Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 17 July 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 31 July 2019. It was answered by Baroness Buscombe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 July 2019 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Poverty

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to review their policies to address poverty, and (2) to ensure sufficient services for and assistance to those at risk of destitution.

Answer

This Government is committed to a sustainable solution to poverty in all its forms, by building a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. We have acted to increase the incomes of the poorest in society, for example, by increasing the National Living Wage and announcing a £4.5 billion cash boost to Universal Credit in the last Budget. We are also working with the Social Metrics Commission, and other experts in the field, to develop new experimental statistics which will help us to find new and better ways to analyse poverty in this country. These will be published in 2020 and, in the long-run, could help us target support more effectively.

Through our Jobcentre network, we are taking wider action to support vulnerable claimants. Work coaches are upskilled to recognise and help claimants with a wide range of complex employment barriers and work with external partners to offer individualised, specialist support to help people to turn their lives around.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL17250
Session: 2017-19
Subjects: Poverty
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Poverty

Secondary information

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