Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 32
Engage DWP to improve universal credit access and develop NI childcare strategy
Recommendation
The high cost of living in Northern Ireland has contributed to a ‘cruel storm’ which paramilitary groups are exploiting to target vulnerable individuals. Single mothers in precarious financial situations are being targeted by paramilitary groups engaging in illegal money lending practices. The structure of universal credit, the lack of a childcare strategy, and expense of childcare in Northern Ireland all contribute to the precarious financial situation in which some families find themselves. The Northern Ireland Office must engage in discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions as soon as possible to improve access to universal credit in Northern Ireland, as well as developing schemes to better connect people to existing credit services. The Government should also engage with a re-established Executive to share best practice towards the development of a childcare strategy for Northern Ireland.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged concerns about illegal money lending and stated the Northern Ireland Office will continue regular engagement with DWP to discuss these issues. It noted existing credit advice on the NI Direct website and deferred the childcare strategy development to the restored NI Executive, offering UK Government support for knowledge sharing.
Paragraph Reference:
32
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The UK Government is deeply concerned by the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and the harm caused by illegal money lending. We welcome the focused work undertaken by the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC) through its ‘Ending the Harm’ public awareness campaign to expose the devastating impact that criminal gangs have on individuals, their families and communities, and wider society in Northern Ireland through the practice of illegal money lending. The campaign has played a vital role in raising awareness of how illegal gangs coerce and control through illegal money lending and has helped to signpost support for victims. The Northern Ireland Office will continue its regular engagement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on a range of issues, including discussing the important issues raised by the Committee’s report and will ensure any actions agreed are shared with the Department for Communities. The Department for Communities (DfC) leads on social security policy in Northern Ireland and regularly engages with the Department for Work and Pensions on matters like policy development, planned legislative changes, alignment of computer systems and anything else affecting the social security, child maintenance and pensions landscape in Great Britain. DfC can then make decisions on whether they wish to maintain parity. The Committee may wish to note that in relation to connecting people to existing credit services, the NI Direct website offers a focused section on cost of living, providing information and advice on credit service options and childcare support available. On the issue of a child care strategy for Northern Ireland, the development of an Early Learning and Childcare Strategy for Northern Ireland has been identified as a priority by the restored Executive. Work to develop this is ongoing and will be informed by consideration of the childcare support available in other jurisdictions. The UK Government stands ready to support the Northern Ireland Civil Service by sharing knowledge, expertise and examples of good practice elsewhere in the UK.