Work and Pensions Committee questions Prime Minister about lack of support for people with ‘no recourse to public funds’

Chair urges Prime Minister - who was 'clearly surprised' that such restrictions applied - to lift NRPF conditions during COVID-19 crisis

Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Stephen Timms has questioned the Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the lack of support for people with 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Writing to Mr Johnson after he gave evidence yesterday to the Liaison Committee - a Commons Select Committee made up of the other Select Committee Chairs - Mr Timms observes - 

'You were surprised to hear that people like my constituents, who have lost a substantial proportion of their income, cannot access support from the benefits system - including universal credit. Many people would surely agree with your instinct that the social security system should be there to help law-abiding people who face destitution through no fault of their own, in the midst of a global pandemic.'

Accordingly, Mr Timms asks that the Prime Minister - 

• confirm how many people in the UK have NRPF, and how many children are affected;
• confirm his agreement that support should be available quickly, including through the benefits system, for people with NRPF who would otherwise face destitution in the current crisis;
• as a matter of urgency, set out the results of the work that has been happening across government to address the issue over the past two months;
• consider lifting the NRPF conditions temporarily for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis; and
• consider bringing forward support for children whose parents have NRPF.

Commenting on his letter, Mr Timms said - 

'Our social security system should be a safety net that protects people from destitution. But for hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in the UK legally, and for their children, it offers no support at all. In the midst of a global pandemic, with so many people prevented from working through no fault of their own, there is an urgent need for Government action. For two months, Ministers have been promising to act, but we’ve seen no substantial change.

The Prime Minister was clearly surprised to hear that people in this situation can’t claim universal credit or other benefits – so I am hopeful that he will now put his foot on the accelerator and offer much needed support to people facing financial hardship.'

For more information, and a copy of Mr Timms' letter, see Chair writes to Prime Minister following Liaison Committee session from parliament.uk

Stop press (1 June 2020) - the Scottish Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has written to the Immigration Minister also urging the UK Government to provide support for people classed as having NRPF.