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MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and ‘survival sex’
A cross-party group of MPs is set to investigate the possible link between Universal Credit and so-called ‘survival sex’.
The Work and Pensions Select Committee is calling for evidence about the government’s flagship benefit programme and its link to women selling sex to meet their basic survival needs, such as food and shelter.
It said it has decided to launch the investigation as part of its ongoing Universal Credit inquiry and in response to news reports that increasing numbers of people are becoming involved in survival sex as a direct result of welfare reforms.
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Frank Field, chair of the committee, said: “We have heard sufficient evidence, and are sufficiently worried, to launch this inquiry to begin to establish what lies behind the shocking reports of people being forced to exchange sex to meet survival needs.
“This is an investigation, and we do not yet know what we will uncover.
“But if the evidence points to a direct link between this kind of survival sex and the administrative failures of Universal Credit, ministers cannot fail to act.”
Changing Lives, a charity that helps women working in prostitution, defines survival sex as women “regularly [exchanging] sex to meet survival needs, monetary or otherwise”.
Professor Philip Alston, the UN’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, described meeting people who “have sold sex for money or shelter” in his recent report on extreme poverty in the UK.
Universal Credit replaces six benefits with a monthly lump payment.
It has been blamed by many organisations for leading to a rise in food bank use and debt among claimants.
Around 1.6 million people in the UK currently claim Universal Credit, while another three million are due to be switched over from legacy benefits by the end of 2023.
The committee has asked for responses to the following questions by 29 April:
- What features of Universal Credit might drive people into ‘survival sex’? How does Universal Credit compare to the previous benefits system in this respect?
- How widespread is this problem? To what extent are any increases in prevalence directly attributable to Universal Credit?
- Are some claimants at particular risk of turning to ‘survival sex’? If so, who are they and what are the risk factors?
- What changes to Universal Credit could help tackle this problem and better protect claimants?
- What role should Jobcentre Plus play in supporting claimants who are involved in ‘survival sex’ or sex work more widely?
