On Tuesday 17 March 2020 the House of Lords Economic
Affairs Committee will be holding a double evidence session on
the economics of Universal Credit.
The first session will begin at 3.35pm. Giving
evidence will be:
-
Laura Gardiner, Research Director, Resolution
Foundation
-
Gareth Morgan, Managing Director, Ferret
Information Systems
-
Tom Lee, Senior Policy Analyst, Child Poverty
Action Group.
Questions the Committee is likely to ask
include:
-
Has the ‘work first’ approach underlying the design
of Universal Credit reached its limit?
-
How will DWP’s plans for the ‘managed migration’ of
nearly three million people onto Universal Credit work in
practice?
-
Has the integration of benefits into one system led
to policy rigidity?
-
Is Universal Credit being asked to deal with
structural issues, such as the wider housing crisis and
the increase in mental health problems, that its design is
incapable of providing adequate support for?
-
Does Universal Credit actually simplify the
benefits system?
The second session will begin at 4.35pm. Giving
evidence will be:
-
Cllr Victoria Mills, Cabinet Member for Finance,
Performance and Brexit, Southwark Council
-
Chris Norris, Policy Director, National Residential
Landlords Association
-
Sue Christoforou, Policy Manager, Homeless
Link
-
Danny Hardie, Team Leader for Financial Inclusion
and Money Advice, Peabody.
Questions the Committee is likely to ask
include:
-
The five-week wait has been blamed as the cause of
increased levels of rent arrears. How should this be
resolved?
-
The Committee has heard evidence that paying rents
directly to landlords increases the risk that individuals will
fail to pay their rent when they eventually do move into work.
Do you agree with that evidence?
-
Why do so many private landlords refuse to let to
Universal Credit claimants?
-
What financial impact has the roll-out of Universal
Credit had on the wider social and supported housing
sector?
-
Is Universal Credit connected with the rise in
homelessness?
