Peers call for universal credit boost to be made permanent

Committee says 20 a week increase should stay and ministers need to wake up' on unemployment

A Lords committee has urged the government to make permanent an increase in the value of universal credit benefits to address poverty and job losses triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a report calling for a new deal" for jobs to prevent a surge in unemployment next year, the Lords economic affairs committee said there was an urgent need to reform the benefits system and make additional plans for job creation.