MPs debate Universal Credit and welfare reform
12 September 2012 (updated on 12 September 2012)
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liam Byrne, moved an Opposition day debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday 11 September on Universal Credit and welfare reform.
Universal Credit
The motion in the name of Liam Byrne stated that "this House notes that the Universal Credit is late and over budget; recognises that there is widespread unease surrounding the implementation of the £2 billion scheme's IT system..."
The motion was defeated on a division (Ayes 230; Noes 297).
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, responded on behalf of the Government.
Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debate on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard. Also find parliamentary material on social security and pensions in the Topics and News sections.
- Parliament TV: MPs debate Universal Credit and welfare reform
- Commons Hansard: MPs debate Universal Credit and welfare reform
- Topics: Social security and pensions
- News: Social security and pensions
Opposition day debates
Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons in each session for the discussion of subjects chosen by the Opposition. Seventeen days are at the disposal of the leader of the largest opposition party to decide which topics are debated. Three days are also allocated to the other smaller opposition parties.
The Opposition generally use them to raise questions of policy and administration. Frequently, two separate subjects are debated on an opposition day.