Contributions
2,291 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDOutsourcing: DWP Telephone ServicesMy noble friend is right that we need to look at new technologies. The DWP is always exploring new solutions to support citizens who use our services. The department will be using…30 Nov 2021HANSARDOutsourcing: DWP Telephone ServicesMy Lords, not all DWP telephony lines are outsourced, as we know, but all DWP telephony lines are freephone 0800 numbers.30 Nov 2021HANSARDOutsourcing: DWP Telephone ServicesMy Lords, I am not aware of any penalties as such, but if a supplier consistently fails to achieve performance levels then service credits will apply to our most important Civil…30 Nov 2021HANSARDOutsourcing: DWP Telephone ServicesMy Lords, I do not see that picture within the DWP telephony services that are outsourced. The Government recognise that some public services are better delivered through private…30 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsMy Lords, legal aid was not available for representation before the First-tier Tribunal ahead of its reform, anyway; it was only available for advice and preparation. Tribunal…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsNo, my Lords, those are two separate things. What we should be doing is looking after disabled people in the best way we can. We are looking after more disabled people and getting…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsI thank my noble friend for that question. The national disability strategy, which was launched this year, is exactly intended to help the disabled, and the Government want to…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsThe department accepts that there is more that it can do; there is always more it can do. The disability Green Paper means that we will talk to people—we have already gone out to…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsAs I have said, we are doing everything we possibly can, first, by having mandatory reconsiderations in-house with a separate team, but also by providing holistic decision-making…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsI thank my noble friend for that question. The consultation period for the health and disability Green Paper, to which I referred, has now run out and we are looking at the…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsI agree with the noble Baroness’s second point, and that is what we are doing. If a person has long-term health needs, they are not being reassessed as they were. We are changing…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsMy Lords, in the majority of PIP cases, there is no appeal. From April 2013 to March 2021, 4.4 million initial decisions following a PIP assessment were made. By June 2021, 9%…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsMy Lords, the timings for appeal are difficult, because everybody wants time to get evidence in, allow assessors to talk to people and build a case. We are doing everything we can…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPersonal Independence PaymentsMy Lords, under the special rules for terminal illness, people nearing the end of their lives—as I would rather call them—have their claims fast tracked. The average time from…22 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, we will do one more group before the dinner break. I remind noble Lords that we have to get through 14 groups today. That means that we have nine more. Can we try to be…22 Nov 2021HANSARDCoroners (Determination of Suicide) Bill [HL]My Lords, I congratulate the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans on bringing forward this Bill and securing its Second Reading. I thank all noble Lords who have…19 Nov 2021HANSARDCreative SectorMy Lords, I remind noble Lords that there is a six-minute limit on speeches from Back-Benchers, and it will take time from the response from the Minister if we keep going over.04 Nov 2021HANSARDCreative SectorI am sorry, will my noble friend wind up?04 Nov 2021HANSARDIranI remind the noble Lord of the six-minute limit.19 Oct 2021HANSARDIranMy Lords, as our proceedings on the Bill have already concluded, this Question for Short Debate becomes our last business. As a result, Back-Bench and Opposition speakers may take…19 Oct 2021