Debate on the effect of universal credit on children
6 May 2016
On Tuesday 10 May MPs took part in a Chamber debate on the effect of universal credit on children. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Stephen Timms MP.
This debate was opened by Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on the effect of universal credit on children
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on the effect of universal credit on children
Text of the motion
"That this House notes that whilst some aspects of the universal credit system are likely to better support families with children, some groups of children and families are particularly likely to lose out, and many may struggle with elements of the new approaches to payment and administration; further notes that there has been no revised impact assessment to take account of significant cuts to work allowance; and calls on the Government to re-assess the policy in light of these cuts and to ensure that the numbers of children in poverty, and particularly those in working families, falls as a result of the introduction of the new universal credit system."
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.
Further information
- About Parliament: Select Committees
- How the Backbench Business Committee works
- Follow updates from the Committee on Twitter
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