honourable gentleman was late. He

came in after the statement had

started. I said if members are light

they should not stand and should not

be called. -- late. Please, in your

own interests and out of respect to

the House, do not do it.

Thank you

for advanced site of the statement.

I suppose we should be grateful that

the DWP and Chancellor are accepting

the failing by making these changes

but this was not the robust than

compounds of response it should have

been. It should have been halted and

fixed. The misery it is causing.

Reducing the six weeks weight is

welcome but five weeks is still too

long. Many people wait longer than

that. The Secretary of State us the

answer, the Scottish Government are

allowing people to receive payments

fortnightly. There's an zero hour

contracts, showing respect to them.

-- those on zero hour contracts.

Work does not pay for people and

Universal Credit, CPI is so high. I

will he look into the number of DWP

cancelled PIP assessments and at no

cost to the Treasury will the legacy

benefits and third-party consents be

removed for people in difficulty

especially disabled and the

terminally ill?

Explicit consent,

there is no need. First of all, in

terms of delays, and moving it

fortnightly, I am aware the Scottish

Government is taking a different

approach in terms of moving it. The

way they are doing that is by

ensuring that the second payment at

the end of the second assessment

period is half of what it would be

in England and Wales. Deferring it

and then paying it a fortnight

later. If the Scottish Government

are happy with that and will defend

that the Scottish people, they are

welcome to do it but it seems

strange way of delivering it. In

terms of the public finances, we

fought the 2015 General Election to

find savings with the welfare Budget

and will deliver those savings.

Does

he anticipate a increase in

short-term crimes and did he

consider spending the money on the

tape and is not removing the waiting

days.

There will be debate about the

taper and that will be under review.

There is a issue in terms of the

first assessment period we have

acknowledged, helping people over

that period. That is why we made

pages to the advances system in a

tub. At the time I said we would

continue to look at this and that is

why we have announced the package.

We'll be Secretary of State gave a

commitment to this House that he

will bring forward the loan scheme

and open those job centres and the

helplines which will be closed for

8-10 days over Christmas to prevent

any of my constituents being hungry?

May I congratulate him also in

providing a financial armlock to the

Treasury...

I have to say, relations

with the Treasury and my department

are very good at the moment.

That could not always be said. In

terms of Christmas, this is a

serious point, it is worth bearing

in mind that for those people who

open a new claim in for example

mid-December, they can get a 50%

advance then knowing that they will

come back and get the other 50% in

the New Year. In terms of the

operation of Christmas, DWP will

continue to operate, a lot of effort

is put into making sure the payment

system works over the Christmas

period.

I thank the Secretary of

State for this and to colleagues

from across the House and is very

welcome package of changes to

Universal Credit, in particular the

seven working days and the packages

he has introduced to improve the

loans available, advances upfront

and changes to housing benefit.

Would he join me in thanking

Citizens Advice bureau who do so

much to support all our constituents

and also have welcome to these

changes?

She is absolutely right to

draw attention to Citizens Advice.

We have engaged on with them. I

spoke to their chief executive

yesterday. I have a meeting with her

later on today. We will continue to

work closely with Citizens Advice. I

am keen to ensure that when it comes

to universal support we can continue

to work closely with Citizens Advice

because they provide a huge amount

of practical support and help to

people.

The Secretary of State's

characterisation of the tax credit

system is wrong. I very much welcome

the helpful steps he has announced

the latest at clearing up the

problems he has inherited. Will he

make available large print versions

of the documentation about these

changes? Does he accept that if

someone who is paid by the week and

has no savings loses their job that

denying them any income at all for

five weeks is causing a serious

problem which offering a loan does

not resolve?

Nobody is left without

financial support at all. The

flexibility of the advanced system

is one that actually if you look at

this compare to the system that was

in place before the legacy system

can help people if you are going

onto jobseeker's allowance for

example, Universal Credit will

provide more support out there. I

will look at the issue in terms of a

large print version. And perhaps on

another occasion debate at some

length the tax credit system. Not

only the disincentives within it but

the huge difficulties that the

roll-out tax credit caused in 2003

that were still reverberating when I

entered the House in 2005.

I welcome

the statement this morning. Could he

just touch on the statement he said

there would be extra support for

tenants in the private rented

sector. Could he expand on that,

will that includes access for

landlords to the portal that is

available for social landlords?

In

terms of support for the private

rented sector, since the reforms

made in 2008 we must remember most

tenants of the private rented sector

received housing benefit directly

rather than getting it from

landlord. 30% have alternative

payment of a mention -- payment

arrangements of the money goes

directly to the landlord. Going

forward once we change those people

who already have alternative payment

arrangements the presumption will be

that will continue, the money will

go therefore to the landlord rather

than the tenant. We are constantly

looking at ways in which we can as

your support. And the housing

benefit conditional Pateman --

transitional payment will be

additional support to help people as

they migrate to Universal Credit.

The changes are very welcome to

tackle some of the glaring problems

in Universal Credit. Social

landlords and others are still

extremely worried about the impact

of potential arrears. Would he

worked with his colleagues in DCRG

and as the social landlords making

sure they do not go for grounds

eight possession requirements which

reduced the flexibility of the court

when it comes to dealing with

arrears. It is critical we do we can

to prevent going ahead with tenants

falling into arrears. -- prevent

eviction going ahead.

I know the

constructive approach taken from a

number of those on the backbenches

from the party opposite... In terms

of evictions, it is important that

pre-action protocol is a respected.

There have been reports for example

the Leader of the Opposition made

some comments about what happened

with Gloucester city which turned

out to be wildly inaccurate and I

think he should apologise. But we

are very keen to work with,

constructively, landlords bowed in

social and private sectors and what

is important that we debate is in a

reasonable way without causing

unnecessary stress by

scaremongering, which the Leader of

the Opposition did.

I welcome the announcement this

morning. Successful completion of

the roll-out does require ongoing

dialogue with a variety I welcome

the announcement this morning.

Successful completion of the

roll-out does require ongoing

dialogue with a variety of, local

housing authorities, local

landlords. Can he provide an

assurance that he will continue to

liaise with these charities, local

landlords.

Can he provide an

assurance that he will continue to

liaise with certainly, I can do

that's been one of the things that's

been pleasing about the Chancellor

is a warm and broad support for

these changes from the trust trust,

the Citizens Advice Bureau, the

Landlord Associations and so on.

Engaging closely with all of those

organisations and partners is

absolutely key to to the Chancellor

is a warm and broad support for

these changes from the trust trust,

the Citizens Advice Bureau, the

Landlord Associations and so on.

Engaging closely with all of those

organisations and partners is

absolutely key to deliver this I

think the most significant part of

the I think the most significant

part of the that we must remember

that Universal Credit is aimed at

supporting those out of work to move

into work.

That would make perfect

sense as this was the Minister is

the statement that we must remember

that Universal Credit is aimed at

supporting those out of work to move

into work. That would make perfect

sense as this was Will the Secretary

of State at least JSA. But there are

many people here who are nowhere

near work, the severely disabled and

they seem to be missing from the

steps that the Chancellor Trigg

yesterday. Will the Secretary of

State at that Universal Credit is

failing the most disabled and tell

us what he plans to do to address

the concerns that the right

honourable gentleman raised about

those most seriously disabled

people, who have been failed by

Universal Credit I don't accept his

I don't accept his characterisation

either of Universal Credit or what.

It provides support for those who

need it. In terms of the severe. It

provide support for those who need

it. In terms of the severe

disability premium it is worth

bearing in mind that this was not a

reduction in the overall amount of

it is worth bearing in mind that

this was not a reduction in the

overall amount but as I say,

Universal Credit is about providing

support to when this was introduced.

It was designed to widen the support

that was provided. But as I say,

Universal Credit is about providing

support, but it's getting people

closer to work and into work where

that, it's absolutely the right

thing to yesterday I warmly welcome

the £1.5 billion announced will he

confirm that as the roll-out of ten

to the loss of the waiting time.

Will he confirm that as the roll-out

of and learn will continue to be an

essential part of that process?

Absolutely. And I want to be clear

we constantly look at ways we can

refine and improve, and have set out

a number of things were going to do

over the months ahead to make this

system work as well as it possibly

can. But I would make this point, as

of today, Universal Credit is

already a better system than the

legacy system.

Smaller housing

associations in Glasgow are telling

me they don't know summer is on

Universal Credit until they fall

into arrears, so can I press you to

ensure that all housing

associations, no matter their size,

get access to the landlord portal,

to eliminate barriers and to make

sure housing associations don't fall

into financial difficulties?

He

makes a reasonable point. The

landlord portal is reasonable step

forward. Starting with the artist

landlords, because that's the

quickest way of getting as many

people able to benefit it. But yes,

the use of the landlord portal as

that is ruled out, will be one that

I think will be very helpful for

housing associations and councils as

well as the DWP.

On a recent visit

to a local job centre, staff were

hugely positive about Universal

Credit. IT skills and computer

access for the claimants was vital.

Could he joined me in thanking job

centre staff across the UK for

remaining positive about the

benefits, particularly on those

stuck on the 16 hour contracts?

She

makes an excellent point. I have

similar experience of visiting job

centres and being struck by the

impunity as of the staff for

Universal Credit. I would certainly

urge members on all sides go and

visit their job centre, topped the

staff there. The work cultures and

job centre staff generally are doing

excellent work, transforming lives,

and they believe overwhelmingly that

Universal Credit is giving them the

tools to help people transform their

lives. That is what this reform is

all about, that is why I am so

determined to deliver it and that is

why I am so pleased we have a united

support for it today on this side of

the house.

Given the government

assumptions on minimum incomes, the

so-called floor which penalises

self-employed people on low incomes,

will the Secretary of State please

review these rules that are putting

people at my constituent Tracy out

of business and into debt?

The

minimal income floor is an important

part of our system, but if you don't

have that, you can leave the system,

where were not able to help people

in self-employed jobs at frankly I'm

not giving them sufficient income to

have the living standards they would

want. We have to provide support to

those people, so they have a

sustainable job that provide

sufficient income to them and does

not provide an unfair burden on the

taxpayer.

I can fracture rate him on

these welcome changes. Can I ask and

then he expects to have the new

guidance out on managed payments to

landlords and where that this might

be available to existing Universal

Credit claimants as well as new

claimants?

We will have that

guidance out in the course of

December, so we will be moving

quickly on that. In terms of... This

is designed for those who have

previously been on housing benefit

with an alternative payment

arrangement. Of course, work

cultures, as they engage with new

claimants, where they identify that

the right approach is for an

alternative payment arrangement to

exist, in other words, the money

goes to the landlords, then that is

something that they can take

forward.

I very much welcome the

announcement about their housing

benefit run on and I was even more

pleased to hear the Secretary of

State say that would not be an

advance, but would be an award. But

can he say why it will not be

available to those who have not

previously been in receipt of

housing benefit? Because as he will

know, rent arrears have been one of

the features of Universal Credit

that has caused most difficulties

and higher levels of debt.

The

design of this housing benefit

transitional payment is for those

people who have previously been on

housing benefit, so that is our

claim already there. So that is why

we've done it. But can I thank her

for this?

As the Secretary of State

will know, Universal Credit services

are due to be rolled out to Torbay

in me 2018. What efforts will he be

making to make sure staff are

trained and unaware of the advances

available, because it's something

people may not be quite so confident

of doing when they first put in a

claim?

We changed that guidance on

advances in October. It is already

the case in July and August on

behalf of people were taking up in

advance. From my visit to job

centres, the system has improved.

But the increased flexibility on

advances, it may well prove to be

even more widely used, we shall see.

He raises a very good point about

training. I have to say, having

visited job centres that have just

launched a full service, I was

impressed by the level of training

and the support that one job centre,

which has perhaps had it for awhile,

then provides to a new job centre,

and that degree of co-operation was

proving to be very effective.

The

Secretary of State is putting up £8

million to develop evidence about

what works to help people progress

in work. I've done the job ready for

nothing. He needs to restore the £3

billion worth of power and of work

allowances that he cancelled from

2015 on words and to help briefly

the economy, he could also start

lifting the benefits freeze. Will he

do that?

If that is an attempt from

the Liberal Democrats to find an

economy issue, I don't think he's

found that. I understand the cases

making. We obviously have to balance

what is affordable than the public

finances. But I would break the

portrait that Universal Credit, yes

fines savings in terms of error

within the system, but is not an

overall reduction on what they were

previously spending on the legacy

benefits.

I warmly welcome his

statement. Can he update the house

on exactly how many people, in

receipt of Universal Credit, have

actually gone on into work as a

direct result of going onto this new

system, because that is its

intention and we should be singing

that from the rooftops.

It is the

case that there have been three

studies that have compared it versus

the legacy benefits and all three

cases, a higher proportion have gone

on to work and progressed in work

than was the case with the legacy

benefits. It's also the case that

the greater flexibility within the

system, so people are not stuck on

16 hours that is undoubtedly the

case at the moment, the analysis

that we have done, which has been

peer reviewed, suggests be something

like 250,000 more jobs in the

economy and was the case we not meet

that reform. That is about 400

people per constituency, that is

something I am proud of.

Low-paid

workers in receipt of Universal

Credit are set to lose at next

month, simply because there are five

paydays in December. What urgent

action bowl the department take to

address this ridiculous anomaly.

I

saw that report on money box. It was

confused, it was misleading in its

alarmist tone, it was inaccurate in

the numbers it was using. The

principle of Universal Credit is

that if you earn more in your

earnings, you get less in Universal

Credit. If you get less in your

earnings, you get more Universal

Credit. That is the principle that

applies. I do think that should be

shocking to anybody.

I warmly

welcome his statement and I thank

him and the Minister of State for

their hard work that the additional

support to the most vulnerable in

society. Can he confirmed that the

housing benefit payments will not be

repayable and that will again help

the most vulnerable as they

transition onto Universal Credit?

Absolutely, we will not recover it,

it will not reduce what people are

entitled to under Universal Credit.

It is additional support for people

as they move over from housing

benefit to Universal Credit and I

hope it will have the support of the

whole house.

I acknowledge much in

the statement. With regards to the

Citizen Advice Bureaus and local

authorities, can you confirm two

things, firstly that there will be

additional funds available to the

third-party sector to help with the

collaboration and secondly, have you

looked at implied is concerned,

which would cut a huge amount of

weight time, in respect of advice

given?

There are confidentiality

issues that we have to deal with. In

terms of the funding, and not

necessarily going to get drawn on

that today, but I would say that we

do find universal support, providing

the support that my right honourable

friend, the member for Chingford,

was talking about, which is helping

to transform lives.

Just checking. I

chair the board of a housing

association that has 20,000 homes

operating across 18 local

authorities, and I don't want those

residents are necessarily disturbed

by the scaremongering from the

benches opposite. Can the Minister

confirm that those claimants can get

an emergency payments, up to 100% of

their monthly entitlements, with all

only a few days?

He is absolutely

right. We will have that 100%

advance system available in the New

Year. But let me come back to this.

The Leader of the Opposition said

that one in eight people from one

city council had been evicted

because of Universal Credit. It

turns out it wasn't one in eight, it

was eight and it turns out it wasn't

because of Universal Credit, it was

because of other problems that had

arisen, including in one case,

someone you haven't lived in the

property for 18 months.

Mr Speaker, my local authority of

Denbighshire and till recently had

the highest levels of household debt

in the whole of the country. People

were forced into the arms of loan

sharks, pawn shops and payday loans.

Will the government's decision to

encourage Universal Credit

recipients to apply and accept

government loans, will that increase

or decrease the level of household

debt in Denbighshire?

If we want to

stop people falling prey to loan

sharks, the flexibility of advances

within this system, including and in

addition budgeting loans to help

people with white goods, is exactly

the right way. If we don't offer

that the risks he sets out will be

real.

The government said it is

allocating £8 million over four

years to support trials of evidence

of what works principles. Can I ask

what trials will be put in place

specifically for disabled people,

other than child Universal Credit

itself. Will the Secretary of State

meet with the disability APPG I

chaired to listen to the voice of

disabled people and what works?

Of

course we engage and listen to the

voices of disabled people. We got

strong welcomes from some of those

disabled groups yesterday. But I

would say, in terms of the tests and

learn approach to that, we've just

made an announcement yesterday, we

are designing those trials. The

purpose is to ensure that people can

progress in work.

The Minister

claims Universal Credit is

constantly improving and that he is

responding to concerns. Will he

respond to my concern and the

concerns of the child poverty action

group who claimed that the

government is knowingly putting

200,000 children into poverty as a

result of the two child cap, and

knowingly having a disproportionate

impact as a result and that the file

rape clause is stigmatising women in

Northern Ireland, putting them in

danger?

We have got transitional

protection in there but I would make

the point as she represents a

Scottish constituency but if the

Scottish Government wants to provide

support for third and fourth and

fifth children, they can provide

exactly that.

The Minister may be

interested to know that citizens

advice Scotland carried out a survey

and determined 32% of my

constituents don't have access to

the internet and a further 32% would

have difficulty accessing the online

service Universal Credit system.

With the Minister consider

additional measures to ensure that

the interface with the system is

improved so those claimants of

Universal Credit have increased

confidence they can access the

system efficiently?

The vast

majority of people have access

online, but of course it is possible

for people to access these

facilities in Job