Contributions
592 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousehold Support Fund: ExtensionLike me, my hon. Friend is a former local authority leader—albeit a directly elected mayor, and with a far greater mandate, therefore, than I ever enjoyed. Like me, he will…11 Nov 2024HANSARDHousehold Support Fund: ExtensionThe household support fund is intended to support a wide range of households in need, including pensioner households. There has been no ringfencing of funding for specific groups…11 Nov 2024HANSARDOffice for Nuclear Regulation Annual Report and AccountsLater today I will lay before this House the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s annual report and accounts for 2023-24. This document will also be published on the ONR website. I can…24 Oct 2024HANSARDWork and PensionsOn the wider points, I will begin with the question of the adequacy of carer’s allowance, set as it is at £81.90 per week. Carer’s allowance will be increased in April 2025 by the…23 Oct 2024HANSARDWork and PensionsOn the wider points, I will begin with the question of the adequacy of carer’s allowance, set as it is at £151 per week. Carer’s allowance will be increased in April 2025 by the…23 Oct 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceI am pleased to be able to respond to this vital debate, which in both tone and importance has been one of the best I have heard in my two years in this place. I also add my…16 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is entirely right to raise this issue. He will be pleased to know that this Government are looking to utilise new powers to obtain a liability order without…07 Oct 2024HANSARDJobcentre PlusI fear that the hon. Lady has misunderstood the criticism, which is levied not at our outstanding work coaches but at the policies of the previous Government, who have left us…07 Oct 2024HANSARDJobcentre PlusThe hon. Member will be pleased to know that we intend to work considerably more flexibly to support the needs of communities in a varied and bespoke way. He has particular…07 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am very sorry to hear of this case. I am not familiar with it, but I will look into it, if the hon. Gentleman contacts me with the details.07 Oct 2024HANSARDChild Maintenance ServiceThe Child Maintenance Service is committed to ensuring that separated parents support their children financially and to taking robust enforcement action against those who do not…07 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is correct to raise this issue. As I said, we will not tolerate the current levels of fraud in our welfare system. He will be pleased to note the Prime Minister’s…07 Oct 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI welcome my hon. Friend’s support for the proposed fraud Bill. The level of fraud in the welfare system is absolutely unacceptable; almost £10 billion was lost last year.…07 Oct 2024HANSARDChild Maintenance ServiceThe Department takes domestic abuse extremely seriously. My hon. Friend will be keen to hear that the recently concluded consultation I referenced in my previous answer looked to…07 Oct 2024HANSARDChild Maintenance ServiceThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point about those families who receive no support. I am told that the figure is actually around 40%, but none the less it is not good…07 Oct 2024HANSARDJobcentre PlusI thank my hon. Friend for his question; I was pleased to hear that one of his earliest visits as the first ever Labour Member for Southport was to his local jobcentre with the…07 Oct 2024HANSARDJobcentre PlusTo be frank, the current system is focused on the problems of yesterday. In the last Parliament, economic inactivity increased and the employment rate fell. We are planning…07 Oct 2024HANSARD Healthy StartMy hon. Friend is correct to make that point and to link diabetes and other negative health experiences that can happen as a result of poor nutrition in early years. She has spent…22 May 2024HANSARD Healthy StartIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mrs Lewell-Buck) on securing this important debate. She has…22 May 2024HANSARDPalestinians: Visa SchemeWill my hon. Friend give way?13 May 2024