The annual benefits uprating was approved in Parliament earlier this week, which means that most benefits and State Pension will rise by 10.1 per cent in April. During the debate before the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023 was passed, the SNP’s David Linden pressed for change within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The SNP work and pensions spokesperson urged the DWP to bring back the weekly uplift that was given to Universal Credit claimants during the coronavirus pandemic to ease the financial pressure caused by lockdowns. He also called for it to be increased to £25 per week and extended to all claimants on legacy benefits along with increasing the benefit cap.
Mr Linden shared new figures from the Child Poverty Action Group which showed that, pre-covid, there were 700,000 more children in poverty than at the start of 2010. He told MPs: “Rising child poverty coupled with a cost of living crisis demands radical action from a British Government who must do more - so much more - to end the scourge of child poverty.
He continued: “Instead of keeping additional pressures on low-income families, Ministers need to urgently address the fundamental issues with Universal Credit (UC). A recent report by the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe found that the level of support provided under UC was ‘a key contributing factor to child poverty’.
“The report stated that policies like ‘the two-child limit and the benefit cap restrict the amount of benefits that households can receive, regardless of their specific needs, and thereby continue to exacerbate child poverty’.
“Therefore, my party stands by its calls to the British Government to reinstate the uplift to UC, and indeed to increase it by £25 a week, and to extend it to means-tested legacy benefits, as well as to extend the benefit cap.”
When asked by Conservative MP, Dr Luke Evans if the SMP has calculated how much applying a £25 weekly uplift to Universal Credit and legacy benefits would cost the taxpayer, Mr Linden replied: “They [UK Government] had nothing to say on food banks or child poverty, but when it comes to money, they are excited.”
He added: “Last April, Ministers in Edinburgh called on the British Government to reverse those policy changes. That would have put £780 million into the pockets of Scottish households and it would lift 70,000 people, including 30,000 children, out of poverty in 2023-24.”
Closing the debate, Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, said: “The hon. Member for Glasgow East [David Linden] accused this Government of policy failures. Given the failings of the Scottish First Minister, and her recent about-turns, I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is any position to lecture us on any policy failings.”
He added: “The reality of the situation is that the Government are doing a huge amount for the vulnerable, and are increasing support through the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2023, the draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023, the energy price guarantee and the draft Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.”
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