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1,730 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateThe way that advance payments are recovered is by treating it in effect as a phasing issue, so that people have 13 payments over a year, instead of 12. As a consequence, elements…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateWe did have telephony issues, but I am led to believe that they have been significantly addressed, particularly with the “Don’t call us—we’ll call you” campaign. I recommend that…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateWe will not be changing the benefit cap.04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateAs well as having a relationship with claimants, many work coaches have been deployed into processing claims. Both those things are critical to making sure that the 1.8 million…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We know that it is not a well-targeted system, and that is why we will continue to say that it is not the approach that this Government will…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateAs I set out, where people were due to have a reassessment, the situation would arise in which we extend the award automatically by just three months. People who are in a tribunal…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateThe bereavement support payment supports working-age people who have lost a spouse or civil partner after 6 April 2017 by contributing to the more immediate additional costs…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateThe Department supports a number of schemes around the country; I am not aware of the specific one to which the hon. Gentleman refers. They will continue, I am sure, to be…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateI thank the hon. Gentleman and welcome him to his position. We are in an unusual place today—literally, as he is appearing virtually for our first exchange in a statement—but we…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateMy hon. Friend is right to speak up for the people he represents, and especially small business owners, who have set up their companies in particular ways—I am sure that they were…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateI thank the hon. Gentleman for his questions. In terms of bureaucratic schemes, the Government have worked at pace to introduce brand new schemes in order to protect people right…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateThe UC approach remains the same: we make an assessment of people’s incomes, and those already on UC whose income fell substantially will have seen their UC payment increase as a…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateOn the question about the self-employed, where people have assets—for example, savings set aside for paying tax—they need to check carefully and go through that as they make their…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateLHA is done on the basis of certain housing areas, and the Chancellor announced a significant change in order to bring this up to the 30th percentile. I say to my right hon.…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateNo, I will not, and I have already set out why I do not think a universal basic income is the right approach. The hon. Gentleman is a Northern Ireland Member and will be aware…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateMy hon. Friend will know, having been an accountant, that a variety of people will potentially receive dividends from a company, and it is not currently possible for Her Majesty’s…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateI should point out to the right hon. Gentleman that we were trying to make a short-term increase, we went through with the Treasury how we could do this quickly, and the quickest…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateIt is kind of my hon. Friend to thank DWP. I think it deserves, universally, credit. We are trying to learn from the streamlining we have done on the potential for permanent…04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateNo.04 May 2020HANSARDCovid-19: DWP UpdateI have to say some unkind words: judging by my hon. Friend’s new attire, I wonder whether he is seeking his pension. However, he asks a serious question which deserves a serious…04 May 2020