Labour to force binding vote on publication of damaging Universal Credit reports
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Labour will use the same Parliamentary procedure that was used to
force the Government to hand over 58 Brexit impact papers, to bring
about a binding vote demanding the publication of internal reports
on their embattled Universal Credit programme. The reports,
known as ‘Project Assessment Reviews’, are detailed assessments of
the implementation of Universal Credit, which has come under
criticism for driving debt, arrears and even
evictions. ...Request free
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Labour will use the same Parliamentary procedure that was used to force the Government to hand over 58 Brexit impact papers, to bring about a binding vote demanding the publication of internal reports on their embattled Universal Credit programme.
The reports, known as ‘Project Assessment Reviews’, are detailed assessments of the implementation of Universal Credit, which has come under criticism for driving debt, arrears and even evictions.
In an Opposition Day Debate tomorrow, Labour will use an ancient, but still effective, Parliamentary procedure that 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.
This follows a judgement by the Information Commissioner, which determined that five of the reports, drafted between 2012 – 2015, are in the public interest and called on the Government to release them to the campaigners who brought the challenge. The Government has so far ignored the Commissioner’s request.
The Reviews were described by the Commissioner as providing “a much greater insight than any information already available about the Universal Credit Programme.” Labour believes they may contain further information justifying the party’s call on the Government to pause and fix the programme.
Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
“These reports could further expose the implementation flaws, design failures and the impacts of major cuts to Universal Credit, which is pushing people into poverty, debt and arrears. Labour has long called for a pause and fix of this programme, but the Chancellor failed to act in the Budget, meaning thousands of families will face a miserable Christmas.
“The Government should have abided by the Information Commissioner and released five of these reports into the public domain. Having already ignored Parliament’s unanimous approval of Labour’s motion to pause Universal Credit, the Government is now once again riding roughshod over the democratic process.
“Labour is calling for the release of this catalogue of failures on Universal Credit, to ensure that the lessons are learned from this Government’s mismanagement.
“Labour is committed to transforming Universal Credit, so that it meets its original ambitions of simplifying social security, reducing child poverty and making work pay.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That she will be graciously pleased to give directions that the five Project Assessment Reviews carried out into Universal Credit between 2012 and 2015 by the Government’s Major Projects Authority now known as the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, and any subsequent Project Assessment Reviews carried out into Universal Credit by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority between 1 January 2016 and 30 November 2017 that have been provided to Her Majesty’s Ministers at the Department of Work and Pensions, be provided by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to the Work and Pensions Committee.
“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).”
The Tories are failing working people
“On these projections real wages will, remarkably, still be below their 2008 levels in 2021.” IFS, Autumn Statement analysis, 24 November 2016 https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/budgets/as2016/as2016_pj.pdf
“Average earnings look like they will be nearly £1,400 a year lower than forecast back then, still below their 2008 level. We are in danger of losing not just one but getting on for two decades of earnings growth.” IFS, Autumn Budget analysis, 23 November 2017
Universal Credit is making matters even worse
“79 per cent have priority debts such a rent or council tax, 2 in 5 (41 per cent) have no money available to pay creditors as their monthly spend on essential living costs is more than their income. Typically people on Universal Credit only have around £3 a month left to pay creditors.”
Citizens Advice, ‘Universal Credit expansion is 'a disaster waiting to happen' says Citizens Advice’, 11 September 2017
DWP, ‘Universal Credit Statistical Ad Hoc: Payment Timeliness’, September 2017
DWP, ‘Research into families claiming Universal Credit’, September 2017
“From February, we are removing the 7-day waiting period, reducing the length of time claimants might wait to receive their first full payment.”
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