Work and Pensions ministers were answering questions in the
Commons. Subjects covered included... Universal Credit: Vulnerable
Claimants PIP Assessments: Appeals Universal Credit:
Roll-out Universal Credit: Supporting People into Work
Universal Credit: NAO Report Universal Credit:
Financial Hardship Universal Credit: Roll-out
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Work and Pensions ministers were answering questions in the
Commons. Subjects covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, either click on the link or
see below.
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants
-
(East Renfrewshire)
(Con)
1. What recent steps the Government has taken to protect
the welfare of vulnerable universal credit claimants.
[906155]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
Universal credit is a person-centred benefit focused on the
needs of the individual. We are working continuously with a
variety of stakeholders to ensure that we provide the right
support for vulnerable claimants, and our work coaches
undertake awareness training to identify claimants with
complex needs.
-
During a recent visit with the Secretary of State to the
Barrhead jobcentre in my constituency, one of the things we
discussed with staff was the payment of advances as a
single payment potentially to claimants who have difficulty
managing budgets or who are struggling with addiction. Will
she take into account those concerns when reviewing how the
advance system is operating?
-
Ms McVey
I was delighted to visit my hon. Friend’s constituency and
local jobcentre and to visit the Greenhouse Café, which he
champions and which helps vulnerable people to get closer
to the workplace. On the question that he and the work
coaches raised about the advance, those advances could be
given up to 100%, and with the personal relationship that
the work coaches have, through this training they can
assess what the right needs are. That is the right thing to
do.
-
(East Ham) (Lab)
One of the concerns raised by the National Audit Office is
that the Department does not really know who the vulnerable
claimants are, and particular problems are being caused by
the very long delay before people are entitled to their
benefit. The right hon. Lady’s predecessor took an
important step by reducing the minimum wait from six weeks
to five. Will she commit to taking that further and
reducing the period further still?
-
Ms McVey
Universal credit is all about the relationship with the
work coach. They get to know their claimants and their
claimants’ needs, so it is very much a tailor-made benefit.
We as Ministers have always said that, should we need to
adapt and change universal credit so that it best supports
the individual, we will do just that. I am glad that the
right hon. Gentleman welcomed the changes that we have
already made.
-
Dame (Chesham and Amersham)
(Con)
Vulnerable claimants often consult their local citizens
advice bureau. On a visit to the Chesham citizens advice
bureau, staff told me that the fixed-term, timed
appointments for their clients are often taken up by them
hanging on to the DWP telephone line for up to 25 or 30
minutes, and then the time for the appointment has expired.
Will the Secretary of State look at the telephone line and
try to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, so that
CAB advisers can instantly access the advice that they need
to help these clients to make universal credit go smoothly?
-
Ms McVey
My right hon. Friend, who does so much for people in her
constituency, and particularly those with autism, raises a
very good point. We will look into exactly what we can do
to do that for the citizens advice bureaux, as we have a
very good working relationship with them.
-
(Wirral West)
(Lab)
The National Audit Office’s report on universal credit
shows that people such as carers, families needing support
with childcare and disabled people are more likely to have
to wait for an initial payment. The report shows that, in
December 2017, only a third of disabled people were
receiving their initial payments in full and on time. As
the Secretary of State claims that the NAO report is out of
date, can she tell us what the figure is now?
-
Ms McVey
As we said quite clearly, the NAO did not take into
consideration all the changes that we had made and their
impact. What we can say is that we know that 80% of people
will get their payment on time and in full, but what the
NAO report has not taken into consideration is that 90%
will get some payment within the first month and it is
invariably down to non-verification and not fulfilling
their claimant commitment.
-
(Airdrie and Shotts)
(SNP)
On Thursday, our concerns became a reality, as we
discovered from the Government’s figures that 190 women
were put in the impossible position of declaring that their
child was born as a result of rape in order to receive
universal credit or child tax credits. We can also estimate
from those figures that around 200,000 children have been
affected by the two-child cap. How does she feel about
cutting that money and stopping it being spent on up to
250,000 children?
-
Ms McVey
This whole House voted for the changes to tax credits so
that we can make sure that people in work are treated the
same way as people on benefits. However, what we did do was
bring in a set of exemptions for people who would not be
able to have those two children. It is only right that we
have brought in specific exemptions to help those people
who need them.
-
The Government continue to mislead. We know from the
figures that 59% of all those households impacted are
already in work. The Secretary of State continues to
suggest today that this was about making the choices the
same for those who are in and out of work, but actually it
is about the Government making people’s choices for them.
What advice does she have for a woman who is in work and in
receipt of tax credits or universal credit and who has
fallen unexpectedly pregnant with what would be a third
child?
-
Ms McVey
The hon. Gentleman will know that we still pay child
benefit for all children. We are also paying childcare
costs. In fact, those have increased. As I said, what we
have done with tax credits is make sure that people who are
paying their way and are not dependent on the state get the
same support as those people who are also getting support
from the state.
PIP Assessments: Appeals
-
(Cardiff South and
Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)
18. How many appeals have been granted against initial
personal independence payment assessment decisions in the
last 12 months. [906175]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
Data published by the Ministry of Justice last month shows
that 57,000 decisions on personal independence payment
claims were overturned on appeal in the last year. Of the
3.3 million decisions made since PIP was introduced, 9%
have been appealed and 4% have been overturned. The average
clearance time for PIP appeals in the last available
quarter is 25 weeks.
-
Ian C. Lucas
In my constituency, over two thirds of decisions are being
overturned on appeal. That shameful record is the
responsibility of the Secretary of State and the Minister.
It is causing real personal distress to individuals in
Wrexham having to wait over a year to have wrong decisions
reversed. What will the ministerial team do to respond to
the real hardship they are causing to vulnerable people?
-
It is not necessarily the case that the decision made was
the wrong decision; mostly what happens is that more
information comes forward at the appeal. Hon. Members
should look at the data I have already given. One wrong
decision is one too many, however, which is why we have
done a great deal of work to improve our decision-making
process.
-
Far too many of my constituents face exactly the same
situation, and far too many have found they get no points
in their assessment despite being severely disabled and
having previously been awarded for conditions such as
multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and
severe anxiety. Does the Minister agree with a constituent
of mine who wrote to me last week and described the
Department for Work and Pensions and Capita as
“so robotic, intransigent and hard-nosed, it’s hard to
comprehend why they were constructed that way given the
purpose for which they were intended”?
-
I respectfully point out to the hon. Gentleman that more
people are receiving higher awards on PIP than did on the
legacy benefit, disability living allowance, and people
moving from DLA to PIP remain in payment while going
through the process. I utterly refute what he said.
-
What about my constituent?
-
The hon. Gentleman wants to talk about constituents. I was
on “You and Yours” last week and, during the phone-in, a
whole series of people called in about their PIP
experiences. As he has made his point, let us hear what
Jennifer from Lancashire said:
“As it happens, it has worked very well for me.”
She contacted the Royal National Institute of Blind People,
which helped her fill in the form, and the
“result was I now get the top rate for both things…. I get
£140 whereas I used to get £112.”
-
(Brentwood and Ongar)
(Con)
I especially welcome the fact that the Government have
accepted the Select Committee on Work and Pensions
recommendation to record PIP interviews. Will the Minister
set out for the House the sort of timescale in which we can
expect these changes to come through?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution today and the
hard work he puts in on the Select Committee. I was
delighted to welcome its recommendations, and I really
believe that the video-recording of PIP assessments will
reduce a lot of stress and anxiety, which largely occurs
because of the scaremongering we see too often from the
Opposition. We have begun work on the piloting and will be
undertaking the testing this summer.
-
(Henley) (Con)
At a recent Westminster Hall debate, several of us
commented on how the PIP process had improved. Will the
Minister continue to work with those of us who have
suggestions for improving the system still further?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. I am utterly
determined to ensure that everyone has a very good
experience of PIP. The independent customer satisfaction
ratings show that the vast majority of people feel that
they are treated with respect and dignity and receive the
benefit to which they are entitled, but we will of course
seek continuously to improve the process.
-
(Normanton, Pontefract
and Castleford) (Lab)
My constituent in Normanton lost her Motability car because
the DWP said that she was not entitled to it. Five weeks
later it reversed the decision but, in the meantime,
because my constituent was isolated, she was forced to
spend thousands of pounds of her own savings on replacing
the car so that she was not stuck. She has been denied any
help since. Will the Minister look again at that case? It
is outrageous that my constituent should lose all her
savings because the DWP screwed up.
-
I thank the right hon. Lady for her question. Of course I
am always happy to meet all Members to review individual
cases, but I suggest, for everyone’s benefit, that any
Member with a constituent who faces losing a Motability car
should call Motability. Motability is sitting on very
considerable reserves. It is a charity and is able to make
discretionary payments to enable people to keep their cars
during the appeal process.
-
(Torbay) (Con)
Thank you for calling me, Mr Speaker, and thank you for
your kindness to a group of visitors who came to see me in
the House earlier today.
I thank the Minister for the answers that she has given so
far. I recently met representatives of Carers Aid Torbay to
talk about the PIP process and the support that they
provide for those who are going through it. Can she
reassure me that there will be engagement with groups such
as that in respect of the potential introduction of video
recording of interviews?
-
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. It is very
important for us to listen to people who are going through
the process. I have regular meetings with disabled people
and charities to ensure that we get it right and
continuously improve the experience of our claimants.
Universal Credit: Roll-out
-
(North Devon)
(Con)
3. What recent steps the Government have taken to ensure
that universal credit is rolled out effectively. [906157]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
We are continuously testing, learning and improving to
deliver an effective roll-out. The pace of the roll-out
reflects the need to listen, respond and get it right. We
have rolled out universal credit to 353 jobcentres and are
increasing the roll-out to 60 jobcentres per month.
Universal credit is on track to be in all jobcentres
nationally by the end of 2018.
-
This Wednesday sees the roll-out of full-service universal
credit in North Devon. Will the Secretary of State join me
in acknowledging the hard work of Jobcentre Plus staff in
ensuring the smoothest possible transition for all
claimants?
-
Ms McVey
I will indeed join my hon. Friend in thanking his team. I
also thank him for what he has personally done in his local
area, working with Alex Coull, the work coach team leader,
and his team. They have done an excellent job, engaging
with stakeholders from North Devon Homes, North Devon
Council, Citizens Advice Devon and North Devon+. That is
the sort of work that all Members of Parliament can do to
ensure that universal credit is rolled out safely.
-
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
19. Increasingly, my constituents are finding that elements
of their benefits have been withdrawn—because there is less
money in the bank—before the DWP has sent the decision
letter. When they phone the helpline, they are told that,
as a decision letter has not been sent, the adviser cannot
discuss anything with them. A month later the letter
arrives, with an explanation of their right to appeal. Will
the Secretary of State put her house in order, and ensure
that claimants are the first and not the last to know?
[906176]
-
Ms McVey
I thank the hon. Lady for raising that case. It would be
good to meet her. I have surgeries every Monday in the Tea
Room, and if she would like to raise a personal case with
me, I ask her please to do so. We can go through the case
and see exactly what happened.
-
(Redditch) (Con)
May I commend the Secretary of State and convey to her the
comments of staff at a jobcentre in Redditch? People who
have worked there for decades said that universal credit
was the best system that they had seen for 30 years. That
is because it is an individualised system based on the
“test and learn” approach. What more can the Secretary of
State do to ensure that that approach helps our
constituents?
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend has made a very good point. When we speak to
the people who are working with the system day in, day out,
they say that it is the best system that they have ever
seen, and it is about a “test and learn” process. Listening
to what is said in the House, one would not believe that
over 3.2 million more people were in work. That is not
something that happens by mistake. It is as a result of the
hard work of our work coaches and the direction that is
being set by the Government.
-
Mr Speaker
I am extraordinarily grateful to the Secretary of State,
whose answers I always enjoy. The only point that I would
make, gently, to colleagues on both sides of the House is
that we have a lot of questions to get through, so we do
need to be briefer—and that is now to be exemplified by no
less a figure in the House than Mr .
-
(Birkenhead) (Lab)
Will the Secretary of State commission a report on
real-time income, which for many of our constituents
provides neither real-time information nor income and
results in hardship, and publish that report?
-
Ms McVey
The right hon. Gentleman raises a good point. We are
looking constantly at real-time income—how it works and how
it works best—and we continue to do that and put out new
guidance when we know what is going on.
-
(Corby) (Con)
Can my right hon. Friend confirm whether universal credit
is seeing more people into work sooner than jobseeker’s
allowance did?
-
Ms McVey
Not only is it seeing more people into work sooner, but it
shows they are staying in work longer and looking to do
more hours. It also shows that people who are in work are
earning £600 more a year on average. My hon. Friend has
raised a good question.
-
(Wirral West)
(Lab)
The Department for Work and Pensions’ own survey of
claimants under universal credit full service found that
over 40% were unable to register a claim online unassisted.
These people are the most likely to be vulnerable in our
society. Universal support is meant to address this, but
the NAO report reveals that providers told the NAO that
universal support does not meet the needs of claimants and
leaves providers insufficient time to assist them. What are
the Government going to do to ensure that these people
receive the support they need?
-
Ms McVey
As the hon. Lady will know, we have provided £200
million-worth of support for local authorities to help
people who will need the help not just for budgeting but
for going online through IT; we have a free phone line and
we meet with people face to face to do just that.
Universal Credit: Supporting People into Work
-
(Bermondsey and Old
Southwark) (Lab)
4. What assessment she has made of the efficacy of
universal credit in supporting people into work. [906158]
-
The Minister for Employment (Alok Sharma)
The Department published an analysis on 8 June which showed
a near doubling of the proportion of UC claimants in a paid
job after eight months into the claim. The Department
published analysis last year which shows that UC claimants
are 4 percentage points more likely to be in work than an
equivalent claimant on JSA six months after their claim.
-
The National Audit Office reported that the Department will
never be able to measure whether universal credit actually
leads to more people in work because it cannot isolate the
effect of UC against other economic factors. So if the
Department serious in what it told the NAO about intending
to evaluate specifically the impact of UC, is that
evaluation under way, how many people are being evaluated
and when will it report?
-
As the Secretary of State has said, we are at record levels
of employment in this country and that is because of the
policies of this Government. The hon. Gentleman talks about
the 200,000 extra people who will be in work as a result of
UC. He will also know that, in 2012, the Institute for
Fiscal Studies looked at the methodology, which related to
the key element of this, which was the financial incentives
that will make more people go into work, and it concluded
that this was within the plausible range.
-
(North West
Leicestershire) (Con)
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is right that our welfare
system supports those in need, but in the long term the
best way out of poverty is sustainable employment?
-
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are at record levels
of employment in this country. It is interesting that the
Opposition talk about estimates. If I remember correctly,
back in 2010, the Opposition said we would lose 1 million
jobs as a result of our policies, but we have created 3.2
million. At the end of the day, when it comes to estimates,
I am not taking lectures from the Opposition.
Universal Credit: NAO Report
-
(Delyn) (Lab)
5. What assessment she has made of the implications for her
Department’s policies of the findings of the NAO report
entitled rolling out universal credit, published on 15 June
2018. [906160]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
It is unfortunate that the NAO was unable to take into
account the significant changes recently implemented in
universal credit. Those changes address many of the
concerns raised in its report. We continue to listen and
learn from feedback, and make the necessary changes to the
benefit as we roll it out.
-
Many of my constituents are among the one in five
individuals who are not paid universal credit on time. As
the Minister should know, the NAO specifically recommended
that UC should not be rolled out further until the system
can extend and work with the current level of applications.
Will she accept that recommendation?
-
Ms McVey
The NAO made clear quite the opposite: it said that we need
to continue with universal credit. It was also concerned
that it was rolling out too slowly and said that actually
we should increase what we are doing. So what the right
hon. Gentleman says is absolutely not what the NAO said.
-
(Ayr, Carrick and
Cumnock) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that more than eight in
10 claimants are satisfied with their experience of
universal credit?
-
Ms McVey
My hon. Friend is right—that is exactly the number.
Actually, Patrick from Newport has said that it helped him
with fares to get to a job and with the cost of clothing.
He said:
“Thanks for all your help. It was really easy dealing with
everyone who helped me back into work quickly and helping
me buy what I need and travel back and forth.”
That was an example from Wales.
-
(Wirral West)
(Lab)
The National Audit Office report recommended that the
Government should
“ensure the programme does not expand before
business-as-usual operations can cope with higher claimant
volumes”,
yet in her oral statement on 21 June, the Secretary of
State said that the NAO report stated that the Government
should
“continue with the roll-out and do it faster.”—[Official
Report, 21 June 2018; Vol. 643, c. 495.]
Will the Secretary of State tell us where in the report it
says that the roll-out should be speeded up?
-
Ms McVey
Yes, in the report it says just that. It says that it needs
to continue to go forward and it needs to continue at a
faster rate.
-
(Rugby) (Con)
The NAO report acknowledged the close links between local
authorities and universal credit. As one of the first
full-service sites, Rugby and its borough council received
an £85,000 payment to assist with the cost of digitisation.
Will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming that
valuable support for local authorities in full-service
areas?
-
Ms McVey
I will indeed join my hon. Friend in praising that support.
It is really important that local authorities are involved
in what is happening and that we provide the right support
on the ground for individuals to get their benefit.
Universal Credit: Financial Hardship
-
(High Peak) (Lab)
6. What assessment she has made of trends in the level of
financial hardship experienced by universal credit
claimants. [906161]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
The best way to help people financially is to help them
into work, and universal credit will get 200,000 more
people into work. Our recent survey evidence shows that
people on UC and in work had an average increase in
reported earnings of £600 a year. There was also an 8% fall
in the number of people on incomes of £10,000 a year or
less.
-
The DWP’s own survey also found that after nine months on
universal credit, 40% of claimants were falling behind with
their bills or experiencing real financial hardship. This
is a problem not of the initial waiting period but of
ongoing insufficient income. The Secretary of State has
tested and learned about hardship levels. How will she fix
them?
-
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said
earlier, the close and constructive relationship between
work coaches and their clients should enable them as a team
to get through any hardship that arises. The hon. Lady is
attempting to build a career on bashing universal credit,
but she never does so in context. We have chosen to fight
poverty in a different way. We have chosen to fight it with
work rather than with welfare. She never points out that,
under the last Labour Government, the number of households
where no one worked almost doubled.
-
(Stirling) (Con)
Earlier on, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and
Work, my hon. Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth
(Sarah Newton), mentioned scaremongering by the Opposition.
I can confirm that that scaremongering causes grave anxiety
among my constituents. Will the Minister confirm that, for
example, an advance payment does not involve rates of
interest and that it is reimbursed by deductions made over
a period of months?
-
My hon. Friend is exactly right. I was pleased to be able
to sit with him in a meeting with some of his third sector
organisations, including his local food bank, his citizens
advice bureau and his local refuge, to try to scotch some
of the mythology that has been created around universal
credit. Wherever universal credit has been in place for
some time, it receives universal praise from work coaches
on the frontline and very high satisfaction levels from the
people who are using it.
Universal Credit: Roll-out
-
(Paisley and
Renfrewshire North) (SNP)
7. What progress her Department is making on the roll-out
of universal credit. [906162]
-
The Minister for Employment (Alok Sharma)
Nearly 1 million people are now claiming universal credit,
with around 37% of them in employment. We take 5,000 new
claims a day and universal credit is operational in half of
all jobcentres, with the full roll-out expected to be
concluded by the end of the year.
-
From the Government’s own business case for universal
credit, it transpires that just 3% of those who have been
brought into conditionality under universal credit are
expected to find work, as a result of sanctions. Given that
my constituents are going to suffer this roll-out in
September, does he think that this is a robust business
case for his Department’s punitive and callous sanctions
regime?
-
(Lichfield)
(Con)
Enunciate, man!
-
The hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North (Gavin
Newlands) talks about sanctions, but he will know that the
regime is different. For example, under JSA if somebody who
was due to come in for an interview does not contact us
after five days, they fall out of the system and are not
sanctioned. Under universal credit, however, we continue to
pay all the elements—the child element and the housing
element—but the sanction that they would face applies only
to the standard allowance. The hon. Gentleman talks about
wanting to help people, but the Scottish National party
voted against £1.5 billion of support. If he wants to
support people, he should try to support the Government
from time to time.
-
Mr Speaker
Order. The hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant),
from a sedentary position and rather gratuitously, offered
advice and exhortation to the hon. Member for Paisley and
Renfrewshire North (Gavin Newlands). I simply say to the
hon. Member for Lichfield that we can always hear him with
crystal clarity. He is in no danger of not being noticed.
-
Thank you.
-
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
It is always good to hear from the hon. Lady, but we have
already heard from her.
-
(Newport East)
(Lab)
Constituents who do not have a passport or driving licence,
because they do not drive or have no need of one or cannot
afford one, cannot use the online verification system and
need to be seen in person at a job centre, but there are
huge waits for appointments, including for those who
urgently need advance payments. What is the Minister doing
to tackle that?
-
The hon. Lady knows that advance payments are available if
they are required on the day. As for verification, there is
a set of criteria that can be applied so that we do not
have to go through the verification system. If the hon.
Lady has specific cases, she should please bring them to me
as I would be happy to look into them.
Universal Credit: Death of Applicants
-
(Inverclyde)
(SNP)
8. How many universal credit applicants have died during
the period that their application was being assessed and as
a result have received a zero payment for the days during
that period when they were alive. [906163]
-
The Minister for Employment (Alok Sharma)
For universal credit full service, around 1,200 cases have
been closed with a deceased closure reason since roll-out
began in 2016, with the vast majority receiving a payment.
-
I know of cases where no universal credit payment has been
received when constituents have passed away towards the end
of their assessment period. Essentially, the DWP classes
someone who dies at the end of an assessment period as
having died at the beginning. Will the Minister address
this so that bereaved families are not financially
punished?
-
I have corresponded with the hon. Gentleman about one
specific case. There are circumstances in which payment is
still made after the death of a claimant and where payments
have continued for two subsequent assessment periods, such
as when the individual was in a couple. However, I note the
hon. Gentleman’s point and will look into the policy.
-
(Bishop Auckland)
(Lab)
A connected problem might be that the Department does not
tell people whether they are entitled to prescriptions when
their UC claim is awarded. Will the Department please start
doing that, because several of my constituents have been in
touch in deep distress because of the fivefold fines that
they have been forced to pay?
-
We do not want anybody to be in distress. If colleagues on
either side of the House have specific cases, they should
bring them to Ministers. We hear a lot of general
commentary, but we would like to help individuals, so
please bring us those specific cases.
Universal Credit: Claimant Satisfaction
-
(Clacton) (Con)
9. What assessment her Department has made of rates of
universal credit claimant satisfaction. [906164]
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
Some 83% universal credit claimants are satisfied with the
service. The claimant survey shows that the majority of
people find interactions with their work coach, both online
and in person, to be helpful and that the online journal is
easy to use.
-
With universal credit due to be rolled out in Clacton later
this month, will my right hon. Friend reassure me that,
with recent changes to the system, my residents will get a
better service?
-
Ms McVey
I want to recognise all the hard work that my hon. Friend
does in his constituency. Yes, his constituents will get a
better service now that we have added those changes.
However, he does not have to take my words for it. Chloe, a
lone parent, said: “Universal credit is easier than the old
system, and it has helped me to get a job. It is simpler,
as I do not have to keep putting my wage slips in. I can
actually vary my wages and get paid automatically.”
-
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Has the Secretary of State looked into the level of
satisfaction of people on the autism spectrum and of those
facing similar challenges? Her Department’s offices around
the country are very autism-unfriendly and difficult places
for people on the autism spectrum to approach. When will
her Department have a policy for autistic people?
-
Ms McVey
I share the hon. Gentleman’s concern for young people, or
anybody, with autism. This is something that we, as a
country, have to get right, as we are seeing a rising
number of people with autism. Both sides of the House work
very closely on this, whether it is my hon. Friend the
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work or Opposition
Members.
-
Several hon. Members rose—
-
Mr Speaker
I think we must have a dose of Swayne.
-
Sir (New Forest West)
(Con)
What is the impact on housing association tenants?
-
Ms McVey
My right hon. Friend asks a rather open question but we
have a landlord portal for housing association tenants. If
people need their payments done automatically, they can
have just that—if that is what he is referring to.
Supporting People with Disabilities and Health Conditions
-
Mr (Middlesbrough South
and East Cleveland) (Con)
10. How much her Department has spent on supporting people
with disabilities and health conditions in the last 12
months; and what the change in that amount has been in real
terms since 2010. [906165]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
In 2017-18, the Department for Work and Pensions spent
£51.9 billion on benefits to support disabled people and
people with health conditions. This year it is forecast to
rise to £54 billion, £9.3 billion more in real terms than
in 2010-11. Spending on the main disability benefits—PIP,
DLA and attendance allowance—has risen by over £5 billion
since 2010 and is at a record high this year.
-
Mr Clarke
I thank the Minister for her answer. Will she join me in
congratulating the East Cleveland employment and training
hub in Skinningrove, which opened in February and has done
brilliant work for a number of my constituents, including
those with the health and disability issues to which my
question refers?
-
My hon. Friend is a real champion for all his constituents,
and I am pleased to join him in praising the work of the
East Cleveland employment and training hub, which I
understand plays a pivotal role in the community in
enabling people to be supported into employment and is
particularly valuable for those people who recently lost
their jobs at the local potash mine.
-
(Edinburgh West)
(LD)
My constituent Alexandra Mitchell is unable to walk without
heavy metal callipers. She cannot use her feet to drive and
has hand controls in the Motability car she now stands to
lose because her PIP assessment says that if she can drive,
she must be able to walk. Does the Minister accept that
this example, and those we have heard from other hon.
Members, calls into question the quality of PIP
assessments? Does she accept that the system is flawed and
needs to be sorted?
-
One experience of poor customer service is one too many,
and of course I will meet her.
I also want to point out what Kate from the west midlands
said, again on “You and Yours”: “My 35-year-old daughter
has a learning disability. She doesn’t read or write, so I
filled in the form for her. From her point of view, it
turned out to be a very good experience because when she
was on DLA she was on the lower rate but, because of the
new criteria, she is now on the higher rate and has a
mobility car. So from our point of view, it’s been really
positive.”
-
(Battersea)
(Lab)
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
carried out a robust inquiry into the effects of the
Government’s policies, including social security, on
disabled people. It found “grave and systematic violations”
of disabled people’s rights. The Minister recently said
that she is
“utterly committed to the convention.”—[Official Report, 20
June 2018; Vol. 643, c. 124WH.]
When the Government respond to the report later this
summer, will she finally commit to carrying out a
cumulative impact assessment of the Government’s policies,
as recommended by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities?
-
We were very disappointed that, when it came to the UK, the
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities did
not take into consideration the great deal of evidence that
was provided. When I make my very full response, I am sure
I will set the record straight so that the committee
understands that we are very proud to be a world-leading
country in supporting people with disabilities to fulfil
their potential in society.
Of course we are always determined to do more, and we do an
equality impact assessment every single time there is any
sort of policy change.
-
We know an impact assessment of the social security
policies can be carried out, because the Equality and Human
Rights Commission has done so. Is it not the truth that the
Government will not do this because they are afraid that an
impact assessment will confirm what the UN, the Equality
and Human Rights Commission and disabled people say, which
is that this Government’s policies have created a hostile
environment that is causing grave violations against
disabled people?
-
I can assure the hon. Lady that that is simply not the
case. We have very strong protections for people with
disabilities in our country, not the least of which is the
Equality Act 2010. I make sure that impact assessments are
done on all policies that are undertaken. I honestly ask
all Opposition Members not to use this language of “a
hostile environment”, as it is simply not the case and as
the very people who need all of our support are put off
seeking it and coming forward. I ask Opposition Members to
stop saying things they know are not true.
Employment: People with Family Responsibilities
-
(Cheadle) (Con)
11. What steps the Government are taking to improve
employment opportunities for people with family
responsibilities. [906166]
-
(Lichfield)
(Con)
17. What steps the Government are taking to improve
employment opportunities for people with family
responsibilities. [906174]
-
(Southport) (Con)
21. What steps the Government are taking to improve
employment opportunities for people with family
responsibilities. [906178]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
Universal credit supports parents into work through better
incentives, and through simplifying and smoothing their
transition into the workplace—with UC work will always pay.
Furthermore, the Government now provide more support than
ever before to help parents with the costs of childcare;
under UC people can now claim 85% of their costs, which
compares with 70% under tax credits.
-
Will my hon. Friend join me in welcoming the figures from
the House of Commons Library showing that since 2010 the
number of children living in workless households in Greater
Manchester has fallen by 7.2%? Does he agree that that is
in no small part thanks to the record number of jobs
created by this Government?
-
It will not surprise Members to know that I am more than
happy to celebrate the results of that research and to
thank my hon. Friend for the work she does in her
constituency in promoting this, not least in being a
champion for Manchester airport, where thousands of her
constituents work, and where there is a strong capacity for
growth and yet more jobs.
-
Mr Speaker
Enunciation from Lichfield—Mr .
-
I will be very precise, Mr Speaker. Does my hon. Friend
agree that the key to getting people out of poverty is
work? Given that this Government have created 1,000 new
jobs every single day since 2010, we have produced the key
to unlock that door.
-
My hon. Friend has absolutely put his finger on the button.
As I said in an earlier answer, in this country we have
tried fighting poverty with welfare in the past and failed.
The Labour Government spent some £150 billion on tax
credits and hardly moved the poverty indicators at all. We
have chosen the route of work as the way to human dignity,
prosperity and control for people and their families. I
celebrate with him the success of the entire country, and
not least his constituency.
-
By delivering record numbers of jobs, reducing taxes,
increasing childcare provision and raising wages, does my
hon. Friend agree that it is this Conservative Government
who are delivering for families?
-
We are indeed delivering for families. I know it is a joy
to many in this House to hear a voice of optimism from
Southport at last, from a new Member who works closely with
his local business community, recommending that its
prosperity lies at the heart of that of many of his
constituents. We know that outcomes for children, in
particular, are significantly improved if the adults in the
household are working and that children in workless
families are more than twice as likely to fail to achieve
at school.
-
(Plymouth, Sutton and
Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
Ministers will know from the experience of women born in
the 1950s that giving people advance notice of changes
means they have time to plan. Given that in 2019 families
in work with more than two children are set to lose their
universal credit support for their third child, what steps
is the Department taking to let people know in advance so
that they have time to plan?
-
As the hon. Gentleman knows, there are no cash losers from
this policy: anybody who has an existing third child will
continue to retain their support, and that will be
preserved as they transition on to UC; we will continue to
pay child benefit, no matter the number of children; and of
course there will be significant childcare assistance for
those who move on to UC.
-
(Glasgow South West)
(SNP)
Is it not the case that universal credit claimants with
family responsibilities could face a sanction for refusing
a job offer with a zero-hours contract? Is it not also the
case that the Government are forcing people into insecure,
low-paid work?
-
The whole point of the new constructive relationship
between work coaches and their clients is that they are
able to take people’s personal circumstances into account,
particularly in respect of children and childcare
responsibilities. If sanctions are required, they are at
all times reasonable and commensurate with the person’s
circumstances. The enormous assistance that we are giving
for childcare should hopefully overcome any barriers, but
if the hon. Gentleman has constituency cases that he would
like to bring to my attention, I would be more than happy
to look at them.
State Pension
-
Mr (Kettering)
(Con)
12. How many people have taken receipt of the state pension
in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018 in Kettering constituency; and
what the change in the value of the state pension has been
over that period. [906167]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
In 2010, there were 17,400 recipients of the state pension
in Kettering, and the most recent data shows that that
number had risen to 18,600 in 2017. In cash terms, the full
basic state pension is now worth £1,450 a year more in
2018-19 than in 2010. That is a £660 a year more than would
have been the case if the pension had been uprated solely
by earnings.
-
Mr Hollobone
That is great news for existing pensioners in Kettering and
throughout the country, but what about tomorrow’s
pensioners? How many people are being auto-enrolled into
private pension schemes?
-
As you know, Mr Speaker, where Kettering leads the nation
follows. In Kettering, a record-breaking 10,000 men and
women have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace
pension. They are part of the millions of working men and
women of this nation who are similarly benefiting from
automatic enrolment.
PIP: Early Assessments
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
The hon. Gentleman has written to me about a particular
constituency case and I very much look forward to sitting
down with him to discuss that. Generally, we start the
review period around a year ahead to make sure that
everybody has the time that they need to provide all the
necessary information and so that we can go back to doctors
or medical professionals. Sometimes, people’s situation
sadly deteriorates and we need to make sure that they get
the level of help that they need.
-
I am grateful to the Minister for that answer, but I have
constituents whose conditions are not going to improve, and
one of my constituents has been called back for early
assessment three times in three years, causing her a great
deal of stress. If people have conditions that are not
going to improve, does it not make sense to give them the
benefit for longer and not reassess them so regularly?
-
I very much look forward to our meeting, and hope that the
hon. Gentleman will welcome the recent changes. We have
worked closely with disabled people and charities. We
introduced the severe conditions criteria so that if people
are on the highest levels of employment and support
allowance or PIP and their condition is, sadly, not going
to improve, their claim will be extended almost
indefinitely.
Assisted Technology
-
(North Cornwall)
(Con)
14. What steps the Government have taken to encourage
assisted technology as a means to help disabled people into
the workplace. [906169]
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
We are committed to making sure that all disabled people
who want to work have the opportunity to do so. I am really
pleased that, over the past four years, more than 600,000
more disabled people are in work. Assistive technology is
of course playing a key role in that. We support such
initiatives through the Access to Work tech fund and
Disability Confident.
-
The Minister will know that autonomous vehicle technology
is moving along quickly. Does she agree that autonomous vehicles could give
people increased social mobility, and enable people with
physical disabilities or those who are partially sighted to
access work?
-
My hon. Friend raises an important point. The Government
are investing hundreds of millions into research and
development to make sure that we fully understand the
potential of autonomous vehiclesand make sure that
they really do benefit disabled people.
-
Dr (Central Ayrshire)
(SNP)
In the light of all the controversy around the quality of
PIP assessments, would it not save time to get people’s
medical records automatically, thereby reducing
face-to-face assessments, appeals and the hardship for
beneficiaries?
-
The hon. Lady raises an important point. As part of our
continuous improvement of PIP, we work closely with
healthcare professionals so that we can speed up the
process and make sure that we get all the right information
to make the best possible decision the first time around.
Pension Transition Arrangements
-
Mr (Jarrow) (Lab)
15. What recent representations she has received from
people affected by the pension transition arrangements for
women born in the 1950s. [906171]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
The Department has received a number of representations
from people regarding changes to state pension age since
1995, and the matter has been comprehensively debated on
many occasions. Women will receive their state pension
either at the same age as men or earlier as we remove the
current inequality.
-
Mr Hepburn
The Government have seen fit to award the richest personal
earners and the top five wealthiest corporations in the
country tens of billions of pounds in tax cuts. Do the
Government think that the Tories are being fair when they
steal the pensions of women to stuff their friends’
pockets?
-
It is always good to hear the dinosaur that is my friend
from the north-east, the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr
Hepburn). He was in government between 1997 and 2010 when
he could have changed the law and did not. The reality of
the situation is that the richest 1% have never paid more
tax than at present and that corporation tax reductions
create jobs, as has been comprehensively proved. He, I am
afraid, has no grasp of the facts as they now are.
-
(Birmingham, Erdington)
(Lab)
rose—
-
Mr Speaker
I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that we have time for a
short question, but not at this point for a preamble, I am
afraid. A short question will be fine—30 seconds.
-
Women born in the 1950s are the victims of a monumental
pensions injustice. Christine is 62 and cannot retire until
she is 66. Her husband has died, and she now has to do
three cleaning jobs to make ends meet. At the very least,
will the Government follow the lead of the Labour Mayor for
Greater Manchester and introduce free bus travel for the
women affected? They deserve better.
-
I merely repeat the point that I made previously: between
1997 and 2010, there was a Labour Government. Not only did
they support this policy, but they expanded it through the
Pensions Act 2008, which, as the hon. Gentleman knows full
well, raised the state pension age.
Topical Questions
-
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Ms Esther
McVey)
Those who take an interest in disability issues will know
about our Disability Confident scheme, which supports
businesses to employ disabled people. We have launched the
Disability Confident 100-day community challenge to get
people across this House involved in supporting people in
their local area. To date, in 24 hours, 23 MPs have become
involved. I hope that the whole House will help disabled
people in their area to get into work.
-
Sir
This is complicated, Mr Speaker, so stay with me. What can
the Secretary of State do to ensure continuity of universal
credit benefit entitlement for those people paid on the
same day every month for whom, every now and again, two pay
packets will fall into the assessment period?
-
(Lichfield)
(Con)
Could you explain it again?
-
Mr Speaker
I think that it is all perfectly clear, as the hon. Member
for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) knows.
-
Ms McVey
My right hon. Friend is in the Chamber much of the time, so
he might have heard me talk about this complicated issue
quite a bit. It is about not just the last day of every
month, but people who might have differing pay packets—they
might be paid weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly rather
than monthly. A recipient might not get their UC in a month
because they have two pay packets falling within that
month. What we can do straightaway is this: the person has
their entitlement to benefits, and they will then sign on
again the month after and remain in UC. We are providing
guidance and support for both claimants and employees so
that people stay on a cushion of benefit, but the system
reflects their fluctuating wage.
-
Mr Speaker
Well, we are all now considerably better informed.
-
Mr (Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
T2. If the Secretary of State wants people to have
confidence in her Department, what is she doing about
Motability? Is it true that its chief executive is on £1.7
million and that it has reserves of £2.4 billion? Many
people who are struggling support Motability, but they want
to know what is going on. [906180]
-
Ms McVey
Again, the hon. Gentleman raises a good point. As he will
be aware, I am working with Opposition Members and with the
Work and Pensions Committee to make sure that money from
Motability—the charity or its operations—is being spent
correctly and, most importantly, on disabled people. A
report is being produced at this very minute.
-
(Crawley) (Con)
T6. I put on record my thanks to Department for Work and
Pensions staff in Crawley for the roll-out of universal
credit, which has gone so well over the past month. There
is just one case in which there has been a difficulty, and
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of
State for her commitment to pursue that. Is not that an
example of how MPs working with their local DWP departments
can make a positive difference? [906184]
-
Ms McVey
That is exactly what we are doing with the slow roll-out.
We are listening to what is needed. Members on both sides
of the House supported the policy of universal credit
because the old legacy benefits were not working, but we
have to get this right and support claimants during the
roll-out.
-
(Enfield,
Southgate) (Lab)
T3. Is the Minister aware of the hardship that parents face
under the current regime of child maintenance non-resident
parent capital rules? Will he meet me and my constituent,
Elizabeth Green, to help to resolve her case, whereby her
former partner has not paid a penny in maintenance in over
14 years, yet owns assets worth in excess of £5 million?
[906181]
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Kit Malthouse)
I am more than happy to meet the hon. Gentleman and his
constituent to discuss that particular issue. He will be
aware that earlier this year the Government consulted on
changes to the rules about child maintenance, including a
power to impute an income from assets of 8.5%, and we hope
to publish the conclusions from that consultation shortly.
-
(North Warwickshire)
(Con)
The last jobs fair that I held in my constituency focused
on Disability Confident employers, and it is great to see
that more than 5,000 are now signed up nationally. What
more can MPs do to encourage more employers to join this
fantastic scheme?
-
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Sarah
Newton)
I am very grateful for the hard work that my hon. Friend is
putting into his constituency. I have great news: the
latest figures show that just under 7,000 employers have
signed up to the Disability Confident scheme. I would
really welcome every Member of this House signing up to the
100-day challenge in order to help their many constituents
who would really like to work. There is something that
everybody can do—[Interruption]—constructively, rather than
chuntering from a sedentary position.
-
Hon. Members
Ooh!
-
Mr Speaker
Order. The Minister was extremely clear; there was no
chuntering there, that’s for sure.
-
(Redcar)
(Lab/Co-op)
T4. Will the Secretary of State inform us whether it is now
official DWP policy to scan claimants’ Facebook and other
social media pages for evidence of spending patterns such
as meals or days out with their family, and to then use
that evidence to turn down illness or disability-related
benefits? If this is approved DWP policy, will she put the
guidance before the House? [906182]
-
Ms McVey
I will be honest: I do not believe that that is our policy;
we would not do that. However, I have seen fraud
investigations when people have said that they are not
working or are unable to work, but unfortunately what they
have posted on their Facebook page has very much proven
that not to be the case.
-
(Shipley) (Con)
The Secretary of State knows that I was not happy with the
level of outreach support in Shipley when the jobcentre
closed at the beginning of January—we speak of very little
else, Mr Speaker. I am delighted that some extra support
has now been given, but will my right hon. Friend ensure
that a Jobcentre Plus outreach worker is available at a
public venue on a regular basis to help claimants in the
Shipley constituency?
-
Ms McVey
When my hon. Friend said that “we” speak of little else, I
was not sure whether he was talking about me and he, or he
and the rest of the people in Shipley. But he is quite
right. I am ensuring that one of the key things this
Department does is more outreach work. As UC rolls out, it
needs to reflect the needs of local people, and outreach is
a sure-fire way to do that.
-
(Delyn) (Lab)
T5. May I just drag the Secretary of State back to the
National Audit Office report? It said that the Department
should“ensure the programme does not expand before
business-as-usual operations can cope with higher claimant
volumes.”How does the Secretary of State square that with
her comments about speeding up the scheme, rather than
stopping it as the NAO recommends? [906183]
-
Ms McVey
The report said that we should carry on with universal
credit and that the roll-out should not be slower. The very
reference to it not being slower was to ensure that it is
sped up. This has been a slow roll-out but, of course, we
have to ensure that the roll-out is right, as we have been
doing, hence the extra support that we are providing. I
repeat the extra number of jobs that we are helping people
get: 3.2 million more people are in work.
-
(Congleton)
(Con)
Family relationship support providers such as Relate,
Tavistock Relationships, OnePlusOne and Marriage Care are
concerned that there could be a gap in funding—and
therefore in critical services such as parental conflict
resolution—after current contracts end next month and
before new contracts start. How will Ministers address
this?
-
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s work in this area. She
was instrumental in securing a £39 million commitment from
the previous Prime Minister towards this area of work. She
knows that we are in the process of going through a
procurement process for a new parental conflict programme,
of which face-to-face therapy forms about 25%. We have
recently published a timetable for the procurement process.
I would be more than happy to meet her and the
organisations to talk about what we can do to help.
-
(Nottingham North)
(Lab/Co-op)
T9. Universal credit is having a profound impact on local
authorities, such as enormous housing revenue account
pressures. Ahead of the roll-out of universal credit in
Nottingham, what new resources will be made available to
Nottingham City Council to mitigate this impact? [906188]
-
The Minister for Employment (Alok Sharma)
As the hon. Gentleman will know, a “new burdens” policy is
in operation and has been for many years. Where local
councils come forward with specific costs, we review them
and make payments. In 2017-18, £13 million was paid out to
local councils.
-
(Erewash) (Con)
Will my hon. Friend outline what official support is
available to families when one parent is unexpectedly
unable to work because of a serious illness such as cancer?
Does this support apply to claimants who are employed and
self-employed?
-
There is a range of support and no two families are the
same. I encourage my hon. Friend to go to her Jobcentre
Plus. I am sure that the really able colleagues there will
be able to advise on which benefits and types of support
are available.
-
(Kingston upon Hull West
and Hessle) (Lab)
The PIP assessment has disproportionately and unfairly
impacted on people with epilepsy, with 60% having their
budgets reduced when they move from DLA to PIP. This is
nearly 20% higher than for any other condition. Will the
Government admit that the current assessment process is not
fit for purpose for people with epilepsy and set out what
is being done to improve it?
-
The vast majority of people who go through this process are
very satisfied with it. Many more people are receiving
higher amounts of payment on PIP than on DLA. I work very
closely with the voluntary sector and charities to
continuously improve PIP.
-
(South Suffolk)
(Con)
I am sure that you will be delighted, Mr Speaker, that
Wimbledon is now under way. Of course, that means that
tonnes of British strawberries will be consumed. I very
much welcome my right hon. Friend’s recent comments about
encouraging more British workers to pick that fruit. Will
she update the House on her plans in this area?
-
Mr Speaker
I am even more pleased that Roger Federer won his opening
match in straight sets in less than an hour and a half.
Conveniently it finished just before Question Time
began—that was very helpful.
-
Ms McVey
Then everyone is a winner today in this Chamber.
My hon. Friend is right. I have met representatives of the
agricultural industry. What was key was people
understanding what opportunities are out there, what the
work entails and the wage that it pays, and the fact that
universal credit supports people in and out of work, which
means that they can take up these job opportunities.
-
(Dewsbury) (Lab)
A gentleman in his 80s attended my recent surgery regarding
his son, who in his 50s and has complex and multiple
disabilities. It beggars belief that he is being found fit
for work. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this
specific case? When will her Government stop vilifying the
disabled and the most vulnerable in society?
-
Of course I will be absolutely delighted to meet the hon.
Lady to discuss the case, but I utterly refute her
assertion. We are absolutely determined to do everything
that we can to make sure that people get the support that
they need.
-
(Torbay) (Con)
As the Minister will know, universal credit rolls out in
Torbay on 5 September. I have already welcomed the work
that has been done by the DWP to engage with me. Will he
confirm what resources will be made available to ensure
that the roll-out on 5 September is successful for my
constituents?
-
My hon. Friend will be receiving a letter from the local
jobcentre manager, and that will give him an opportunity to
engage. We make sure that work coaches provide the
one-to-one support that is so important under universal
credit.
-
(Batley and Spen)
(Lab/Co-op)
Joanne in my constituency needs 24-hour care. She was
selected for early mandatory reassessment last November, a
full year before her PIP was supposed to run out. She lost
that reassessment and is appealing. When she lost, her
money was stopped, and the family are living on food bank
generosity. Does the Minister agree that that is deeply
unfair? Will she take a fresh look at maintaining benefit
payments for those who have early reassessments—in that
case, a whole 12 months before the PIP was supposedly going
to run out?
-
I remind the hon. Lady that PIP is a benefit for people
both in work and out of work. It is there to recognise the
additional costs of having a disability. For people who are
unemployed, ESA is the benefit that they need to claim.
-
Mr (Kettering)
(Con)
Children in workless households are five times more likely
to live in poverty than those in working households. Can
the Minister tell me by how much the number of workless
households has risen or fallen since the Conservatives
entered government in 2010?
-
The proportion of people in absolute poverty is now at a
record low, with 1 million fewer people and 300,000 fewer
children in absolute poverty since 2010. I cannot at this
moment recall the number of households, but I will write to
my hon. Friend with that number.
-
(Liverpool, Walton)
(Lab)
There are just three case examiners working on 2,841 WASPI
cases. The average wait for a complaint is 36 weeks, and
last year 687 complaints took more than 43 weeks. Why are
Ministers treating WASPI women with such disdain?
-
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (Guy Opperman)
The reality of the situation is that these matters are going
through a particular process. That process is ongoing, and
the outcomes will be revealed when the decisions are made.
There is no difference in any way from how the Government
treat other claimants.
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(Redditch) (Con)
I do not want to see any young person in Redditch unemployed,
which was why I set up Redditch Mentors, a scheme to help
young people to reach their full potential. The last Labour
Government presided over a record rise of 45% in young people
being unemployed. What more are the Government doing to
improve that?
-
May I commend my hon. Friend on all the work she does in her
constituency? Youth unemployment is at a record low—it is 40%
lower than it was under the last Labour Government—and
programmes such as the youth support programme are available
to help individuals. We value young people. It is about time
that Labour did the same.
-
(East Ham) (Lab)
A Minister suggested earlier that the policies of the Labour
Government had not reduced poverty. Are Ministers not aware
that child poverty was reduced by 800,000 over 13 years
thanks to the policy of the Labour Government? Are they also
aware that it is now rocketing?
-
As the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my
hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Kit
Malthouse), made clear, since 2010 there are 300,000 fewer
children living in absolute poverty. As we have heard, the
route out of poverty is work. We have record levels of
employment, and that is something we should all welcome
across the House.
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