Skip to main content

Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Stephen Timms (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 9 May 2016 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.


Food Banks: Work Coaches

Question

When the Trussell Trust published the figures last month showing record food bank demand over the past year, it stated:

“In some areas foodbanks report increased referrals due to delays and arrears in Universal Credit payments.”

What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that the introduction of universal credit does not drive food bank demand even higher?

Answer

That is one reason why we are using such a careful and controlled timetable for rolling out universal credit. I am much more interested in it being rolled out safely and in a secure way, so as to avoid the kinds of problems that we had under the previous Labour Government, when tax credits were blasted out and huge numbers of people received overpayments and were required to pay back thousands of pounds.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
609 c358 
Session
2015-16
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Jobcentres Food banks
Link
View this Oral question on hansard.parliament.uk