Cabinet Reshuffle: What Does It Mean For Housing?

Sajid Javid has kept his job and is now Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG). Housing already fell under the department’s remit, but reshuffle rumours predicted the position of housing minister would be promoted to a full cabinet post. CLG has seen its social care remit shifted to the Department of Health. David Gauke has been moved from the DWP to the Ministry of Justice with Esther McVey becoming Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Dominic Raab is the new housing minister, moving over from the Ministry of Justice where he had been a junior minister since 2015. Alok Sharma will now take up a minister for employment role in the DWP. Read more on the RLA website.

‘Small Print’ Reveals Reality Behind UC Budget Offer

Small print shows the budget’s Universal Credit concession of a two-week extension of housing benefit to reduce rent arrears won’t happen till April. And the seven-day waiting period for an advance payment isn’t going to start until February. In the Commons, work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, did little to ease fears of a Christmas crisis for new UC claimants. Amid continued attacks on critics of UC, Gauke confirmed what had been outlined for UC in the budget – then drew attention to timings. Read more on 24housing.

Gauke Announces Universal Credit Phone Line Will Be Free

David Gauke has told the DWP Committee the phone line for claimants of Universal Credit is now free. The phone line was one of the aspects of Universal Credit that Jeremy Corbyn picked up on in PMQs, with pressure growing from there. The phone lines previously were 55p per minute, with some critics saying they were at premium levels. Gauke opened the evidence session in the DWP committee, saying: “There has been criticism over the telephone calls. Contrary to some reports these are not premium lines and DWP does not make a profit from it. However, this telephone line is now going to be free to call.” Read more on 24housing.

Work And Pensions Committee Calls For More Detail On UC Changes

The chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee has asked how the government will decide if a Universal Credit claimant is in “immediate need” for a same-day payment. Labour MP Frank Field has written to David Gauke, secretary of state for work and pensions, following his speech at the Conservative Party conference where he said that claimants in “immediate need” will be able to receive a same-day payment to cover their living costs before their Universal Credit payment arrives in their bank account. Read the letter on the Parliament website.

Universal Credit Rollout Going Ahead As Planned

Work and pensions secretary David Gauke has suggested that the universal credit rollout will continue despite warnings from Conservative colleagues that the social security system overhaul should be delayed. A dozen Tory MPs have raised concerns with Gauke’s department that claimants were being forced to use food banks because of the mandatory six-week wait to receive money. Speaking at a Conservative conference fringe event, Gauke gave a clear hint there would be no delay in the rollout, suggesting people needed to be more aware that they could claim emergency advance payments instead of waiting for six weeks. Read more on the Observer website.

Tory Rebellion Throws Universal Credit Reforms Into Chaos

The Government's flagship welfare reforms have been thrown into jeopardy after 12 Conservative MPs wrote a private letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary demanding a pause in the roll-out of Universal Credit. The Telegraph understands that the 12 MPs, led by Heidi Allen, have warned David Gauke not to go ahead with a planned tenfold increase in the roll-out of Universal Credit. Ministers had been expected to announce a decision on whether to accelerate the roll-out in the coming weeks but the backbench revolt risks wiping out the Tories' majority in the Commons if Labour forces a vote, throwing the whole scheme into question. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.

Gauke Signals He Will Press On With Universal Credit

The work and pensions secretary has signalled that the government will press ahead with controversial welfare changes, insisting the system of universal credit is “making work pay and transforming lives”. Responding to a letter signed by 30 Labour MPs and the Green co-leader Caroline Lucas, expressing concerns about UC and calling for its implementation to be paused, David Gauke underlined his commitment to the policy. The two-page letter suggests there is little appetite in government for softening planned changes to the welfare system in the wake of the election campaign, which saw Labour focus on the impact of austerity. Read more on the Guardian website.