• the six-week delay in claimants receiving their first payment. Matt called this delay ‘appalling’ and objected to the delay in principle in addition to the timing of the roll-out of Universal Credit in Reading just before Christmas;

• the extra demand on foodbanks in areas where Universal Credit is in operation. Trussell Trust figures suggest a 17% surge in demand for claimants needing food parcel assistance;

• the fall in payments due. According to the House of Commons Library, recent figures state that a single parent with two children would lose an average of £2,600 per year on Universal Credit compared to the previous Tax Credit payment system.

Matt reaffirmed his position to call upon the Government to pause and fix the Universal Credit full service roll-out. In the original debate on Universal Credit last week in Parliament, Matt said:

“I am from one of the areas where universal credit will be rolled out in early December, much to the concern of local residents. It is difficult to imagine the stress and deep financial distress that many of the people on this benefit will face over Christmas because of the ill-considered timing. From my perspective, this is wholly unacceptable, but I believe it is only one of a number of deep flaws in this ill-thought-through policy.

As we have heard, the six-week payment delay is a severe flaw. It does not take account of the reality that many people, especially those on low incomes, not only budget on a bi-weekly basis, but are in some cases paid once every two weeks. In our area, Reading Borough Council and local charities will do their very best to help those affected, but they have already raised serious concerns about this delay.

Where people have no savings to deal with a 6 week wait, Universal Credit is increasing the risk of families or individuals ending up in a spiral of debt and unpaid bills”