Nursery World - MPs demand Government review its 'disrespectful' response to universal credit report

The Work and Pensions Committee says the Government's response to its report on universal credit and childcare was'dismissive, disrespectful’ and treated the committee like ‘dirt’.

The select committee, which is chaired by independent MP Frank Field, has published a follow-up report in reaction to the Government’s response to its original report on support for childcare as a barrier to work under universal credit.

By convention, the Government has two months from publication of a committee report to respond.

The Work and Pensions Committee's original report, which concluded that universal credit acts as a barrier to helping parents get into or back into work after having a child, was published in December and a Government response followed in January.

In its response, the Government said that universal credit is 'more generous than legacy benefits in the support it provides towards childcare costs'. It also refers to the Flexible Support Fund for claimaints who may be struggling with upfront childcare costs and says the ddepartment will be more flexible with parents who have 'good reason' not to report childcare costs immediately.

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