Contributions
233 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsAbsolutely not. We work closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that their proposals, which sometimes differ from ours, are met, and we are bending over backwards to ensure…18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am always willing to look at new ideas on how to improve the offer we have, and I will certainly take a look at what the hon. Lady sends to me.18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsOf course. My hon. Friend is right. I will take a careful look at that issue to ensure that is the case. We care enormously about making sure there is correct access for disabled…18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for raising this important matter, and I thank him particularly for the great work he does in his constituency for young people. I have looked into this,…18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for giving me the opportunity to set the record straight. These letters simply inform GPs when a claimant has been found fit for work, and are not intended…18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsToday I can announce that this Conservative Government will deliver on their promise to legislate to create a new type of pension scheme: collective defined- contribution schemes.…18 Mar 2019HANSARDDomestic Abuse Victims: WelfareI thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. She is right and I announced recently that I want to make sure that it is the main carer who receives the benefit. I am working with…18 Mar 2019HANSARDDomestic Abuse Victims: WelfareI thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. Of course, supported housing is essential for vulnerable groups, including those fleeing domestic abuse, which is why we announced…18 Mar 2019HANSARDDomestic Abuse Victims: WelfareDomestic abuse is a devastating crime and my Department will always do what it can to support victims of domestic abuse. Departmental training and awareness is now better than…18 Mar 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit: DebtWe have acknowledged that issue. I have announced that work coaches now have access to the flexible support fund so that they can give that money in advance and do exactly what…18 Mar 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit: DebtI am always willing to look at suggestions for how to improve universal credit. The hon. Lady is well known for bringing forward a lot of suggestions for us to look at. However,…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare Support: KetteringI am very mindful of what we are delivering on the ground to individual constituents, families and children. We attempt, we hope, to protect the vulnerable and help people into…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare Support: KetteringI share my hon. Friend’s concern that it is taking too long, and that too many appeals are indeed overturned. That is why I committed in my most recent statement to making sure…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare Support: KetteringI am pleased to say that since 2013 the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in Kettering has decreased by over a third. The latest published statistics show…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportI ask the hon. Gentleman to engage with the change that is universal credit. People were left to languish on previous legacy benefits, and were not helped into work at all. We now…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportI point out to the hon. Lady that we have made available more childcare that is both better and lower-cost. A person can now have 85% of their childcare costs paid under universal…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportIt is because universal credit needs to be funded properly that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has, since 2016, put another £10 billion into different areas of it, to ensure…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportI totally reject the right hon. Gentleman’s assumption and comments. The issue with food banks is partly that the early roll-out of universal credit had some difficulties. We now…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportI thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising this important issue; we have addressed concerns about the five-week wait by putting in additional measures. One measure now in place…18 Mar 2019HANSARDWelfare SupportI thank my hon. Friend for pointing out this important element of universal credit. We are determined to make sure that universal credit really supports the most vulnerable. We…18 Mar 2019