Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 97
97
Acknowledged
We heard evidence from various stakeholders that this amount of money was not adequate to...
Conclusion
We heard evidence from various stakeholders that this amount of money was not adequate to ensure that claimants remain out of poverty and pay their essential bills. The Trussell Trust told us that ‘benefit issues and low benefit income are a reason behind four in five visits to food banks in the Trussell Trust network’.234 Polly Jones of The Trussell Trust said they have ‘seen a 30% increase in food parcels in areas where Universal Credit has been rolled out in the local authority, so there is a strong correlation between Universal Credit and demand for food parcels.’235 David Eiser from The Fraser of Allander Institute described the UK’s out of work and low-income benefit rates as ‘pretty meagre on many measures’236 in comparison to other countries.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges concerns about Universal Credit's adequacy by highlighting its role as a vital safety net during the pandemic and reaffirming its focus on employment initiatives to reduce poverty.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 19 November 2021. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗