Contributions
1,730 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe coronavirus is currently dominating my work at the DWP. The Department is fully prepared for all eventualities and has conducted extensive planning against reasonable…09 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsLHAs will of course go up by 1%; I signed that off last year. The hon. Lady will also be aware of the discretionary housing payments that we have been making widely available to…09 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThis is one of the issues on my agenda for us to take forward a consistent and coherent approach, recognising the issue of cohabitees and the impact this can have on children. We…09 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have tried to make clear to the House that people will not be penalised for doing the right thing. It is important that people have that conversation with their work coach. As I…09 Mar 2020HANSARDState Pension Age: Universal CreditI can today announce that we will amend regulations to smooth the transition from universal credit to pensioner benefits and remove any potential gap in support. All those who…05 Mar 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsTo be open, I am not aware of the study to which the hon. Lady refers. I will find out about it after questions, so I can send her an answer in writing. As I have mentioned to the…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe Scottish Government are already undertaking a series of policy changes that they recognise will take some time to work through the system, while they also create their own. I…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am not aware, because as the hon. Gentleman will know, employment tribunals are basically managed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, rather than the…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI suggest that the hon. Lady lets the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson), know directly about her…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady is right to praise volunteers at her local food bank who support vulnerable people in their area. I visited a similar food bank in my own constituency that has been…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingI commend my hon. Friend for the important work he does with the community partnership. Birmingham South West Jobcentre has an excellent relationship with the city council,…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsIn the week that we leave the European Union, I am pleased to say that our labour market continues to thrive. Employment has reached a new record high of 76.3% matched by a record…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leads on this issue. I assure my hon. Friend that we encourage people to take up the…27 Jan 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy right hon. Friend is right to point to the creation of the shared prosperity fund. Discussion is ongoing within the Government. I know that the Wales Office is already engaged…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingI actually think that removing the spare room subsidy was an important part of a change to deal with the challenges of homelessness, which we have just been discussing. I…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingMy hon. Friend will be aware of the money given to councils—including £359,000 for his own council—to help them to support homeless people. Issues such as this can often be…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingAs the hon. Gentleman knows, it already can be.27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingI am sure that the hon. Lady will welcome the increase in the local housing allowance from April 2020. I am conscious of the fact that two thirds of the people who are homeless…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingMy hon. Friend is right to praise the work that is being done in the west midlands through Andy Street, and I commend her support for it. I shall meet my right hon. Friend the…27 Jan 2020HANSARDHomelessness and Rough SleepingOn a broader point, we are considering aspects of liquid assets, and we have seen the example of Legal & General, which is starting to get into the housing sector. I reiterate…27 Jan 2020