Contributions
592 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChild Maintenance Service: EfficiencyMy hon. Friend raises an important point. He will be aware of the recent consultation on the future administration and operation of the Child Maintenance Service. I do not want to…03 Feb 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs the right hon. Gentleman rightly says, a number of benefits are currently delivered under agency agreements. It is very much for the Scottish Government to broker a…03 Feb 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for his question. The assessment I have made is of a trend that is up, up, up after 14 years of the Conservative party failing to act. We lost £9.7 billion…03 Feb 2025HANSARDAdoptive Parents: Financial SupportIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Furniss. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Lisa Smart) on securing this important debate. I thank all who have…14 Jan 2025HANSARDJobcentres: OutreachI would very much welcome such an initiative being brought forward in the hon. Member’s constituency of Newbury. He may also be pleased to know that there is the potential for a…16 Dec 2024HANSARDJobcentres: OutreachJobcentres work with a range of external providers to offer a wealth of outreach support. In Berkshire, this includes work coach support for customers with complex needs delivered…16 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight that any reform to our jobcentres must come with digital transformation. We are currently exploring schemes such as a “Jobcentre in…16 Dec 2024HANSARDParental Leave: Pay and AllowancesMy hon. Friend is correct to highlight not just the importance and benefits of shared parental leave, but the disparity between those who make use of it. I will, of course,…16 Dec 2024HANSARDParental Leave: Pay and AllowancesI understand the point that the hon. Lady is making, but requests for a significant uplifting of benefits come with a price tag and I heard no suggestions as to how that would be…16 Dec 2024HANSARDParental Leave: Pay and AllowancesThe Government keep the rates of parental pay under review. Following the Secretary of State’s announcement in a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 30 October, and…16 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend will know that we face a significant challenge, with fraud and error costing the Department almost £10 billion a year. It is right that we look to utilise all…16 Dec 2024HANSARDRefugees: EmploymentThe hon. Member is entirely correct to recognise the important role of refugees in contributing to our economy. There is a range of tailored support available with things such as…16 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is right to highlight the enormous cost to the Department—upwards of £35 billion—of fraud since the pandemic. She will be pleased to know that the fraud, error and…16 Dec 2024HANSARDRefugees: EmploymentOnce people are granted refugee status, they have immediate access to DWP employment support and services. Work coaches work with refugee customers to understand their individual…16 Dec 2024HANSARDHealthy Start: UptakeHealthy Start is a passported scheme with eligibility being derived from certain qualifying benefits, such as universal credit. The uptake percentage for the Healthy Start scheme…21 Nov 2024HANSARDHousehold Support Fund: ExtensionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. As a former local authority leader, I know that above all else, certainty will allow councils to design and deliver sustainable plans for local…11 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. The spiralling nature of fraud in this country since the pandemic and on the last Government’s watch is totally unacceptable. We will…11 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that nationality and country of origin are not factors in assessing benefit eligibility. We may look at that in future, but I would be delighted…11 Nov 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend asks an important question and I will be delighted to follow up with him in writing.11 Nov 2024HANSARDHousehold Support Fund: ExtensionNo specific assessment has been made of the impact of the household support fund on low-income households in 2025-26, although we hear routinely from local authorities across the…11 Nov 2024