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May grilled on ‘irresponsible’ Universal Credit roll-out
The prime minister insisted the roll-out of Universal Credit was “working”, despite harsh criticism from Jeremy Corbyn and some of her own MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon.
Mr Corbyn said: “The roll-out of Universal Credit is already causing debt, poverty and homelessness. Does the prime minister accept it would be irresponsible to press on regardless?”
The way that Universal Credit has been implemented has drawn criticism, in particular because new claimants must wait six weeks before receiving their first payment.
Mr Corbyn focused all six of his questions on the roll-out of Universal Credit, noting that housing associations have reported a 50% increase in evictions of tenants with rent arrears, while Halton Housing Trust found a 100% year-on-year increase in the number of evictions. Gloucester City Homes, he noted, has evicted one in eight tenants on Universal Credit from its homes.
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Theresa May acknowledged that there had been “issues to address in the rolling out of this particular benefit”, but nevertheless insisted: “It is working, because more people are getting into work on Universal Credit than they were on Jobseeker’s Allowance. And I do want people to be able to find work, to be able to get better jobs, to be able to earn more.”
The first question faced by the prime minister after Mr Corbyn had finished was from Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who has been vocal in her opposition of the way Universal Credit has been implemented.
Ms Allen said: “Many of us on this side of the house feel that more people taking those advances must surely mean that the in-built six-week wait doesn’t work.
“Will she please consider meeting with me so I can explain to her why if we reduce that six-week wait, we will do a better job of supporting those ‘just about managing’ families who are struggling to make ends meet and have no savings to cover them over that period.”
The prime minister agreed to meet Ms Allen, saying: “She’s right of course and that’s why, as I said, the Department for Work and Pensions is continuing to look at how it’s being managed.”
Update: at 13.37, 12.10.17 This story was updated to make clear that one in eight Gloucester City Homes tenants on Universal Credit were evicted.
