Suspension of Roll-Out Universal Credit and Jobcentre Closure Programme — 17 Jan 2017 at 19:52

The majority of MPs voted against suspending the roll-out of Universal Credit and the JobCentre closure programme.

MPs were debating the following motion:

• That this House
• is concerned at the impact of policies pursued by the Department for Work and Pensions upon low-income households;
• notes the negative impact on those with low-incomes disclosed in the roll-out of Universal Credit;
• expresses concerns about cuts to Work Allowances under Universal Credit;
• believes that the closure of JobCentre offices in Glasgow and other areas will create difficulties for many people in accessing services; and
• calls on that Department to suspend the roll-out of Universal Credit and the JobCentre closure programme.

This vote was on an amendment:

• to leave out from “House” to the end of the Question and add:
• welcomes last week’s Official Statistics showing that the poorest households saw the biggest income growth of £700 in the last year;
• further welcomes the impact of this Government’s welfare reforms in supporting low-income households to find work, with over 2.7 million more people in work and 865,000 fewer workless households than in 2010;
• recognises the role of Universal Credit in supporting people into work and increasing their earnings in work by ensuring it always pays to work;
• welcomes the recent announcement of a reduction in the taper rate to 63 per cent;
• believes that the Government’s reforms have given taxpayers confidence in an affordable and sustainable welfare system that ensures value for money and responds to the needs of claimants, with 86.6 per cent of Universal Credit claims currently being made online; and
• notes that the Scottish Government has asked for an extended timetable for the full transfer of the extensive welfare powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2016.”

Debate in Parliament |