A government minister has insisted there is no direct link between the rollout of Universal Credit and a spike in the number of people relying on foodbanks – despite the fact his boss Amber Rudd has already admitted to it.
The work and pensions secretary confessed last month that there were “challenges” in the initial introduction of the government’s flagship six-in-one benefits scheme, telling the Commons “the main issue which led to an increase in foodbank use could have been the fact people had difficulty accessing their money early enough”.
But speaking in parliament on Monday, Department for Work and Pensions minister Justin Tomlinson told MPs that government evidence did not show “a direct link between the increase in foodbank use and the rollout of Universal Credit”.
“As Trussell Trust said, it is impossible to identify one single cause,” he said.
“Universal Credit spends £2 billion more than the system it replaces, it incentivises work and provides a pathway out of poverty.”
Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said: “Justin Tomlinson should speak to his own secretary of state, who has already admitted a link between the Tories’ chaotic rollout of Universal Credit and increased foodbank use.
“The evidence linking Universal Credit, poverty and foodbank use is overwhelming. The minister should spend his energies fixing this problem instead of denying it exists.”
The Trussell Trust – a nationwide network of foodbanks – has previously said that its foodbanks experience a 52% increase in demand 12 months after Universal Credit has been introduced to an area.
Responding to Tomlinson’s comments, the trust’s policy director Garry Lemon said that while Universal Credit was not the only benefit people using foodbanks have problems with, it is a “significant factor in many areas”.
“There are a number of problems with Universal Credit but the long period people must wait for a first payment is one of the key reasons why we’ve seen a rise in people needing food banks where it has been rolled out,” he said. “A five week wait is too long – it needs to end.”
The initial rollout of Universal Credit for new claimants was completed in December 2018.
Rudd revealed last week that the pilot for the government’s Universal Credit ‘managed migration’ scheme would be launched in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, as “soon as possible”.