Pension Credit
(Clwyd South) (Con)
1. What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of
eligible people claiming pension credit.(903868)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
My Department has carried out a comprehensive campaign of
communication since April 2022 to promote pension credit. I am
pleased to inform the House that the average number of pension
credit applications is up 73% compared with this time last
year.
I strongly backed my right hon. Friend’s campaign in December
last year, particularly in my Clwyd South constituency. Will he
give us a further assessment of how effective that campaign has
been in Wales and across the rest of the UK?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work that he has been doing
in his constituency on this matter. I can inform him that for the
week commencing 12 December, for example, there were 7,200
claims, which is a 177% increase compared with this time last
year.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
This is not party political; we all want to make sure that
pensioners in need get the help and support that they can get.
The Secretary of State will understand, though, that in
communities such as mine there are still too many pensioners
eligible for pension credit who are not yet accessing it. Given
the success of his campaign so far, what further will he do to
ensure that the really hard-to-reach pensioners get the support
that they deserve and need?
I very much welcome the hon. Gentleman’s question and the
non-partisan way in which he presented it. He is absolutely
right; there must be no let-up in this matter. Two thirds of
those we believe are eligible for pension credit receive it, but
that means that one third do not. We cannot identify them
precisely in advance, which is why communication is so important.
We will write to 11,000 pensioners soon to tell them about the
uprating and to stress the point about pension credit. From
today, we are launching television advertisements to further that
message.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Reading East) (Lab)
The Government seem to be trying to pat themselves on the back
after years of failure on pension credit. As we just heard,
hundreds of thousands of pensioners are still missing out on a
vital top-up benefit that is needed to get them through the cost
of living crisis. Why has the Government’s response been so
ineffective, and what on earth will the Government do about their
dismal failure to help pensioners during their hour of need?
I am very surprised to hear the hon. Gentleman pose that
question, first, because of his party’s record on this matter
when they were in government; and secondly, because of the clear
progress that I have outlined to the House today and on previous
occasions about the increase in take-up that the Government are
securing.
Pensioner Poverty: State Pension Age
(Glasgow North) (SNP)
2. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of
increasing the state pension age on trends in the level of
pensioner poverty.(903869)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
My review of the state pension age is under way. The review will
consider a wide range of evidence, including two independent
reports, to assess whether the rules on pensionable age remain
appropriate.
I hope that the evidence that the Secretary of State examines
includes analysis by Age UK that 1.5 million pre-state pension
age households have no savings at all. Age UK warns that
accelerating the rise of the state pension age
“will condemn millions to a miserable and impoverished run up to
retirement”.
Instead of risking that increase in pensioner poverty, should he
not establish an independent pensions and savings commission to
ensure that pension policies are fit for purpose and reflect the
demographic needs of different parts of the United Kingdom?
The two reports to which I have just referred are
independent—from the Government Actuary’s Department, on matters
such as life expectancy; and from , on the metrics that
should be taken into account in determining when the next
increase in the state pension age should occur. We certainly take
into account issues such as pensioner poverty, on which we have
an excellent record. In fact, relative pensioner poverty before
housing has halved since 1999, and there are 400,000 fewer
pensioners in absolute poverty—that is before or after
housing—compared with 2009-10.
(New Forest West) (Con)
Is it realistic to continue to expect people to spend a third of
their lives on a pension?
I have great respect for my right hon. Friend, but I am afraid
that although he tempts me to answer that question, I cannot
prejudge the decisions that I will take in the review.
Economic Inactivity: Working-age People
(Aylesbury) (Con)
3. What steps he is taking to reduce levels of economic
inactivity among working-age people.(903870)
(Wimbledon) (Con)
10. What steps he is taking to reduce levels of economic
inactivity among working-age people.(903877)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
The Prime Minister has asked me to review the matter of economic
inactivity, and the results of that review will be shared with
the House shortly.
One of the keys to getting working-age people to return to work
is obviously providing the right incentives, such as the training
programmes and advice provided by my right hon. Friend’s
Department—the likes of Jobcentre Plus—but it is also important
to remove disincentives. What discussions is he having with
Treasury colleagues about ensuring that tax policy, especially on
pensions, does not stand in the way of people who have skills and
experience staying in, or returning to, the workplace?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter, which
of course is well known to the Chancellor and Treasury
colleagues. We have a variety of discussions with the Treasury on
those kinds of matters and others. Of course, tax policy is a
matter for the Treasury.
I commend my right hon. Friend for the work that the Department
is doing to try to reduce economic inactivity. He will know that
many of the over-50s moving out of employment and into economic
inactivity are concentrated in the self-employed and part-time
workforces. Can he confirm that his review will look at measures
to bring those people back into the workforce?
I can reassure my hon. Friend that we are most certainly looking
carefully at that particular cohort of people who have
prematurely retired—if I may use that term—and are over the age
of 50. It is one of the biggest cohorts that we are trying to
encourage back into the workforce, and I will have more to say on
that matter in due course.
(Kingston upon Hull West and
Hessle) (Lab)
The pandemic made a revolutionary change to the way we work. I
know the Secretary of State has heard me mention Work Hull: Work
Happy before, but research published today by the Phoenix Group
on economic inactivity in the over-50s states that
“flexible work…support with new technologies…and the opportunity
to work from home”
are favoured support strands for people returning to work. Will
the Secretary of State therefore back Labour’s plan to make
flexible working a force for good for all workers?
I very much welcome the hon. Lady’s question—I certainly enjoyed
my time working with her on the Treasury Committee, where she
raised these matters with great passion. She is absolutely right
that flexible working is the way forward, and not just for the
over-50s but often for those who have disabilities. This is a big
opportunity that we need to seize.
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
I understand that the latest figures reveal that there are
788,000 young people not in employment, education or training.
Does the Secretary of State regard that as an acceptable figure,
and if not, how and when is he going to tackle it?
Even one person in the circumstances that the hon. Gentleman
refers to is one too many. We are going to come forward very
shortly with further measures on how we address those particular
people, and at the time of the Budget on 15 March—which is very
close now—the hon. Gentleman will probably learn more.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Leicester South)
(Lab/Co-op)
I understand that Ministers are struggling to convince the Office
for Budget Responsibility that their inactivity plan will get
half a million people back to work. One way in which the
Secretary of State could hit his target is by encouraging more
parents to move into work. Of course, many women, in particular,
are blocked from returning to work because of childcare costs.
Given that we should be doing more to help parents move into
work, why has he now frozen the childcare cost cap in universal
credit for the seventh year in a row?
As to whether the OBR is or is not scoring the various measures
that are being presented to it by the Treasury, I am intrigued as
to how the right hon. Gentleman seems to know that it is having
problems. The OBR operates under conditions of utter
confidentiality in these matters, and I would not doubt that that
is the way it has proceeded this time around. As for childcare,
he is absolutely right. He will have to be a little patient—I
know that he sometimes struggles to be patient—and we will then
come forward with measures, and no doubt we will have something
to say about the matter he has raised.
I know that because the Secretary of State’s Government sources
briefed The Sunday Times yesterday on that particular point, but
I will wait and see. I will wait for the OBR report next week,
and we will see what target for inactivity the Government publish
and what the OBR endorses. He will know that many working parents
would return to work if they could afford childcare, but many are
expected to find hundreds of pounds—sometimes £1,000—to pay for
childcare up front. Who has £1,000 down the back of a sofa? Will
he make universal credit work by introducing more flexibility in
how it operates, or is he prepared to punish hard-working parents
by pushing them into more debt?
I am afraid that I am just going to have to repeat what I have
said, which is that the right hon. Gentleman will have to be
patient. I am confident that we will have some things to say
about the matters he has raised, but he will just have to wait
another couple of weeks before he learns what we are doing.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Glasgow East) (SNP)
Post pandemic, and under this uncaring Conservative Government,
we have seen sanctions skyrocket, pushing many people into
destitution. Can the Secretary of State come to the Dispatch Box
and outline how plunging people into poverty helps deal with
economic inactivity? Is it not the case that the only activity it
stimulates is at local food banks?
I am surprised, in a way, that the hon. Gentleman raises the
issue of poverty, because what we have seen, certainly since 2010
and under this Government, has been absolute levels of poverty
declining and fewer children growing up in workless homes, for
example, in distinct contrast to Governments prior to my party
coming into office.
Economic Inactivity: Towns and Cities
(Birkenhead) (Lab)
4. What estimate he has made of levels of economic inactivity in
towns and cities. (903871)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
The Office for National Statistics regularly publishes statistics
relating to estimates of local inactivity. I have been leading
work across Government with a further piece on participation, and
the Chancellor and I will shortly be setting out more details of
our plans.
Some 2.5 million people are economically inactive as a result of
long-term illness, and half a million have left the labour market
due to ill health since 2019. Does the Secretary of State accept
that tackling health inequalities and improving health outcomes
in deprived communities such as Birkenhead is essential to
achieving equitable economic growth? Can he inform the House what
conversations he has had with colleagues across the Cabinet about
the need for a holistic economic strategy that recognises that
health and wealth are inextricably linked?
It is important that we take into account the issues of poverty
and regional variations to which the hon. Gentleman refers. They
lie right at the heart of all the decisions we have taken. We
have come forward in recent times with significant cost of living
support measures. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex
() will be taking through the
remaining stages of the Social Security (Additional Payments)
(No. 2) Bill this very afternoon to address the people to whom
the hon. Gentleman refers.
(Mansfield) (Con)
I do not know whether my right hon. Friend saw my article in The
Times a few weeks ago, but it discussed opportunities for towns,
such as Mansfield, that have specific local requirements when it
comes to tackling economic inactivity, the opportunities of
building bespoke local schemes with local employers and training
providers, and the opportunities from those relationships on a
local level as part of a wider strategy within the region. What
is his stance on devolving decision-making powers in this space
down to local areas?
My hon. Friend raises a significant and important point. There
are areas, particularly around the Work and Health programme,
where we have done exactly that. We are engaged in discussions,
contingent upon or subsequent to the White Paper that the
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published on
levelling up, and in particular with areas such as the west
midlands and Greater Manchester, to make sure that we leverage
the knowledge, know-how, expertise and all the resources they
have at the local level to continue to bring people back into
work.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Wirral South) (Lab)
It is always a joy at Question Time to hear Labour MPs supporting
Labour policy, but even more so to hear Conservative MPs
supporting Labour’s policy of localising our efforts to get
people back to work. On that, may I ask the Secretary of State
something? I have been listening to what he has said, and I know
that he will not pre-empt the details of the inactivity review,
but can he just confirm that one of its objectives will be to
rebalance our economy, particularly in this connection between
health and labour supply?
That is at the heart of our manifesto, Madam Deputy
Speaker—[Interruption.] Sorry, Mr Speaker! Where did I get that
from? It is a sign of the times. Right at the heart of our
manifesto, and of the Government’s raison d’être, is the need to
make sure that we level up communities across the United Kingdom.
Of course, our action will take many forms, but one of them is
most certainly the support that we will provide to make sure
that, up and down the country, there is equality among those
seeking work, and those who are economically inactive, and that
they have the same opportunities.
Support into Employment: Over-50s
(Bracknell) (Con)
5. What steps he is taking to support people aged 50 and over
into employment.(903872)
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
12. What steps his Department is taking to encourage people aged
over 50 to remain in the workforce.(903879)
(Lichfield) (Con)
22. What help his Department is giving to people aged 50 and over
to find employment.(903890)
The Minister for Employment ()
The Government are already providing £20 million for an enhanced
offer to help older workers remain in, or return to, work. That
includes provision for 37 full-time 50-plus champions, who
deliver the midlife MOT, and for older workers jobs fairs. That
includes the three 50-plus fairs held in the constituency of my
hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell () in the last few
months.
The over-50s are a massive resource for our workforce, so could
the Minister please outline how we might incentivise back into
work those who retired during the pandemic, and those aged over
50 who have left the uniformed services and are seeking a second
career?
My hon. and gallant Friend served with dedication in the armed
forces before becoming Bracknell’s champion. He will be aware
that our armed forces champions go to great lengths to assist
ex-servicemen and women in finding second careers after their
service keeping us safe. He will also be aware that the
Chancellor may have more to say on the issue next week, on the
15th.
The Minister speaks about the ambitions for encouraging the
over-50s to remain in the workforce. Will the Minister tear up
his prepared answer, and tell the employees at the Department for
Work and Pensions Clydebank office—mostly working-class women
over the age of 50—how he squares that with his Government’s rank
hypocrisy, which has left them struggling for work during a cost
of living crisis?
There are now 10.7 million 50-plus workers—a figure that has gone
up by 2 million in the last 10 years. Local DWP jobcentres are
constantly engaging with employers to showcase the benefits of
hiring older workers. I urge the hon. Gentleman to go to Halfords
in St James retail park in Dumbarton in his constituency, because
Halfords is one of the employers employing over 100 new over-50s
apprentices on an ongoing basis. The hon. Gentleman should visit
and learn something.
As you know, Mr Speaker, because of my youth, I do not have to
declare an interest. Does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that,
on the whole, older people tend to be more punctual, dedicated
and reliable, and able to spell? What is he doing to tell
employers that those factors are the reason why they need to
employ older people?
Of course my hon. Friend, who I am sure is under the age of 50,
does not need to declare an interest in the Government’s desire
to ensure that we have more over-50s in employment. He will be
aware, however, that in the past few months there have been four
jobs fairs across Staffordshire and Derbyshire open to those from
Lichfield who are 50-plus, and planning is under way for another
event that will take place shortly.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
May I add my voice to the calls for us to use the talents of
people who are over 50? I am approaching that stage myself. Some
of the best years of my life were after 50, in terms of the
number of jobs that I was able to do, and the new schemes and
social enterprises that I was involved with. I know many people
who are waiting for that second chance to contribute to our
economy, and to social enterprises, if the Minister will give
them the right incentive.
The hon. Gentleman is right. I agree with him; there is life in
the old dog yet, as they say. It is important that we continue to
make the case that employment for the over-50s should be
supported by all employers.
Single-parent employment levels
(Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Lab)
6. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of the fall in the level of single-parent employment
between 2019 and 2022.(903873)
(Slough) (Lab)
15. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of the fall in the level of single-parent employment
between 2019 and 2022.(903882)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
We are committed to helping parents to increase their income
through work. We have cut the earnings taper on universal credit
and increased work allowances, meaning that families are, on
average, better off by £1,000 a year. Additionally, eligible
parents can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs through UC,
and further assistance is available through the flexible support
fund, Jobcentre Plus and work coaches.
On Friday, I visited my local citizens advice bureau at its new
offices on George Street in Lancaster, where I heard at first
hand of the challenges that single parents are having with the
amount of the childcare element of universal credit being capped
at the level set in 2005 and with its being paid in arrears. What
steps has the Minister taken to ensure that benefits go up in
line with the cost of childcare and to look at paying this
element up front?
I thank the hon. Lady for that question. The UC childcare element
can be used to top up a claimant’s eligible free childcare hours
if more hours are worked and more childcare is required. We also
use the flexible support fund to support those up-front costs, as
we heard earlier. However, I would like to take this opportunity
to talk about employers; this is not solely about what the
Government can do on our own to help lone parents. Job design,
the opportunity to progress and flexible work are really
important too, as is the opportunity to return and progress. We
cannot do this on our own.
Mr Dhesi
It is alarming that last year the employment rate for single
parents had the biggest annual fall on record, and it is all the
more worrying because the single parent employment rate has been
on an upward long-term trend since the mid-1990s. Surely the
Minister would agree that the eligible cost limit on childcare in
universal credit needs to be uprated to reflect the ground
reality of today’s soaring childcare costs.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Under this
Government since 2010, we have seen a significant increase in
lone parents in work, with the rate going up from 56.1% in 2010
to 65.5% in 2022. However, the reality—and I think he describes
it—is that there are too many challenges for lone parents, and it
is absolutely right that we look at this. As we have heard from
the Secretary of State, we are hoping to hear more: the
Chancellor is ever present in our minds. As a lone parent, I
again make the plea to employers to help people come back to
work, because we know it is more than just a pay packet; it is
really important to see the whole of society represented in the
labour market.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Westminster North) (Lab)
Figures published today by the Centre for Progressive Policy show
that the lack of affordable childcare prevented a quarter of
parents of children under 10 from working more hours, with all
the implications that has for family finances, but also for
economic productivity. In fact, parental underemployment is
estimated to cost this country over £20 billion. With
expectations having been raised again this afternoon that next
week’s Budget will do something about the cost of childcare, can
the Minister tell us how long it will be before she expects the
level of lone parent employment to rise again to where it was
three years ago?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I think we have some
amazing childcare out there and some brilliant opportunities for
lone parents, as I have described. It is important to let people
know that, on universal credit, they can claim back 85%. It is
better than legacy benefits, and they should please look at the
benefits calculator on gov.uk and use the flexible support fund.
We should also recognise that it is not right for everybody to go
straight back to work—this needs to be individualised—and that we
should support the lone parent and make sure they can get the
skills and the opportunity to always be better off in work.
Cost of Living: Pensioner Support
Mr (Old Bexley and Sidcup)
(Con)
7. What steps his Department is taking to support pensioners with
increases in living costs.(903874)
(Newcastle-under-Lyme)
(Con)
20. What steps his Department is taking to help pensioners with
increases in living costs.(903888)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
The Government are committed to helping pensioners with the
increased costs of living. From April, pensioners will receive
the largest ever cash increase in the state pension, and pension
credit will also be uprated by 10.1%.
Mr French
I strongly welcome the additional support His Majesty’s
Government are providing to all households across the country,
especially pensioners, with the costs of living. In contrast,
many pensioners in Bexley are facing additional concerns because
of Labour’s outrageous ultra low emission zone tax raid on
drivers in Greater London. Will my hon. Friend outline what
further support is available to pensioners through the likes of
pension credit and join me in Bexley to promote it so that more
people sign up for this support?
The ULEZ is an outrageous attack on pensioners who can least
afford it, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the amazing
work he is doing to fight it and to help all pensioners in his
constituency. I would be delighted to visit him and see that work
for myself.
I thank the Minister for her answer. With 26,500 pensioners in
the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, the 10.1% increase in the
state pension and pension credit will be very welcome, but what
other schemes are the Government putting in place to help people
with the cost of living at this time?
Pensioners will receive a further £300 cost of living payment
this winter and all on pension credit will receive a further
£900.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Select Committee.
Sir (East Ham) (Lab)
The pensions dashboard will provide important support. It was due
to be rolled out from August, but last week the Minister, very
disappointingly, announced a delay and we do not now know when it
will be implemented. Is it a delay of weeks or months, or even
longer? Will the Minister give us a full, urgent update before
the Easter recess?
Work is ongoing and I will come back to the House at the earliest
available opportunity.
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
Since 2015, more than 219,000 1950s-born WASPI women—Women
Against State Pension Inequality—have passed away. What more are
Ministers doing to ensure that WASPI women get the pensions they
deserve?
The hon. Gentleman will know that the new state pension is very
beneficial for women. We know that under automatic enrolment,
more women than ever have got a private pension. On the specific
matter he asked about, he will know that there is ongoing work by
the ombudsman, and I cannot comment until that is completed.
Benefit Fraud
(North West Leicestershire)
(Ind)
8. What steps his Department is taking to reduce benefit
fraud.(903875)
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work ()
We take all fraud very seriously and have a range of measures in
place, supported by two tranches of additional investment
totalling around £900 million, which will prevent a further £2.4
billion of loss by 2024-25. In May last year, we published
“Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System”, which details our
proposals for reducing fraud and error, including legislative
change and closer working across Government.
I thank the Minister for that answer, but I have had numerous
reports from constituents of alleged incidents of benefit fraud
and what they perceive as a lack of action when they report them
to the Department, so will the Minister inform the House by how
many his Department plans to increase staff in the counter-fraud
teams?
I am very appreciative of my hon. Friend raising this point. It
is fair to say that we are coming after those who commit benefit
fraud: it is unfair on the taxpayer, it is wrong, and that
message must go out in the strongest terms. That is being backed
up by action, as we set out in the plan. For example, over the
next five years, we will see 2,000 specialists dedicated to
getting across 2 million universal credit cases. That is an
important contribution to make sure that we bring this money back
into the Department where it rightly belongs.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr Speaker
Is standing up?
(Stirling) (SNP)
indicated dissent.
Mr Speaker
No, but you did stand at the beginning. In that case, I call
somebody who is always going to stand: .
(Strangford) (DUP)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is very important that all benefit
fraud is taken on board, but many times in my constituency over
the past few years, people have inadvertently filled in forms
incorrectly and have found themselves having to pay money back.
May I ask that compassion be shown to those who have
inadvertently done wrong but realised they have to pay back, to
ensure that they can pay back at a level they can afford?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise this point, and it is
important to note that we work on a case-by-case basis. Of
course, where there are instances of error of that kind, we work
on an individual basis to work out a repayment plan that is
appropriate for those individuals, taking into account any
financial vulnerabilities or challenges they might face.
Cost of Living: Support for Vulnerable Households
(Rother Valley)
(Con)
9. What steps his Department is taking to support the most
vulnerable households with increases in costs.(903876)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
The Government recognise the pressures people are facing and have
acted, providing cost of living support worth over £37 billion in
2022-23. In April, we are going further by uprating benefits,
state pensions and the benefit cap by 10.1%. We are also
providing £1 billion for the extension of the household support
fund in England, with Barnett consequentials for the devolved
Administrations. That includes £12.4 million for Rotherham
Metropolitan Borough Council residents from October 2021 to March
next year.
Will my hon. Friend confirm that her Department has changed the
way it makes cost of living payments, so that those in the most
need continue to benefit, while ensuring that we do not
overburden the hard-working majority of my constituents in Rother
Valley with ever higher taxes?
I thank my hon. Friend for making that point. We are legislating
this afternoon for the three further cost of living payments for
the next financial year, ensuring that more people are eligible
for support and that we are reaching the most vulnerable. The
payments will be worth up to £900, with a further £300 for
pensioners and £150 for those with a disability. In Rother
Valley, we estimate that 10,600 households will be eligible for
means-tested cost of living payments, and that 11,800 households
will be eligible for disability cost of living support.
(Oldham East and
Saddleworth) (Lab)
It has been nearly 12 months since the Equality and Human Rights
Commission issued a section 23 notice against the Department for
Work and Pensions, following concerns about the deaths of and
discrimination against disabled claimants. Has an agreement yet
been reached, and, if not, when will it be?
I thank the hon. Lady for her point. I am assured by the Minister
for Disabled People, Health and Work that constructive
conversations are ongoing and that this matter is being taken
seriously. I am sure that he will have the hon. Lady’s
question.
Cost of Living: Support for Disabled People
(Bosworth) (Con)
11. What steps his Department has taken to support disabled
people with increases in costs.(903878)
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work ()
Six million people receiving an eligible disability benefit
received a £150 disability cost of living payment last year, and
they will receive a further £150 payment this year. Those on a
qualifying means-tested benefit will also receive up to £900 in
cost of living payments.
People in Bosworth will be grateful for the disability support
they have, but a key challenge that I saw as a GP was getting
people who are disabled back into work. We know that work is good
for their welfare and their wallet, so what more can we do to
create a conducive environment, from diagnosis all the way
through, for those suffering from a disability to get back into
the workplace?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that issue. We are
committed to supporting people into work and, importantly, to
retain roles once they have them. We recognise, working across
Government, that for many disabled people work is a determinant
of better health outcomes. No doubt we will continue to take on
board feedback about what more we might do in that space, and I
would be delighted to have a conversation with my hon. Friend,
based on his experiences, about the support we already provide
and where we might go from here.
(Stirling) (SNP)
On benefits, I am delighted to hear that some things are being
done, but, from a Scottish perspective, I really do not think
that it is enough. 38 Degrees has done polling across all our
constituencies, and 70% of respondents in Stirling agreed that
this UK Government
“do not understand the impact the cost of living crisis is having
on people”.
Do Ministers accept that vote of no confidence?
Certainly not, and I am delighted that I actually have a far more
constructive working relationship with the Scottish Minister
responsible for these issues than the question from the hon.
Member suggests.
(Blackpool North and
Cleveleys) (Con)
Many families with disabled children are struggling with energy
costs right now. The £150 for those receiving personal
independence payment is clearly welcome, but if someone is
dependent on a machine, such as a powered wheelchair, a
ventilator, an oxygen concentrator or a ceiling hoist, the cost
is more like £150 a month, not £150 a year. What more can the
Department, and the Government more widely, do to ensure that
those families do not turn their machines off and put their
children’s health at risk?
It is fair to say that none of us would want to see people
putting their health, or their relatives’ health, at risk. We of
course have a comprehensive package of support in place, as my
hon. Friend is aware. There is also discretionary support
provided through the household support fund and administered by
local authorities, as well as the energy support that Ministers
elsewhere in Government are leading on. However, I am very
mindful of the need to future-proof people against those costs,
and that is work that I am currently looking at.
(Motherwell and Wishaw)
(SNP)
This might help the Minister, who is very aware that disabled
people are more likely to live in poverty than non-disabled
people and are particularly vulnerable to the cost of living, as
has been demonstrated by colleagues. Legacy benefit claimants,
many of whom are long-term sick or disabled, have been unjustly
denied the additional uplift that universal credit claimants got
during the pandemic. Will the Minister commit to remedying that
injustice by reintroducing the universal uplift, increasing it to
£25 a week and giving it to all legacy benefit claimants?
I thank the hon. Lady for her suggestion of new policy. As a
Government Minister, I am not in a position to create new policy
on the hoof. What I would say, however, is that there are
significant cost of living support measures in place, and
individuals will be able to access the support that is
appropriate for them.
Mr Speaker
We now come to the shadow Minister.
(Lewisham, Deptford)
(Lab)
My hon. Friend the Member for Battersea () and I have asked
numerous written questions about the shocking 461% increase in
the number of personal independence payment claims disallowed for
the non-return of the AR1 review form between 2017 and 2021. The
Minister, sadly, has no idea why the increase has happened, or by
extension whether vulnerable people are being left struggling to
manage, as the Department does not collect information on the
reasons for the non-return of the AR1 form. So I ask the Minister
again today: when will he take action to investigate this
issue?
There may be many and varied reasons why individuals choose not
to return the forms. [Interruption.] If the hon. Lady will allow
me to answer the question, that would really benefit the House.
The bottom line here is that there may be many and varied reasons
why people do not return the forms, including their circumstances
changing materially, but I am very happy to take the point away
and look at it further.
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
(Kettering) (Con)
13. How many people have received the pensioner cost of living
payment in (a) Kettering constituency, (b) north Northamptonshire
and (c) England.(903880)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
In 2021-22, almost 18,000 pensioners in Kettering, over 60,000
pensioners in north Northamptonshire and more than 9 million
pensioners in England received a winter fuel payment. We estimate
that similar numbers will have received the £300 pensioner cost
of living payment in 2022-23.
Mr Hollobone
Will those 18,000 pensioners in receipt of the pensioner cost of
living payment also receive additional support, such as the £400
energy bill discount, the £150 council tax rebate, the £150
disability cost of living payment and the £150 warm home
discount? Will they also benefit from the energy price guarantee,
saving a typical household £900 a year?
My hon. Friend is right in this, as in so many things.
Unemployment Levels: Towns and Cities
(Blackburn) (Lab)
14. What estimate he has made of levels of unemployment in towns
and cities.(903881)
The Minister for Employment ()
The January Office for National Statistics labour market
statistics publication shows that payroll employment reached a
new record high of 30 million in January 2023. That is, of
course, higher than at any stage under the last, or any, Labour
Government.
We hear of a record number of vacancies, yet so many who are
looking to get into work are out of work. In Blackburn, the
claimant count among 18 to 24-year-olds is at 7.9%, against a
national rate of 4.6%. What is the Minister doing to bring down
barriers to work such as unaffordable childcare, transport, a
failed apprenticeship scheme and a levelling-up agenda that is
just not meeting the skills agenda?
The hon. Lady should be aware that last Tuesday there was a jobs
fair in her constituency. There were 59 exhibitors, and 900
customers attended the event. They provided fantastic feedback on
the support and interventions given. If she did not attend that
particular jobs fair, she might want to go to “March into
manufacturing” on 21 March, an upcoming jobs fair in her
patch.
(Wellingborough) (Con)
We started the sitting with a non-party political point, so may I
continue in that mode? I absolutely agree that those on the
Opposition Benches want to reduce the level of unemployment.
Unfortunately, their policies do not follow. Does the Minister
agree that every single Labour Government have left unemployment
higher than when they came to office?
Yes.
Industrial Relations: Department for Work and Pensions
(Cynon Valley) (Lab)
16 . What assessment he has made of the state of industrial
relations within his Department.(903884)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
Constructive discussions take place with the Public and
Commercial Services Union, FDA and Prospect unions on a range of
topics, as is set out in our employee relations handbook. The PCS
and Prospect unions are in dispute with the Department for Work
and Pensions, along with a number of other Departments, about
various issues. As ever, we will remain positively engaged.
Is the Secretary of State aware that more than a quarter of DWP
staff are paid so little that the national living wage floor
increase this April will lift their salaries? Is he aware that
thousands of civil servants forced to take strike action are
going without food and having to use foodbanks? Will he commit to
constructive talks with the PCS union to resolve the dispute, to
put a real pay rise on the table and to make ending the scourge
of low pay in his Department a priority?
The hon. Lady raises an important point. We will continue to have
constructive and positive discussions with the PCS and other
unions. She raised the national living wage; she will know that
it is to rise by 9.7% this April, to its highest level on
record.
Topical Questions
(Harrow East) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(903893)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ()
The Department’s major focus is looking after the vulnerable and
those most in need. I am therefore delighted that next month, the
basic state pension will increase by 10.1%, as will most
benefits. The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my
hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (), will be taking legislation
through the House this afternoon to ensure that we continue
substantial cost of living payments for the year ahead.
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s announcements. The extra £842
million for the household support fund, of which Harrow will
receive £3 million, is extremely welcome. Could he update the
House on what monitoring is taking place so that best practice is
followed across the country and that the money that the
Government are allocating reaches the most vulnerable?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. He is right that
almost £3 million from the household support fund will go to his
constituency, on top of the £7.4 million that his local authority
will receive in total. We monitor very closely how the money is
administered to ensure that it has the maximum effect, by
liaising closely with the local authorities concerned.
Mr Speaker
I call the Scottish National party spokesperson.
(Glasgow East) (SNP)
Does the Secretary of State understand and agree that expediting
the rise in the state pension age is less about life expectancy,
which, according to the Office for National Statistics is very
much arrested, and more about a cost-cutting measure for the
Treasury? Can he tell the House what representations he has made
to the Chancellor about that in advance of next week’s Budget? Or
is it just the UK Government’s policy that people should work
until they drop?
The hon. Gentleman is prejudging an awful lot of potential
outcomes. He should wait until the Chancellor and I have taken
those particular decisions. I am focused on a variety of metrics.
Life expectancy is one of them, as is regional impact. The fiscal
impact certainly cannot be ignored, and I would be surprised if
he suggested otherwise. Fairness between generations and the
period of life in which one is expected to be healthy in later
years are also important considerations.
(Wimbledon) (Con)
T2. I warmly welcome the Government’s decision to increase the
state pension by more than 10% in April, but does my right hon.
Friend agreed that we should encourage private provision
alongside state provision? Will he say what conversations his
Department has had with the Treasury about extending the lifetime
allowance or annual allowance for pensions, and anything more on
auto-enrolment?(903894)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
I am delighted that the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the
Member for Stoke-on-Trent North () passed Second Reading on
Friday, and I look forward to its Committee next week. This
excellent piece of legislation will bring 18 to 22-year-olds into
automatic enrolment in full for the first time, and will ensure
that people are saving from the first pound earned—two vital
steps to ensure that people get the retirement that they
want.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
T4. A constituent recently contacted me about the lack of
reasonable adjustments in place at the local jobcentre for those
with mental health or cognitive difficulties. How do Ministers
plan to improve staff awareness and the reasonable adjustments
offering?(903896)
The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work ()
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising this issue in such
constructive terms. I expect teams to be responsive to needs for
reasonable adjustments. Perhaps she could share the details of
the specific experience so that I can look into it. It is fair to
say that staff go through ongoing learning, and we refresh the
guidance at regular intervals.
(Keighley) (Con)
T3. Canmy hon. Friend provide an assessment of how personal
independence payment appointments are being administered? Many
constituents have kindly contacted me to say that they are still
having claims processed over the phone rather than at an
in-person appointment. I am sure he agrees that in-person
appointments are vital to ensuring that our constituents get the
right level of support.(903895)
Regardless of the form that PIP assessments take, the structure
is the same. Evidence suggests that both forms are equally
effective, but I hope that I can reassure my hon. Friend by
saying that if individuals want to have a face-to-face
assessment, they absolutely can.
(Bath) (LD)
T7. In Bath and North East Somerset, the gap between local
housing allowance and rent for the cheapest three-bedroom
property is nearly £4,000. My inbox is full of emails from
desperate families on low incomes who are being squeezed out of
living in Bath. Will the Secretary of State unfreeze the local
housing allowance so that benefits are better aligned with rent
in the local area?(903899)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
()
The Government are projected to spend £30 billion—about 1.3% of
GDP—on support for renters. Approximately £100 million has been
allocated for the discretionary housing payment in 2023-24 to
help local authorities, if necessary, which can top up from their
own funding to help the hon. Lady’s constituents.
(Gedling) (Con)
T5. A constituent of mine who has been in full-time work since he
was 16 is now in his mid-40s and is unable to work as he awaits
major surgery. For people like him, navigating a complex welfare
system for the first time is difficult and worrying. Does my hon.
Friend agree on the importance of people such as my constituent
being able to access clear advice about the welfare benefits
system to remove added financial worries? Will he outline the
support available for people in such circumstances to access
high-quality occupational health support to help them get back to
work?(903897)
I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend and send my best
wishes to his constituent for their surgery. The Department
offers support through disability employment advisers who work
alongside all work coaches, specialising in finding the right
support to help customers who have a disability or health
condition into work. I know that the dedicated team in
Nottinghamshire would certainly be delighted to engage with my
hon. Friend or his constituent and try to help with this
issue.
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)
T9. At the end of last year, the National Audit Office found
that levels of benefit fraud and error were “unacceptably high”,
totalling £8.6 billion for the year. How exactly will the
Secretary of State reduce benefit fraud and error and claw back
this appalling waste of taxpayers’ money?(903901)
I would argue that the Public Accounts Committee report does not
reflect the steps that we took and that we set out in the plan
that was published last May. As I set out to the House earlier,
we are taking a tough approach to the issue, and rightly so—this
is taxpayers’ money. For example, the work of the 2,000 extra
officials on targeted case reviews, 2 million of which are in
universal credit, is a really important part of getting that
money back.
(Stoke-on-Trent South)
(Con)
T6. I know from speaking to staff at Longton jobcentre that
additional support has been put in place to help the over-50s
back into work. Will the Minister update the House on what more
is being done to upskill adults and help more of them to get back
into work, especially in Stoke-on-Trent?(903898)
The Minister for Employment ()
My hon. Friend will be aware of the 50-plus champions, the
midlife MOT, the sector-based work academies and the skills
bootcamps specifically for over-50s. The mighty Port Vale
football club held a fantastic recent jobs fair attended by 1,400
customers, including many over-50s; 600 job offers resulted and
there were 100 employers present. That is the sort of thing that
the Department is doing.
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
As the recent Britishvolt investment shows, the north-east has
real strengths in growing sectors such as battery technology,
green energy and life sciences. Does the Minister agree that it
is not possible for nationally controlled training programmes to
really support people into employment in these emerging sectors?
Will he therefore devolve responsibility to those in local areas
who know local skills and local opportunities?
Local DWP jobcentres work hand in glove with local employers. It
is very different in Banff and in Brixton—it is very different up
and down the country. That is what we do with sector-based work
academies, skills bootcamps and innovation pilots on a local
basis in each individual jobcentre.
(Tewkesbury) (Con)
T8. I co-chair the all-party parliamentary engineering group. One
of our objectives is to get young people to consider taking up
employment in engineering. A number of companies in my area, for
example, are short of young people. What more can the Government
do to make young people aware of the excellent opportunities that
exist in engineering?(903900)
We are focused, across Government, on helping young people to
become involved in science, technology, engineering and maths
projects and careers. A new science and technology framework was
announced today, and will be vital for long-term economic
success. DWP Train and Progress helps claimants take advantage of
the bootcamps run by the Department for Education, and our
partnership with Google is helping to boost digital skills. These
activities are flexible in that people of any age and at any
stage in their careers can engage in them.
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
Further to the question from the hon. Member for Strangford
(), I have a constituent who is facing the consequences
of an overpayment in employment and support allowance. She has
been able to show that she gave the Department the correct
information time and again, but according to the Department, that
is not relevant to whether she should pay the full sum. If the
Department is not subject to any comeback after making mistakes,
how will it ever improve?
It is important to note that official error loss fell from 1.3%
in 2019-20 to 0.9% in 2020-21 and to 0.7% in 2021-22. It is of
course right for us to work constructively with individuals to
identify appropriate repayment plans, ensuring that we live up to
our legal obligations to get the money back into the Department,
but I expect officials to work constructively with people, taking
account of their specific financial circumstances. I should be
delighted if the hon. Gentleman shared the details of this case
with me so that I can look into it.
(Meon Valley) (Con)
T10. What steps is the Minister taking to raise employers’
awareness of the impact of the menopause?(903902)
I know that my hon. Friend takes great interest in supporting
women in work, and working with employers is crucial to ensuring
that they can both retain and recruit women and that there is no
stigma in the workplace for those experiencing the impact of the
menopause. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Helen
Tomlinson as the DWP menopause employment champion. She will have
a key role in driving awareness and promoting the benefits of a
fully inclusive workplace to both business and the economy, and I
will be sharing further details of her appointment later
today.
(Neath) (Ind)
Research conducted by the Bevan Foundation has established that
local housing allowance is not a solution to the cost of living
and housing crises for families on low incomes and for the most
vulnerable because it is too low, and has been frozen since 2020
while private rental costs have soared. Will the UK Government
help those in need and uprate the allowance?
We recognise that rents are increasing, and that a challenging
fiscal environment means we need to support people effectively.
We have therefore announced a support package for the most
vulnerable households, which includes help through the household
support fund. Those who are entitled to housing benefit or the
housing element of universal credit and who have a shortfall can
reach out for discretionary housing payments from local
authorities.
(Stourbridge) (Con)
There are some notable and fantastic businesses in my
constituency, including Argus Fire and Pegasus, which do a
brilliant job in recruiting young adults and providing career
opportunities. What more can the Department do to bridge the gap
between employers and young adults and create that one-stop
opportunity for 16-year-olds to find employment?
As you know, Mr Speaker, I am very supportive of getting young
people into work. The Dudley youth hub is a classic example of
the Department’s working in partnership locally, providing a
single location for employers to engage with the under-25s from
Stourbridge and the wider area. Claimants can attend recruitment
events and take advantage of a range of on-site services, and I
know that they greatly welcome the opportunity to work with Argus
Fire and Pegasus.
(East Dunbartonshire)
(SNP)
Public and Commercial Services Union members in Scotland get a
raw deal from this Government on pay, with many civil servants
themselves using food banks. When will the Government give them a
proper pay rise?
As the hon. Lady will know and as I explained earlier, we are
engaged in positive discussions with the PCS. It has been pointed
out that many people working in the DWP are on the national
living wage, and that will increase by 9.7% in April.
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
Working with Disability Action Yorkshire in my constituency, I
have observed the important and growing role in the jobs market
played by people with disabilities. I have spoken before about
the Access to Work programme. Will the Minister update the House
on what is being done to promote that excellent scheme among
employers?
My hon. Friend is a brilliant advocate for Harrogate generally,
but on this issue he is a passionate advocate for Access to Work
and Disability Confident. We work to promote those schemes
through our social media, through working with stakeholders,
through working with local employer partnership teams and
employer associations and through the Disability Confident scheme
generally. I would certainly welcome the opportunity to look at
ways in which we can spread the word further, including on a
localised basis. I am about to do that as a constituency MP in
Corby, and perhaps my hon. Friend could do the same in
Harrogate.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
On Friday night I was given the terrible news that a popular
business in my constituency, Mortons Rolls, had ceased trading,
putting at risk 250 jobs. Will the Secretary of State take the
time to meet me to discuss what can be done to support that
business and the 250 staff who are now threatened with
redundancy?
The hon. Lady raises an important matter, and she is right to
raise it on the Floor of the House. We have a number of measures
that we would typically stand up in the circumstances that she
describes, including a surge of local support to get jobs going
and vacancies matched up with those who are sadly going to lose
their jobs. I will certainly ask the Employment Minister to meet
her to discuss this as a matter of urgency.
(Norwich North) (Con)
I echo the concern of my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and
Knaresborough () about Access to Work. Can I
ask what progress is being made on the disability action plan and
how the Minister will ensure effective work across
Government?
The disability action plan is a really valuable opportunity to
drive forward meaningful progress in a number of areas to help to
improve the lives of disabled people. We are in the process of
assembling the ministerial disability champions, and I want to
see ideas from across Government brought together. We will then
hear from disabled people, get out there and consult on the plan,
then make sure that we deliver it over the next 18 months to two
years. This is about quick wins and getting those off the stocks
and delivering for disabled people.
(Stoke-on-Trent North)
(Con)
I want to place on record my thanks to the Pensions Minister for
her incredible hard work on automatic pension enrolment to get
the age and the earnings lowered. Does she agree that it is a
major concern for the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove
and Talke that 25% of people leave work without a workplace
pension in place? That is why the Pensions (Extension of
Automatic Enrolment) Bill is so important and I am grateful to
have had support for it from colleagues across the House.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I congratulate him on his
brilliant Bill, which will help women, the lowest paid and
part-time workers in Stoke-on- Trent, Kidsgrove and Talke, and
beyond.
