Labour to force the Government to come clean on the impact of Universal Credit on families

Labour will tomorrow (Wednesday 17th October 2018) attempt to force the Government to publish its analysis of the impact of Universal Credit on people's incomes.

This follows reports that the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions briefed the Cabinet that some people on Universal Credit would be £200 a month worse off. Despite Number 10 denying this, saying “No-one moving onto Universal Credit would lose out”, Esther McVey followed this up with an appearance on BBC News, where she admitted: "I’ve said we've made tough decisions. Some people will be worse off.”

Labour will use the same Parliamentary procedure that it used to force the publication of the Brexit impact assessments to demand these briefings are published.

This procedure gives the House of Commons the power to require Ministers to release Government papers to Parliament. Unlike typical opposition day debates, the motion, if passed, will be binding on the Government.

The Labour Party, Citizens Advice, the Child Poverty Action Group, the National Association of Welfare Advisors, the Residential Landlords Association, the National Housing Federation, the Resolution Foundation, the National Audit Office, two former Prime Ministers and over 80 organisations representing disabled people have warned of the impact of Universal Credit, which has pushed people into debt and poverty. Labour has called for the roll out to be stopped immediately. 

Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour’s Shadow DWP Secretary, said:

“Universal Credit has pushed many families into poverty, debt and misery. Even Esther McVey has admitted that families will be worse off.

“Despite the evidence, the Government is pressing ahead with the roll-out.

“The Government must come clean about its plans and make public what they know about the impact of the roll-out of Universal Credit on vulnerable people and families.

“The roll-out of Universal Credit must be stopped immediately.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• Labour’s Opposition Day Debate will take place on Wednesday 17th October 2018

• The text of Labour's motion reads:

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that the following papers be laid before Parliament: any briefing papers or analysis provided to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since 8 January 2017 on the impact of the roll-out of Universal Credit on recipients’ and household income and on benefits debts.

• In an interview with BBC News on 11 October 2018, Esther McVey admitted: "I’ve said we've made tough decisions. Some people will be worse off.” https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1050374574817337344?s=21

• Esther McVey reportedly told colleagues that millions of families would lose £200 a month under the new system:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/families-lose-200-a-month-in-universal-credit-switch-5ktwmrwr8

• Leaked documents obtained by the BBC today appeared to suggest the roll out of Universal Credit has been delayed again: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45870553

• The Trussell Trust revealed demand for help from its food banks rose by 52 per cent in areas where UC had been fully rolled out in the 12 months after the scheme was introduced: https://www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/research-advocacy/universal-credit-and-foodbank-use/

• A survey by the Residential Landlord Association found 61 per cent of landlords had universal credit tenants who were struggling to pay their rent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/landlords-universal-credit-warning-debt-renting-benefits-support-a8580941.html

• Erskine May, the definitive rule book to the rules and conventions of Parliament and the UK constitution, referring to the wording of the motion chosen by Labour, says:

“Each House has the power to call for the production of papers by means of a motion for a return. A return from the Privy Council or from departments headed by a Secretary of State is called for by means of an humble Address to the Sovereign; a return from elsewhere, such as a department not headed by a Secretary of State, is sought directly by means of an order of the House.

“The power to call for papers was frequently exercised until about the middle of the nineteenth century. It is rarely resorted to in modern circumstances since much of the information previously sought in this way is now produced in Command Papers or in Act Papers, or in response to questions. However, the power has a continuing importance since it is regularly delegated to select committees, thus enabling them to send for papers and records (see pp 818–819). 

“In the Commons the procedure also survives in the form of ‘Motions for Unopposed Returns’ (see p 352) for particular documents which the Minister responsible for the government department concerned wishes to make public (hence they are ‘unopposed’) but in respect of which the protection of statute afforded by an order of the House for printing or other publication is sought.51 Certain annual returns are, by custom, also presented to the House in the form of returns to orders.52 

“The power to send for papers by means of a motion for unopposed return extends to papers which are in the possession of Ministers or which Ministers have the authority to obtain. Papers should be ordered only on subjects which are of public or official character. In the case of a select committee with power to send for papers and records there is no restriction on its power to require the production of papers by private bodies or individuals, provided that such papers are relevant to the committee’s work as defined by its order of reference (see pp 805–806, 818–819).”