Reading the bill’s publication files and writing a plain-English Green Book note…
Reading the bill’s publication files and writing a plain-English Green Book note…
Proposal 4059
A Bill to Make provision to remove the two child limit on the child element of universal credit.
Appraisal prepared just now from the official papers. Next scheduled update after the next sitting or within about 24 hours.
Sponsor: Department for Work and Pensions
Open publications on bills.parliament.ukPlain-English note and Green Book five-case reading from the official papers — the heart of this page.
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In plain English
As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland.
This change will increase the amount of welfare support available to families on UC with three or more children and aims to reduce the number of children living in poverty. Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit designed to help households on low incomes with their living costs.
As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland.
Same bill, simpler words — a deeper read without the jargon.
Imagine the country is making a new rule. This one is about: As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland.. The people who would notice most are: This change will increase the amount of welfare support available to families on UC with three or more children and aims to reduce the number of children living in poverty. Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit designed to help households on low incomes with their living costs.. If it became a real law, the everyday change would be: As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland..
Green Book 2026 · 5 Case Model
As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland.
It is currently at Royal Assent in the Unassigned, sponsored by Department for Work and Pensions.
Accountability · outcome beside Green Book evidence
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 became law. The official papers we read covered most of the Green Book five cases with concrete detail. That does not prove the outcome was “right” — it means the case on paper was relatively complete for accountability scrutiny.
Strategic: As drafted the Bill will legislate on behalf of Northern Ireland to make equivalent changes which will apply in Northern Ireland.
Economic: The 2025-26 rate of child element is, for most children, £292.81 per monthly assessment period. There is also a rate of £339.00 per monthly assessment period for first children that can be found in regulation 36.
Commercial: Gap — The papers we read for this bill do not say how this would be bought, contracted or put in place.
Financial: This assumption of parity also underpins the relevant funding of the Northern Ireland Executive by HM Treasury.
Management: Section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Minister to consult one another from time to time with a view to securing, to the extent agreed, a single system of social security. (6) The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument make transitional or saving provision in connection with the coming into force of section 1 .
This is an accountability reading, not a recommendation and not a score. It does not say whether Parliament should have passed or rejected the bill. It only sets the actual parliamentary outcome beside how complete the Green Book five-case evidence was in the official papers.
These UK Acts sit in a similar policy space and are already law. Pairing uses this proposal’s official papers (and the plain-English note themes). It is not a verdict that the proposal is redundant or unnecessary.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2025-12-03
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act
Nearby policy wording to this bill. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — context only, not a verdict on whether the new bill is needed.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2025-01-08
Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024
Nearby policy wording to this bill. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — context only, not a verdict on whether the new bill is needed.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2024-08-12
Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2022
Nearby policy wording to this bill. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — context only, not a verdict on whether the new bill is needed.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2024-08-12
Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2023
Nearby policy wording to this bill. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — context only, not a verdict on whether the new bill is needed.
UK Act · Royal Assent · 2023-09-21
Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023
Nearby policy wording to this bill. Matched using wording from this bill’s official papersAlready law — context only, not a verdict on whether the new bill is needed.