Contributions
1,730 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDVulnerable People: Essential CostsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that all businesses can play a part. I praise those mobile phone and internet companies that have offered low-cost packages to people while they…25 Jan 2021HANSARDVulnerable People: Essential CostsThe £170 million covid winter grant scheme is supporting disadvantaged people through the challenging winter months to the end of March with food and utilities. The first wave of…25 Jan 2021HANSARDKickstart SchemeThe hon. Lady is right to ask why only 2,000 people have started. We have had a record number of applications and we have actually created more job placements than the future jobs…25 Jan 2021HANSARDKickstart SchemeMy hon. Friend is right. While kickstart is the flagship of our plan for jobs, we are well on track to recruit the extra 13,500 work coaches. Throughout the pandemic and across…25 Jan 2021HANSARDKickstart SchemeKickstart has got off to a flying start and I am delighted to inform the House that to date 120,000 kickstart jobs have been approved and 2,000 young people have already started.…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPoverty LevelsTonight, many people right across the United Kingdom will be celebrating Burns night, recognising the strength of the poet and the prose he delivers. I am afraid that the hon.…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPoverty LevelsPeople on legacy benefits can transfer to universal credit, and the final barrier to that is being lifted this Wednesday. I encourage people to consider that move, because we are…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPoverty LevelsI have already set out the approach and discussions that the hon. Lady can be assured I am continuing to have with other Ministers, including the Chancellor. It is fair to say…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPoverty LevelsAs often happens, as the hon. Gentleman will know from the Scottish Government Administration, Government Ministers tend to have discussions about policy while they are…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPoverty LevelsTackling poverty and levelling up opportunity will always be a priority for this Government, while using universal credit, which works for the labour market, to encourage people…25 Jan 2021HANSARDPlan for Jobs UpdateThe Government’s plan for jobs is already supporting people back into employment. Jobcentres are open across the country, including 262 Jobcentres that recently started opening on…14 Dec 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI know that the Pensions Minister—the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman)—will be delighted to meet my hon. Friend…30 Nov 2020HANSARDBenefit Cap: Families with ChildrenThe statistics indicate that 140,000 households with children have their benefit capped; my understanding is that overall it is about 3.1% of the UC case load. I am conscious of…30 Nov 2020HANSARDBenefit Cap: Families with ChildrenMy understanding is that 460 households with children are subject to the UC cap in the Bedford local authority area. I am conscious that that is a higher number than the hon.…30 Nov 2020HANSARDBenefit Cap: Families with ChildrenThe most recent statistics, released last week, show that 140,000 households with children have had their benefit capped. The proportion remains low by comparison with the overall…30 Nov 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe situation that happens with aspects of pensions is quite complicated and often these are reciprocal arrangements, so that is where such things as aggregation may well happen,…30 Nov 2020HANSARDBenefit Cap: Families with ChildrenThe cap has been in an important part of policy in trying to stimulate entry into work. I am conscious that there are still only about half a million vacancies, compared with a…30 Nov 2020HANSARDVulnerable Families: Winter SupportEarlier this month, I announced the £170 million covid winter grant scheme to help disadvantaged people, particularly children, through the challenging winter months ahead, with…30 Nov 2020HANSARDVulnerable Families: Winter SupportI agree with my hon. Friend and he looks ready and dressed to support a holiday activity fund when the opportunity comes along. Maintaining that important link over the longer…30 Nov 2020HANSARDVulnerable Families: Winter SupportMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to stress that point. As I have already indicated, his council will receive just over half a million pounds. The grant has come with conditions…30 Nov 2020