Early day motion 327

UNIVERSAL CREDIT PILOTS

• Session: 2013-14
• Date tabled: 01.07.2013
• Primary sponsor: Heyes, David
• Sponsors:
  • Lavery, Ian
  • Leech, John
  • Llwyd, Elfyn
  • McDonnell, John
  • Williams, Hywel

That this House notes the start of universal credit pilots in April 2013; further notes that almost one million young people are unemployed and increasing numbers of people in work are underemployed; believes that the introduction of conditionality for those in work, who formerly claimed tax credit and stricter sanctions for those out of work at this time are cruel, ineffective, unnecessary and discriminatory; is concerned that the Government’s preferred option of online claiming discriminates against two of the groups most likely to be entitled to elements of universal credit - those with disabilities and those on low incomes; further believes that the Government target of 80 per cent of universal credit being claimed online is unrealistic due to internet poverty and computer illiteracy; and calls on the Government to rethink universal credit and develop an approach based on creating jobs and supporting people into those jobs, as opposed to punishing them for not being able to find jobs.