Northern Ireland Assembly passes motion calling on Executive to maintain universal credit uplift for remainder of financial year

However, Communities Minister says that, while she is willing to consider proposals for mitigating cut, 'there are hard questions to be asked about where that money is to come from'

The Nothern Ireland Assembly has passed a motion calling on the Executive to maintain the universal credit uplift, which is due to end from 6 October 2021, for the remainder of the current financial year.

The motion, which was submitted by Social Democatic and Labour Party MLA Mark Durkan, proposed -

'That this Assembly recognises the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased reliance on the welfare system; notes that the £20 universal credit uplift has provided a lifeline to many low-income families; registers serious concerns about the devastating impact that its proposed removal would have at this critical juncture in the recovery period; further recognises that the removal of £20 per week from thousands of families will push more people into poverty at a time when one in four children already lives in poverty, increase reliance on food banks and increase homelessness, as well as having dire consequences for our local economy; and calls on the Minister for Communities, in the absence of action from the Westminster Government, to liaise with her Executive colleagues to retain this uplift for the remainder of this financial year, and to commit to expediting a long-term strategy to tackle the shameful levels of poverty and social deprivation across Northern Ireland, which remain among the highest in Europe.'

Introducing a debate on the motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday, Mr Durkan said that, since it is unlikely that the UK Government will change its mind about removing the uplift, despite interventions from the devolved leaders and 'outcry from just about every quarter' -

'We need to see the Communities Minister and the Executive coming together to mitigate the impact of the cut and protect people from the pain it will inevitably bring. I am convinced that action taken now, albeit lamentably late, will actually save lives.'

However, in response, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said -

'We have to be open and honest about our abilities to mitigate, yet again, another cut by the Tories. The Budget here in the North is not infinite. People know the circumstances of how we get the money: it is through a block grant. Our fiscal powers and levers are also restricted. We need a further conversation about how we can transfer more powers from Westminster to the Assembly here.'

Ms Hargey added -

'If you are serious about mitigating Tory cuts to our social security system, that is not sustainable. Let us get real. If you propose finding £110 million, plus the additional £7 million to build a system to extend the payments, because the DWP systems will stop them, from where will that money come? I am up for having that conversation and taking a proposal to the Executive. There are hard questions to be asked about where that money is to come from, however.'

Following the debate, the motion was passed unopposed.

The debate on the motion and Ms Hargey's response are available from niassembly.gov.uk