Work and Pensions Committee Chair comments on "totally inadequate" Government response on UC and the risk of domestic abuse

“Totally inadequate” Government response on domestic abuse risk under UC

The Committee is today publishing the Government’s response (attached) to its report on Universal Credit and the increased risk posed by its single household payment to survivors of domestic abuse, ahead of a debate on the issue in Westminster Hall this afternoon.

Commenting on the Government’s response, Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “This response is totally inadequate. Once again, DWP is ducking the issue, dumping all responsibility for split payments on the Scottish Government when it is very clear that Scotland relies on DWP to make split payments happen. Why is Government burying its head in the sand when the losers in this are the adults and children living with a greater risk of domestic abuse?”

The Chair has written to the Scottish Government asking if it agrees with DWP’s response, and how much support and co-operation it has had from the UK Government in implementing split payments (also attached)