Work and Pensions Ministers were answering questions in the
Commons. Subjects covered included... Pension Protection Fund:
Former Carillion Employees Universal Credit Roll-out
Personal Independence Payments: Disability Assessment
Child Poverty: Family Indicators Jobcentres in Glasgow
Child Maintenance: Parents’ Income Increases In-work
Households Living...Request free trial
Work and Pensions Ministers were answering questions in the
Commons. Subjects covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, please click on the link or
see below.
Pension Protection Fund: Former Carillion Employees
-
(Wolverhampton South
West) (Lab)
1. What steps she is taking to ensure support for former
Carillion employees whose pensions will not be covered by
the Pension Protection Fund. [904547]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
There are 12 Carillion defined benefit schemes in a PPF
assessment period. The PPF is working with scheme
administrators to determine whether they can pay pensions
at or above PPF benefits. Where a scheme cannot do this,
the PPF will assume responsibility and pay compensation.
-
The workers in the Carillion defined contribution scheme
should not have to suffer any detriment to their pension.
Will the Government be looking to draw back bonuses paid to
the Carillion executives to put back into the pension
funds?
-
Ms McVey
As I said, the Carillion schemes are at present in the
assessment period for the funds, and we are looking at what
happened in those instances. The hon. Lady will be pleased
to know that we have brought forward our White Paper on
defined benefits and increasing the regulator’s powers to
support these schemes in the best way possible, to make
sure pensioners get those pensions that they so rightly
deserve. It is the Conservative party who will be
strengthening that for workers, to make sure we look after
such pensioners.
-
(North Wiltshire)
(Con)
Will the Secretary of State pay particular attention to
that group of public sector workers who transferred into
Carillion and are now retired, and who were covered not so
much by the PPF, because they were given ex gratia payments
rather than pensions, at the time they transferred?
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend raises an important question, and he is
right: a number of Carillion employees were compulsorily
transferred from the public sector, and we are looking at
whether they can now rejoin the public sector service
scheme. We are working hard to determine that.
-
(Edinburgh North and
Leith) (SNP)
Does the Secretary of State agree that the Carillion
pension crisis, as well as the many pensions crises over
the years, supports the Scottish National party calls for
the UK Government to urgently set up an independent savings
and pension commission to take a robust look at the
pensions landscape?
-
Ms McVey
The regulator is independent, and that is what it does:
look at pension schemes. We have, through the White Paper,
strengthened the regulator’s powers and now for the first
time brought forward criminal sanctions should any director
or employer bring into harm wilfully and neglectfully the
workers’ pension scheme.
-
(Birmingham, Erdington)
(Lab)
The catastrophic collapse of Carillion saw thousands of
workers pay the price, including with their pensions. It
was a monumental failure of governance and by Government,
who knew Carillion was sinking into difficulties and went
on awarding contracts despite profit warnings. The
Secretary of State has said before the Select Committee
that the Pensions Regulator knew about the mounting
problems in 2014; were the Government alerted and did they
chose to ignore those warnings, or did the regulator choose
to ignore them and fail to alert the Government?
-
Ms McVey
The regulator and assessors are now looking into a whole
series of issues. Fundamentally, one of them has to be how
Carillion’s books went from being a healthy balance-sheet
to, a year later, not being a healthy balance-sheet. The
auditors and accountants who had signed those books are now
being thoroughly examined to establish what happened there
before the regulator would have had to look into things, so
a lot of investigations are going on.
Universal Credit Roll-out
-
(Gloucester)
(Con)
2. What assessment she has made of the efficacy of the
roll-out of universal credit. [904548]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
Universal credit is a modern flexible benefit which
provides tailored support to claimants. Three separate
research studies show that UC is having a positive impact
on employer outcomes. The changes announced in the Budget
are giving even more support for claimants.
-
Before Christmas, many on the Opposition Benches predicted
disaster as more of our constituents claimed their benefits
through universal credit. In fact—and I believe the changes
made by the DWP have made a significant difference—the
early anecdotal evidence in Gloucestershire, from the
Jobcentre Plus and Gloucester City Homes, is that things
are moving smoothly ahead. Does my right hon. Friend agree
that this is broadly the case across the country, and that
the introduction of trusted landlords is making a
significant improvement to relationships with housing
associations, and will she do more to roll that out?
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend is correct. Three independent studies are
saying that universal credit is getting people into work
quicker, and that they are staying in work longer and also
looking for more work. He is exactly right about the
trusted partner status. The reason he has started to do
extra work with his jobcentre, looking at tenants who might
not have a roof over their head, was the false information
cited in Prime Minister’s questions by , who said that one in
eight would be evicted. That was not the case, and, as we
are seeing, people are now getting into work and their
homes are being protected.
-
Mr Speaker
I say gently to the Secretary of State that one must not
refer to other Members by name. The right hon. Member for
Islington North is the Leader of the Opposition, but he
should not be referred to by name.
-
(Birkenhead) (Lab)
I ask the Secretary of State not to give an immediate reply
to this question but to ponder it. The Secretary of State
has told me that the 98 members of jobcentre staff on
temporary contracts in Birkenhead are going to be laid off
because they have come to the end of their contract period.
Unlike Gloucester, we are having real problems with the
roll-out of universal credit. I had five cases last week,
including one involving a woman who had been reduced to
living on 7p. Might not some, if not all, of those staff be
redeployed to ensure a smooth transition from traditional
benefits to the new one?
-
Ms McVey
I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman saying that I could
speak to and work with him to see what is happening in
Birkenhead. What I know is that we on this side of the
House brought forward up to 100% advances, so that anyone
in need of money could have it. We have also stopped the
waiting days, and from April we are providing the two-week
housing payment. That is what we on this side of the House
have done to protect the most vulnerable, but the
Opposition voted against it.
-
(North Warwickshire)
(Con)
23. I recently visited jobcentre staff in Bedworth to see
how universal credit was helping my constituents. I was
delighted to hear of encouraging examples of success,
including one claimant who had been helped into work within
weeks. Under the previous system, she would have waited
months to get the same help. Does this not show that
universal credit is acting faster to transform lives?
[904569]
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend is correct, and I want to thank him for
going to meet people at his Jobcentre Plus and for speaking
to the dedicated work coaches who are working tirelessly to
help people to get into work. These are the tales that I am
hearing. Universal credit is an in-work and out-of-work
benefit. We are about getting people into a job and then
helping them with progression, so that they can get into a
job and have a career and also have job progression. That
is why we have over 3 million more people in work.
-
(Newcastle upon Tyne
Central) (Lab)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
This question is not dissimilar to that tabled by the hon.
Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah), and
she should have her opportunity now, because we will
probably not reach her question later.
-
(Newcastle upon Tyne
Central) (Lab)
18. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to
tell the Secretary of State that in three of the eight
wards in my constituency, child poverty is at over 50%.
Universal credit has only just started to be rolled out,
and it will only make things worse. Her Government are also
going to take away free school meals—[Interruption.] In the
future, there will not be the access to free school meals
that there is now. What is the level of child poverty that
she is willing to support? [904564]
-
Ms McVey
We have had this debate before, and this has been corrected
many times. Actually, 50,000 more children are going to
have free school meals. These scaremongering stories are
not true at all. Let us look at what is happening. We now
have 1 million fewer people in absolute poverty—a record
low. We now have 300,000 fewer children in absolute
poverty—a new record low. There are also 500,000 fewer
working-age adults in absolute poverty—a record low. This
Government are about helping people to get into work, which
is the first step they can take towards taking control of
their life. From there, they can have career progression.
-
(Horsham) (Con)
I commend my right hon. Friend for the roll-out of
universal credit. How does that compare with the debacle
that was the implementation of tax credits under a previous
Government?
-
Mr Speaker
Order. No dilation is required. A pithy encapsulation of
what the Secretary of State regards as her personal triumph
is one thing, but a lengthy denigration of the policies of
the previous Government would be another.
-
Ms McVey
Universal credit is working, and it had to be put in place,
in part because the Opposition’s tax credits were a
failure.
-
Mr Speaker
Very fleet of foot.
Personal Independence Payments: Disability Assessment
-
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
3. If she will take steps to ensure that personal
independence payments claimants who have been diagnosed
with degenerative medical conditions do not have to
undertake a disability assessment. [904549]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
Assessments are important, so that people who need support
receive the right level. Where there is enough existing
evidence to determine benefit entitlement, claimants do not
need a face-to-face assessment. We are committed to
continuously improving PIP, so that those with degenerative
diseases get the support they need in a timely fashion.
-
People with degenerative neurological conditions, such as
motor neurone disease, are still being called for PIP
assessments, which is degrading and causes much distress.
Will the Minister therefore ensure that the practice ends
immediately, so that people’s dignity can be restored?
-
PIP is working, and it is working well for all people with
disabilities, including those with degenerative conditions.
The reality is that 89% of claimants with motor neurone
disease are on the enhanced rate of daily living and 90%
are on the enhanced rate of mobility. That compares with
52% on the higher rate of care and 89% on higher rate
mobility under the disability living allowance, the
predecessor benefit.
-
(Morley and Outwood)
(Con)
Last week, I hosted a pensioner and senior citizens’ fair
in Morley and Wrenthorpe. At the event, a gentleman with
Parkinson’s disease told me that he had to reapply for PIP
every two to three years, which caused him great distress.
What are the Government doing to ensure that claimants with
degenerative conditions such as that do not have to go
through any unnecessary stress?
-
It is absolutely right that we would like to make decisions
without face-to-face assessments where possible. Where
there is medical information, we do not ask people for such
assessments. Of course, how often we ask people for
reassessments is down to the healthcare professional, so
sometimes people are not asked for a long period of time.
-
(Kingston upon Hull West
and Hessle) (Lab)
Several constituents who are claiming both employment and
support allowance and PIP have told me that the application
forms are difficult to complete. The forms ask for a lot of
the same information and are completed exclusively by some
of the most vulnerable in our society. Anyone would think
that the Government wanted to make the process and the
forms unnecessarily complicated and difficult. Why not make
the forms easier to understand and allow applicants to be
considered for both benefits with one form?
-
We work very hard with stakeholders. Our forms are
co-designed by disabled people and those who support
disabled people, and I am grateful for the efforts to which
they go to work with us. It is well worth noting the
relatively high levels of satisfaction with the application
process, but we are of course always looking for ways to
improve things.
-
(North Dorset)
(Con)
I welcome the Department using a collaborative approach
with stakeholders and healthcare professionals to ensure
that reassessments for severe conditions are as simple as
possible. Will my hon. Friend continue to work with those
stakeholders, who are often experts in their field, to
improve the assessment process, particularly for conditions
such as MS?
-
My hon. Friend makes a good point about how closely we work
with disabled people and stakeholders. He makes particular
reference to the severe conditions work that we have
implemented for ESA claimants, where we have worked with
stakeholders to design a new process, so that the most
poorly and vulnerable people have a personal, tailor-made
process.
Child Poverty: Family Indicators
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
Good morning, Mr Speaker. [Interruption.] The Government
are committed to action that improves children’s long-term
outcomes by tackling the root causes of poverty and
disadvantage. In April 2017, we published nine indicators
that track progress in tackling the disadvantages that can
affect families and children, and we aim to update them
annually. The next publication is due shortly.
-
Mr Speaker
Order. Members should not chortle; the Minister is a
courteous fellow and should be respected.
-
Given the huge costs financially and socially of family
breakdown to people both in and out of work, what is the
Minister doing to improve the family indices across society
and to reduce family instability?
-
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his constant and vigorous
campaigning on the issue, and particularly on the
importance he attaches to fatherhood and family stability.
The Government agree with him about that, and a number of
programmes are designed to move the dial on the nine
indicators that we have published. For example, alongside
the fight against worklessness and the troubled families
programme, we are specifically investing £39 million in a
programme to reduce parental conflict and increase family
stability.
-
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Minister may be in a bit of a time warp this morning,
but is the Secretary of State on a different planet from
the Children’s Commissioner for England? Will she talk to
the Children’s Commissioner about child poverty in our
country and look at this morning’s report, which links
child poverty and low educational expectations? Get on with
it, man!
-
As the hon. Gentleman will know, all hon. Members should be
engaged in the battle against poverty. We in particular
have chosen to take a different approach. Pleasingly, the
Children’s Commissioner has identified that low educational
attainment is critical to the future employment and
economic prospects of all children. That is why we are
focused on it as one of the two planks of Government policy
on the matter, why we have concentrated so hard and why we
are so pleased that so many more children are going to good
and excellent schools.
-
(North West
Leicestershire) (Con)
22. The latest figures for the east midlands show that just
over 106,000 of children in poverty are in workless
households. That is down 23,000 since 2010. Although there
is much more to do, does my hon. Friend agree that jobs
created under this Government are transforming the lives of
the most vulnerable in our society? [904568]
-
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and is a renowned
champion of those in poverty in his constituency. It is
interesting to note that nearly three quarters of children
in poverty move out of poverty when their parents move into
full-time work. We must capture and use that in our
constant fight against poverty.
-
(North Ayrshire and
Arran) (SNP)
17. Two thirds of children in poverty live in a household
where at least one parent works. New analysis shows that
child poverty will increase dramatically by 2030, with the
main reason cited as UK Government cuts. Will the Secretary
of State come to my constituency to see for herself the
devastating effects of her Government’s cuts, which already
have an impact on too many children in North Ayrshire and
Arran? [904563]
-
I have seen reports of the new analysis this morning and,
obviously, we are more than willing to have a look.
However, such reports—there have been several in the past
few weeks—tend to accept in the small print that
forecasting poverty in the future is a very inexact science
and often leads to odd results, not least because they
often do not take behavioural change into account. The
whole thrust of the Government’s welfare reforms has been
not just to ensure that we get assistance and money to
people efficaciously, but to effect behavioural change
because we know that accessing work is by far and away our
most potent tool in the fight against poverty.
-
(Havant) (Con)
School breakfast clubs play a key role in tackling child
poverty, including helping parents get to work. Will my
hon. Friend join me in welcoming the announcement last week
of £26 million investment in school breakfast clubs and
commit the Department to supporting them across the
country?
-
Absolutely. My hon. Friend is a doughty champion of school
breakfast clubs and has established one in his
constituency. He is on the right lines and we support him
in his efforts.
-
Dr (Ealing Central and Acton)
(Lab)
16. Last week, figures from the Equality and Human Rights
Commission showed that child poverty among single-parent
families is predicted to rise from the current figure of
37% to 62%. In the same week, the new all-party
parliamentary group on single parent families followed
Ronald Reagan’s lead in 1984 and held a UK Single Parents’
Day for the first time. Will the Minister please unfreeze
the benefits cap so that the figures I cited are not
realised? Will he or his boss—either would be
welcome—address our APPG at the first opportunity? [904562]
-
There is no question of unfreezing the benefit cap because
it is encapsulated in primary legislation. It might be
interesting for the hon. Lady to know that, in the year
after the benefit cap was imposed, 100,000 children moved
out of poverty altogether. I am surprised that she has not
welcomed the news that was announced last week that, as the
Secretary of State said, more than 1 million people have
moved out of absolute poverty. That shows the greater
usefulness of the absolute poverty indicator compared with
those for relative poverty, which the EHRC used in its
report.
-
(Airdrie and Shotts)
(SNP)
Today, we have learned from independent analysis from the
Scottish Government the full impact of the UK Government’s
cuts on levels of child poverty. Later this week, the
Scottish Government will be publishing their plans to do
what they can, using the limited powers of the Parliament
up the road, to address this looming crisis, but what are
this Government doing to address child poverty?
-
As I outlined in my earlier answers, this Government
believe that the two routes out of poverty are education
and work. We have seen, in essence, a jobs miracle in this
country over the past few years, with millions of people
moving into work since 2010. It is absolutely the case that
children in workless households achieve less, have less
good welfare and have more mental health problems, so
moving people into work is critical. I have seen reports in
the media of the evidence the Scottish Government have
brought forward this morning, and we will look at it
carefully. I am always aware that one foundation of
nationalism is to blame everyone else for problems, and I
look forward to seeing the Scottish National party’s
proposals in Scotland and whether they will actually work.
-
Of course we know that 68% of children living in poverty do
so in working households, so the Minister’s rhetoric simply
does not match the reality. We also know from the research
today that the root cause of child poverty and its
predicted rise comes directly from the cuts to the reserved
benefits in respect of the benefit freeze and the two-child
limit. So when will his Government face up to reality and
act to stop children being hungry, because everyone knows
that it is this Government’s responsibility?
-
This Government have moved heaven and earth to help those
on lower incomes: with the introduction of the national
living wage, they have had the fastest pay rise in 20
years; we have taken millions out of paying tax altogether
with the rise in the personal allowance; and we have given
parents up to £5,000 of assistance by increasing their
access to free childcare up to 30 hours a week. There is an
enormous amount done, but an awful lot still to do. As I
say, we have yet to see any concrete proposals from the SNP
on its much-vaunted plans to deal with poverty in its own
patch, and we look forward to seeing them.
Jobcentres in Glasgow
-
Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)
5. What plans her Department has for the future of
jobcentres in Glasgow. [904551]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
There are no current plans to revisit the announced
jobcentre provision in Glasgow. Doubtless the hon.
Gentleman will welcome the 1,000 jobs a day created in this
country since 2010 and the fact that the claimant count in
his constituency has gone down by 50% since then.
-
Stewart Malcolm McDonald
Let me bring the Minister back to the nature of the
question by asking whether he can answer something else. On
5 February, I asked the Minister for Employment for all the
impact assessments done on the closure programme. I did so
through a freedom of information request, as he suggested
on 12 February. On 23 February, he told me that it would
take too much time and cost too much money to provide me
with all those things. So will today’s Minister drop the
diplomatic and bureaucratic flannel, publish every impact
assessment and get them in the post to Glasgow Members of
Parliament?
-
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I will
take it up with him after this debate; I will be delighted
to sit down with him and be clear on that matter. The
Minister for Employment is at the G7 in Canada, so he
cannot answer that point, but we will take it up.
Child Maintenance: Parents’ Income Increases
-
(Warwick and
Leamington) (Lab)
6. Whether her Department has made an assessment of the
potential merits of introducing a legal obligation on
parents paying child maintenance to report increases in
their income. [904552]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
Such an obligation already exists.
-
If that is the case, can the Minister explain what the lead
time is in respect of someone having to declare that change
in income? What would be recommended—for example, would it
be one month or two months?
-
Paying parents who are in the Child Maintenance Service
must declare changes in income immediately if they vary by
more than 25% of the previously declared level. Of course
every paying parent is subject to an annual review, where
adjustments are made to the payments if required.
-
Mr (Nuneaton) (Con)
25. I have recently spoken to several parents in my
constituency who are not receiving child maintenance
payments because former partners are not declaring all
their income, despite apparently having lifestyles that
would enable them to contribute. What more can the Minister
do to make sure that people are contributing properly to
looking after their own children? [904571]
-
My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. As he
may know, we have just finished a consultation on what
greater powers we can take to ensure proper and efficient
recovery for those in receipt of support. We are looking at
a series of measures, not least integrating our information
systems much more closely with those of Her Majesty’s
Revenue and Customs, so that we have a fuller picture of
people’s income. We will be looking at proposals to make
estimates of unearned income and, indeed, imputing income
from asset values for those who attempt to conceal their
income but still hold very significant assets. In the final
analysis, we may well take powers, depending on the results
of the consultation, to deny people a passport—and remove
their passport—if they refuse to pay.
In-work Households Living in Poverty
-
(Crewe and Nantwich)
(Lab)
7. What assessment she has made of trends in the number of
in-work households living in poverty. [904553]
-
Mr (Coventry South)
(Lab)
10. What assessment she has made of trends in the number of
in-work households living in poverty. [904556]
-
(Portsmouth South)
(Lab)
24. What assessment she has made of trends in the numbers
of in-work households living in poverty. [904570]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
As Members would expect, we make constant assessments of
the level of poverty in the UK, given that our primary
purpose as a Department is to stimulate and support social
mobility and give people the tools and assistance to build
a better life. There are 1 million fewer people living in
absolute poverty since 2010, and working families are
around four times less likely to be in relative poverty
than working-age adults in workless families.
-
Even though they are in work, many families in my
constituency of Crewe and Nantwich are struggling to feed
their children. That suggests that work is no longer an
escape route out of poverty. The Institute for Fiscal
Studies predicts that child poverty will increase from the
4.1 million recorded in the Government’s latest figures to
5.2 million by 2022. The Government originally claimed that
universal credit could lift 350,000 children out of
poverty. How many children do they now expect to lift out
of poverty, and by when?
-
I hope that no one in the House is complacent about
poverty, particularly child poverty. As I said in answer to
earlier questions, and as my right hon. Friend the
Secretary of State has said, we are entirely focused as a
Department on doing what we can to try to deal with these
issues, but they are complex and deep-seated, so the
solutions will be, too. Having said that, we believe that
there are two primary causes and two primary solutions, the
first of which is work and the second education. We are
throwing everything we have at that to try to improve
things. If we look back at the results thus far, we see 1
million fewer people in absolute poverty, 300,000 fewer
children in absolute poverty since 2010, and half a million
fewer working-age adults and 100,000 fewer working-age lone
parents in absolute poverty since 2010.
-
Mr Speaker
The copious character of the briefing is in one sense very
impressive, but unfortunately exceeds the time available
for its delivery.
-
Mr Cunningham
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to
a stalwart in Coventry who for many years helped the
homeless. started the Coventry Open
Christmas shelter in 1992 to provide warmth, food and
shelter. His funeral was today. The shelter started as a
one-night one-off and developed into a long-running
campaign. It helps hundreds of homeless people in Coventry
every year. helped to ensure that
those who were lonely and hungry had somewhere warm and
friendly to go. He will be sorely missed in Coventry.
Now for my question: will the Government look into ending
the freeze on children’s benefits, lift the two-child limit
on tax credit and fix universal credit to help to lift
in-work households out of poverty?
-
May I, too, salute the hon. Gentleman’s constituent? I did
not know him, but he sounds like a remarkable man. I am
sure he will be missed by those who loved and knew him.
The hon. Gentleman asked about the two-child limit. In our
welfare reforms, we have tried to establish for those who
require assistance through the welfare system the same
choices that are made by those who do not have that kind of
assistance. Having said that, we have ensured that nobody
who currently has more than one child will suffer, and of
course all children will continue to receive child benefit,
irrespective of their status.
-
As we have already heard, the majority of children living
in poverty live in households in which at least one person
works, so why does the Minister refuse to end the freeze on
the majority of in-work social security support and to
provide the support that working families so desperately
need?
-
We believe that the solution for working families is
universal credit and that people should take control of
their own lives and work hard so that they can build a life
for themselves and their families. That is exactly what we
are trying to achieve through our welfare reforms.
-
Sir (New Forest West)
(Con)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
New Forest West brevity now, to be copied by others
afterwards.
-
Sir
Is there evidence that in-work benefits depress wages?
-
My right hon. Friend raises an interesting point. A fair
amount of analysis of that idea is currently going on. As
soon as we have a conclusion, we will let him know.
-
(Redditch) (Con)
Will the Minister confirm what he and the Government think
is the most useful measure of poverty? Is it absolute or
relative poverty, and can he tell us why?
-
My hon. Friend displays her normal mental acuity in putting
her finger on the point here. She is completely right:
relative poverty is a poor indicator of how people are
faring. For example, if everybody’s wages were to double
overnight tonight, absolute poverty would plummet, but
relative poverty would stay exactly the same.
-
(Mid Dorset and
North Poole) (Con)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: using relative poverty
produces perverse results. What is he doing about it and
what is a better measure?
-
My hon. Friend made a remarkably good speech about this
just a week or so ago, and I congratulate him on his
foresight. He is absolutely right: relative poverty as
currently measured suggests that there are quite a lot of
poor people in Monte Carlo, which, of course, is not an
intuitive picture that people would have. As a Department,
we are looking at other measures. We believe that absolute
poverty, which currently stands at an all-time low, is a
better indicator. Of course material deprivation, which
asks specific questions about how people live, holds some
promise as an indicator that the public might appreciate.
-
(Wirral West)
(Lab)
I am disappointed to hear the Minister be so facetious
about a subject as important as child poverty. At the last
count, 72% of households whose benefits were capped were
those of lone parents and 77% of those lone parents had a
child under five. They can escape the cap by working at
least 16 hours a week, but are then hit by the cuts to work
allowances in universal credit, which trap many in poverty.
According to Government figures released last week, more
than half a million children are currently in poverty in
lone-parent families where their parent—usually the
mother—is either in full or part-time work. If the
Government really believe in making work pay, will they
reverse the cuts to work allowances?
-
I know that the hon. Lady likes to present herself as some
kind of latter-day mahatma and as the only person in this
House who cares about poverty, but, of course, that is not
true. Many of us—as councillors, voluntary workers, social
workers and so on—have spent many years fighting poverty,
so it would be helpful to the general tone of debate in
this House if she were not quite so accusatory. Our view,
and the Office for National Statistics points this out, is
that 100,000 fewer work-age lone parents are now in poverty
and that their biggest problem—the biggest thing that
assails them—is childcare. The 85% payment for childcare
under universal credit and the increase in availability to
30 hours will give the greatest assistance to lone parents.
Personal Independence Payment Claims Review
-
(Cardiff South and
Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)
8. What progress has been made on the Government’s review
of personal independence payment claims; and if she will
make a statement. [904554]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
The exercise to identify claimants affected by the MH
judgment will start as soon as we have made the changes to
the guidance needed to implement the judgment. We are
currently engaging with stakeholders to design these
changes. Of course, I will continue to regularly update the
House.
-
Earlier on, the Minister said that the personal
independence payment was working. Well, of course, if it
was working, the Government would not have lost the High
Court case in the first place. These delays are simply
unacceptable. Why are so many of my constituents still
telling me that they are being biased against when they
have mental conditions or the degenerative conditions
mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for York Central
(Rachael Maskell)? Why are veterans coming to me to express
serious concerns about their own employment and support
allowance and PIP assessments, and what will she do about
that?
-
We will implement the judgment in full, but it is really
important that we continue our work with stakeholders to
get this right. We are working at pace to make those
changes. On the general points that the hon. Gentleman
makes, we are utterly committed to making sure that, with
PIP and ESA, people have a good claimant experience, and we
are regularly implementing changes.
-
(Rugby) (Con)
I recently visited the local centre at Cofa Court in
Coventry where PIP assessments take place and saw the
process. Will the Minister confirm that assessments are
always based on what claimants are able to do and that they
are always carried out by a medical practitioner?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for taking the
time and trouble actually to visit the centre where the
assessments are taking place. If more Members in this House
were to do that, they would be better informed about the
reality of the process. It is absolutely right that the
assessments are undertaken by properly qualified medical
professionals.
-
(Battersea)
(Lab)
As well as the gross failings of the personal independence
payment, we see another Government failure with the
employment and support allowance underpayments where an
estimated 70,000 sick and disabled people were incorrectly
assessed and denied vital social security support. Will the
Minister update the House on the progress that she is
making in arranging to identify and to backdate awards to
those former incapacity benefit and severe disablement
allowance claimants?
-
I am delighted to be able to update the House on this
important exercise. Back in August last year, the first
payments went out to people who had been identified as
underpaid. We are making really good progress with
identifying other claimants who will benefit from the
additional payments, and we have recruited up to 400 new
members of staff, so that we can carry on our work
delivering these payments.
-
How is the Department prioritising ESA claimants underpaid
as a result of incorrect assessments, aside from those with
terminal illnesses and conditions? Will the Minister
confirm that claimants who were victims of underpayment
will not be subject to reduced ESA eligibility due to lump
sum payments being classed as savings?
-
On the first point, I assure the hon. Lady that we are
working closely with our stakeholders. I am grateful to the
disabled people and the organisations who are working with
me and my colleagues in the Department to ensure that we
are contacting the underpaid people who will most benefit
from receiving these payments. On the second point, there
are proper practices and procedures within the Department
for Work and Pensions to ensure that lump-sum payments are
not taken into consideration as people’s capital
allowances. I have made a detailed statement to the House
but if the hon. Lady would like to raise specific questions
with me, I suggest that she bring them along to our meeting
on 19 April.
Cold-Calling: Pension Fund Transfers
-
Mr (Yeovil) (Con)
9. What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on prohibiting cold-calling in relation to
pension fund transfers. [904555]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
The Secretary of State, Treasury Ministers and I hold
regular discussions on this topic as part of our work on
the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill, which spans both
Departments’ policy areas.
-
Mr Fysh
Given the importance of pensions and the many changes that
have occurred under successive Governments, what proactive
steps can the Department take now to ensure that my
constituents and others are kept up to date and informed
about their own pensions and the options available to them?
-
Pensions guidance is a vital part of the work that the
Government are doing. We are committed to ensuring that
people have access to the information and guidance that
they need to make effective financial decisions. My hon.
Friend will be aware that we are debating the Financial
Guidance and Claims Bill in the House tomorrow. I urge him
to come and listen to the positive developments in that
Bill.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
No time for preamble, I am afraid, as we have a lot to get
through and we are running late. A short sentence—.
-
(Birmingham, Erdington)
(Lab)
The Port Talbot shift supervisor wept as he told the story
of how he had been conned out of his pension, and that 20
people on his shift had followed his lead. The ban on
pensions cold-calling is welcome, but will the Minister go
further to ensure that it is for the Financial Conduct
Authority, not just the Information Commissioner, to play a
role in enforcement, so that those who act disreputably
using information obtained through cold-calling are struck
off and can never practise again?
-
I will answer this question in detail tomorrow, when I have
more time. Anyone considering transferring their pension
should speak to the Pensions Advisory Service.
-
(New Forest East)
(Con)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
The good doctor is a clever bloke; I am sure that he can
blurt it out in a sentence.
-
Dr Lewis
Does the Minister agree that people who use cold-calling to
cheat others out of their pensions are the lowest form of
pond life, and will he arrange for criminal sanctions to be
visited upon them?
-
Yes, yes and Project Bloom, a City of London police
operation to ensure that we stop scammers, has brought many
prosecutions—pending and future.
Disability Confident Scheme
-
(North Cornwall)
(Con)
11. What progress her Department has made on the
implementation of the disability confident scheme. [904557]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
I am pleased that there are 600,000 more disabled people in
work than four years ago. Disability confident employers
are contributing to the thousands more jobs that we have
created every week since 2010. There are now just under
6,000 employers signed up to the disability confident
scheme. I am delighted that all Departments have achieved
disability confident leader status.
-
Seasalt is a fantastic, disability confident business in
Cornwall. It is a great Cornish fashion and home hardware
business that employs over 500 people. What more can be
done to encourage more Cornish companies to take on this
fantastic scheme?
-
My hon. Friend truly is a champion for his constituents. I
am very proud of the terrific Falmouth-based company,
Seasalt, which has a shop in his constituency and produces
fantastic products. The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly local
enterprise partnership is working with local businesses and
agencies as part of the Government’s strategic work and
health unit, so that we can ensure that more companies of
all sizes become disability confident.
Universal Support
-
(Brentwood and Ongar)
(Con)
12. What progress her Department is making on implementing
universal support. [904558]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
Funding has been agreed for local authorities to implement
universal support to help claimants with transition to
universal credit. That partnership working is fundamental
to the successful implementation of universal credit, which
is of course part of the 1,000 jobs a day that we have seen
under this Government since 2010.
-
Will the Minister ensure that as universal support is
rolled out, it helps people to overcome the two most
pernicious barriers to work—addiction and mental health
problems?
-
I agree that it is vital to ensure that people can overcome
the barriers to work, including mental health problems and
addiction. We are already investing in the skills and
capability of the work coaches, but we have also trained
1,800 universal credit work coaches in how to support
claimants with specific mental health issues.
Poverty: Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016
-
(Glasgow North)
(SNP)
13. What assessment she has made of the effect of the
Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 on levels of poverty.
[904559]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
Impact assessments of policies in the Act were published in
2015. Evidence shows that work is the best route out of
poverty. The welfare reforms are designed to incentivise
people to make the choice to move into work and to give
them the tools and assistance to progress.
-
Does the Minister agree with his colleagues in Westminster
Hall last week who were still trying to blame the financial
crash of 10 years ago in making it a justification for
these reforms? Will he finally admit that the reforms are
in fact an ideological smash and grab on the poorest in
society by a Government obsessed with rolling back the size
of the state?
-
One of the really disappointing things about the debate on
welfare and benefit reform in this place has been the
persistent defence of the old benefits system, which was
effectively a fraud perpetrated on the poor designed to
trap them into being so. I would have hoped that the hon.
Gentleman would welcome the fact that in the three years to
2016-17 the number of children living in poverty in
Scotland was down by 24% compared with the three years to
2009-10, with relative poverty down in the same period too.
-
(Lichfield)
(Con)
With unemployment soaring at 9.3% in France and 11% in
Italy but only at 4.3% in the UK, does my hon. Friend agree
that one of the best ways of staying out of poverty is
getting a good, educated job?
-
My hon. Friend is exactly right—[Interruption.]
-
Mr Speaker
Order. The Minister is treating us to a combination of his
intellect and his eloquence, and his ministerial colleague,
the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), is engaging in a
rather undignified finger-wagging exercise with the hon.
Member for Blyth Valley (Mr Campbell). It is very unseemly
and very unfair on the cerebral Minister at the Dispatch
Box. Mr Opperman, Mr Campbell: calm yourselves. Take some
sort of soothing medicament and you will feel better.
-
My hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant)
is exactly right. Time and again when we visit Jobcentre
Pluses—I would recommend that people do so—we hear
heartwarming, encouraging and inspiring stories of people
who have got themselves out of poverty by working and being
educated and trying hard. Our entire objective is to give
them the tools and assistance to do so.
Job Vacancy Trends
-
(South Basildon and
East Thurrock) (Con)
14. What recent assessment she has made of trends in the
number of job vacancies. [904560]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
On average, more than 1,000 people have been employed every
day since 2010. There are 816,000 vacancies—a rise of
10,000 since the last quarter and 56,000 since a year ago.
-
I thank my right hon. Friend for her excellent and
informative answer. However, to make sure that the
vacancies get filled, we need to link up jobseekers with
those vacancies. What action is she taking to ensure that
people know what opportunities are out there for them?
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend is correct. This Government have brought
forward new schemes like work experience, sector-based work
academies and support for childcare to enable people who
are job-seeking to go for those jobs. Universal credit,
which is an in-work and out-of-work benefit, is giving that
extra support. Let me just say this: BT Openreach, 3,500
new jobs across the country; UPS, 1,000 jobs in the east
midlands; Siemens, 700 skilled jobs in Yorkshire; and
Toyota, 3,000 jobs in Derby and Wales. That is what this
Government are doing in supporting those people into those
jobs.
-
(High Peak) (Lab)
Ministers have repeatedly said this afternoon that the best
way out of poverty is through work and education, so why
have they introduced the limit on free school meals under
universal credit, which is a work disincentive and will
prevent more than 1 million children in poverty from
receiving free school meals and the educational achievement
they deserve to get out of poverty?
-
Ms McVey
The Opposition have been putting across fake news, or maybe
it is clumsy research or just misinformation. Even “Channel
4 News” had to put up a factsheet correcting what the
Opposition are saying. Some 50,000 more children will be
getting free school meals. We are helping those who need
support, with not only childcare but free school meals and
progression in work. Please listen and learn.
Eligibility Threshold for Free School Meals
-
(Sheffield Central)
(Lab)
15. What assessment she has made of the effect on levels of
in-work poverty of changes to the eligibility threshold for
free school meals for households in receipt of social
security benefits. [904561]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
An estimated 50,000 more children will benefit from a
taxpayer-funded free school meal by 2022 under universal
credit. I will repeat that: 50,000 more children will get a
free school meal. We are already ensuring that all existing
children receiving free school meals will continue to
receive them until roll-out or that phase of education is
complete.
-
There clearly is a serious mismatch between the Secretary
of State’s figures and those published by the highly
respected Children’s Society, which tells me that 7,000
children will lose out in Sheffield alone. Will she
undertake to publish the basis on which she has calculated
those figures?
-
Ms McVey
The Department for Education will be doing that. Sometimes
charities are given the wrong information and therefore say
the wrong information, having been led astray by Opposition
Members. The Opposition voted against those free school
meals. They voted against the removal of waiting days. They
voted against advances of up to 100%, and they voted
against two weeks of housing benefit support for the most
vulnerable people in society. Shame on you.
Topical Questions
-
Mrs (Washington and
Sunderland West) (Lab)
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities. [904572]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
We are pleased with the progress we have made on the
roll-out of universal credit, which is now live in 250
jobcentres. Universal credit is a modern, flexible benefit
that helps people move into work and, importantly, progress
in work through tailored support from dedicated work
coaches.
-
Mrs Hodgson
The Department is always quick to act in cases of
overpayment and sanction claimants for any breach of rules,
yet an investigation by the National Audit Office revealed
that the Department has underpaid an estimated 70,000
people over the last seven years. What will the Department
do to ensure that those who have been left out of pocket
are repaid the money they are entitled to as soon as
possible?
-
Ms McVey
When we have, or if we have ever, underpaid people, we will
support them, make sure that it is correct and pay them
back.
-
(North Cornwall)
(Con)
T4. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the new support
for mortgage interest scheme has been specifically designed
to maintain people in their homes and that none of my
constituents should be concerned about the day-to-day
payments on their mortgages? [904575]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
My hon. Friend raises an important point, not least because
we are approaching the deadline for the switchover of SMI
from a benefit to a loan. He is absolutely right—this
change is specifically designed to keep people in their
homes. I urge people to ignore the scare stories being put
around, look at the paperwork, take the phone call that has
been made and ensure they make a good decision in time.
-
(Wirral West)
(Lab)
Had the Secretary of State read the full article that she
refers to on Channel 4’s FactCheck, she would have seen
that it said that our numbers were in fact correct.
-
Ms McVey
indicated dissent.
-
Well, it did. I recommend that the Secretary of State
rereads it.
In less than two weeks’ time, support for mortgage interest
will change from a benefit to a loan. Government figures
released on Friday show that, even at this late stage, the
DWP has still not managed to contact 40% of claimants by
phone to explain the change, and 30% of all claimants have
already declined a loan. A large proportion of claimants
are pensioners, and Age UK is warning that many may instead
try to manage by cutting back on essentials such as
heating. Why have the Government failed to give claimants
adequate notice, and will they call a halt to this policy,
which risks inflicting hardship on thousands?
-
We have been communicating the changeover with approaching
500,000 pieces of paper since last July, and well over
350,000 telephone calls have been made to the something
like 90,000 people in receipt of this benefit. There are
specific provisions, post the changeover, to deal with
people who perhaps attempt to manage on their own and feel
that they cannot do so in that, post the deadline, they can
reapply for support and backdate it to 6 April if they so
wish.
-
Mr (Tewkesbury)
(Con)
T8. The Government have done a lot to help pensioners, but
far too many still suffer from poverty, particularly older
pensioners. What more will the Government do to help that
particular group? [904579]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
My hon. Friend is right: we now pay £1,000 more in the
basic state pension than in 2010. For those in employment,
23,000 people in his constituency have a private pension
due to auto-enrolment. Pensioner poverty of itself has
fallen dramatically, but I am happy to take this up and to
discuss it with him in more detail.
-
Mr Speaker
I wish the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson) a
happy birthday on Thursday, which will be an important day
in the life of the hon. Gentleman and I am sure of the
people of Tewkesbury.
-
(Livingston)
(SNP)
T3. What equality impact assessment have the Government and
the Secretary of State made of the emotional and
psychological impact on the women subject to the two child
cap and the rape clause and, further, on the DWP workers
who have to implement it? Does she agree with my hon.
Friend the Member for Glasgow Central (Alison Thewliss),
who has fought so valiantly on this issue, that forcing
women to relive abuse in an interview is an utterly
disgusting and abhorrent policy? [904574]
-
The hon. Lady raises an important point. She will know—I
was asked this question in a Westminster Hall debate last
week—that we have attempted to deal with this issue with
some sensitivity. The undertaking I have given to her hon.
Friend the Member for Glasgow Central is that if she
believes there are particular issues with the system in
place for dealing with this, we are more than happy to look
at them. I would be more than happy to meet the hon. Lady
as well to discuss it.
-
(Stafford) (Con)
Will my hon. Friend give an example of a policy that have
been strengthened, or indeed dropped, as a result of being
subject to the family test?
-
My hon. Friend raises a very important point, and one with
which I have been grappling since I was appointed to this
position. He will know that a number of programmes across
the Government are aimed at strengthening families, not
least the troubled families programme, which has seen an
investment of something like £982 million. On new
initiatives, he may have heard me mention in my answer to
my hon. Friend the Member for St Austell and Newquay (Steve
Double) that we are investing—newly announced in the Budget
last year—£39 million in a programme designed to reduce
parental conflict. That has been done on the basis of
looking for parenting programmes that will create more
stability and therefore happier outcomes for families.
-
Mr (Orkney and
Shetland) (LD)
T5. Thanks to the beast from the east, a lot more people
now understand that how cold they feel has more to do with
wind chill than with ambient temperature. Why do the
Government not take wind chill into account when triggering
cold weather payments? [904576]
-
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, triggering cold weather
payments is done on the basis of absolute temperature: it
has to fall below 0 °C for a length of time. I must confess
that, as someone who is married to a Canadian, I know only
too well the effects of wind chill and the significant
difference it makes. If he will allow me, I will take away
that issue and have a look at it.
-
(Ochil and South
Perthshire) (Con)
I welcome the comments from my hon. Friend the Minister for
Disabled People, Health and Work about getting more people
with disabilities into work. Given that there are 650
potential employers in this House, what more can be done to
improve disability employment in the House and in our
offices around the country?
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his work and his
campaigning on this issue. He is himself a Disability
Confident employer, as are all Work and Pensions Ministers.
Some 70 Members of Parliament have now taken this step, and
I really encourage all those who have not done so to come
along to one of our excellent Disability Confident events
so that they will have the confidence to employ people with
disabilities and health conditions.
-
Mr (Luton South)
(Lab/Co-op)
T7. When I was a child in receipt of free school meals, the
majority of my peers growing up in poverty were in workless
households. That is no longer the situation: today, the
majority have one parent in work. Will the Secretary of
State explain why? [904578]
-
Ms McVey
You can’t have it that we are not helping enough people and
then, on the other hand, that we are. What we have said is
that this has always been for people who were not in work
or those on low incomes. What we have done is slightly
raise the threshold, and now more children who need free
school meals are getting them. That is something that this
Conservative Government are doing. I would also like to
welcome the rise in employment in the last quarter in the
south-west area and the hon. Gentleman’s seat by another
48,000 people. That is more people in work who can help
their children.
-
Mr Speaker
A short sentence of Walsall eloquence—.
-
(Walsall North)
(Con)
Does my hon. Friend agree that young people with
disabilities should have access to work experience while
they are still at school? Will she join me in visiting
Walsall College students on supported internships?
-
My colleague is a fantastic champion for his constituency,
and he is absolutely right: every young person should have
that opportunity of work experience. I will be delighted to
visit Walsall College with him to see the excellent work on
supported work experience.
-
(Paisley and
Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
T9. Despite the Secretary of State’s assurances to the
contrary, we have heard time and time again in this place
about the problems with universal credit, which will roll
out across Paisley and Renfrewshire North in September. The
SNP Renfrewshire Council has set aside £800,000 to mitigate
the worst elements of UC. Does the Secretary of State think
that it is local government’s responsibility to plug gaps
in her Government’s failed welfare reform? [904580]
-
Ms McVey
In Scotland we have seen a rise of 207,000 people in
employment. This is what universal credit is doing too:
making sure people are in work, and making sure they are in
work quickly. We are sorting them, and work coaches are
supporting them. We have given Scotland the flexibility to
do additional work on the ground.
-
(South Suffolk)
(Con)
Auto-enrolment has been a great success, but does my hon.
Friend agree that we need to do more to encourage the
self-employed into it? What steps is he considering in that
regard?
-
Myself and my opposite number, the hon. Member for
Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey), were extraordinarily
trendy: we were at a hackathon this morning, which is
taking place over two days in Hoxton. The Government are
working very hard to make sure that the self-employed have
the benefits of auto-enrolment.
-
Mr Speaker
It sounds like a scintillating experience, I am sure.
-
(Newcastle upon Tyne
Central) (Lab)
T10. My constituent, Emily Johnson, having worked all her
adult life, gave birth to a baby daughter in December.
Because she moved into an in-work training programme in
September, she has been denied maternity pay and maternity
allowance. Because her husband is self-employed, universal
credit assumes he earns enough to support all three of
them, although this is demonstrably not the case. Why is a
woman who has paid into the benefits system all her adult
life denied any support at this time? [904581]
-
The hon. Lady raises what sounds like quite a complicated
case in terms of entitlement. If she would like, I am more
than happy to arrange for a meeting in the Department to
make sure that her constituent is getting the help and
support that she needs.
-
Mr Speaker
I am trying to help colleagues, but I would ask colleagues
to help each other. A short sentence each would suffice,
and then you are not denying somebody else the chance.
-
(Erewash) (Con)
On Saturday, I was delighted to launch a new bus route from
Ilkeston to East Midlands airport, through Long Eaton and
Sandiacre, which will undoubtedly open up more
opportunities in terms of the many vacancies in the
logistics hubs at the airport. Does my right hon. Friend
agree that transport providers and employers working
together will really make sure that my constituents have
every job opportunity?
-
Ms McVey
It has always been about everybody working together. This
Government, and this Department in particular, want to make
sure that we step outside the silos and work across
Departments and that work coaches stand outside what they
need to do to make sure that they are reaching into
people’s lives to help them progress.
-
(Bishop Auckland)
(Lab)
What is the Minister going to do about employers such as
the one in my constituency who sacked a lot of young people
without paying them the wages they were owed, with the
result that one of them—a pregnant woman—ate nothing but
Smash for three weeks?
-
Ms McVey
The best thing the hon. Lady could do is give us the name
of that employer so that we can see what he has done and
what he is doing, because this Government will not stand by
any bad employer. We want to help workers and make
employers do the right thing.
-
(Shipley) (Con)
We often hear from Opposition Members that all the new jobs
created are zero-hours contract jobs. Given their track
record on accurate information, will the Secretary of State
set out what proportion of workers are on zero-hours
contracts and how many new jobs are actually full-time
jobs?
-
Ms McVey
Zero-hours contracts or flexible contracts—whichever way
people want to see them—are at 2.8%. This year, over 90% of
jobs are permanent. From 2010, there have been 75%
permanent and full-time jobs. Most of those this year are
professional.
-
(Stretford and Urmston)
(Lab)
A number of childminders in my constituency are reporting
problems with late payment from their customers who are in
receipt of universal credit, partly because of the waiting
time for the first payment and partly because of
bureaucratic requirements. Will the Secretary of State or
one of her colleagues meet me to discuss this pressure on
childminders?
-
Ms McVey
We would be happy to meet the hon. Lady, who does so much
in this area. What I will say, however, is that I do not
understand why Opposition Members voted against advance
payments up to 100%, why they voted against the two-week
home payment and why they voted against the extra support
we are giving.
-
(Corby) (Con)
On Friday, I met a number of Corby employers who were all
raving about the apprenticeship route. What steps is the
Department taking to promote apprenticeships to jobseekers?
-
Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for people of all
ages. I am particularly keen to support the new measures
the Government have brought in to make it much easier for
people with disabilities to get an apprenticeship and make
progress in work.
-
(East Dunbartonshire)
(LD)
The abolition of support for mortgage interest has been
characterised by the poor provision of information to
vulnerable claimants with learning disabilities and a very
low take-up of the new loan scheme. Will the Secretary of
State cancel the abolition of SMIs, or at the very least
delay it while these issues can be resolved?
-
We will not be cancelling or delaying, but we are of course
sensitive to vulnerable claimants, in particular those who
lack mental capacity and may need assistance or
representation when dealing with their financial affairs.
There is a separate process for enabling their transfer
across and they will not be subject to the deadline.
Indeed, our contractor, who is making contact with
recipients thus far, has people who are specifically
trained to identify those who may have become incapacitated
or vulnerable during their receipt of the benefit to make
sure they too are not subject to the current deadline.
-
(Chippenham)
(Con)
Does the Minister agree that everyone should have the
opportunity to travel? Is she as disgusted as I am by the
recent case of Frank Gardner, who was left stuck on a plane
at Heathrow for two hours because the airport had lost his
wheelchair?
-
My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for her constituency
and she is absolutely right to raise this case. Today, I have
already written to the managing director of Heathrow airport.
I will be working with my wonderful sector champion, Michael
Connolly from Birmingham airport, to bring the industry
together with airports to make sure we deal with this issue
in the strongest possible terms so that disabled people can
absolutely have access to air travel.
|
