Contributions
1,242 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSingle-Parent FamiliesMy hon. Friend is absolutely spot on; it is about how devolved powers are used. I will come on to that and the question of what devolution is for, but she is right to praise the…14 Mar 2023HANSARDSingle-Parent FamiliesExactly. Quite rightly, my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire should not be sparing the blushes of the Conservatives, who are mandated to turn up to this debate—that…14 Mar 2023HANSARDSingle-Parent FamiliesPoliticians always like to twist statistics, but if we compare what we spend as a proportion of average earnings, is it not the case that we are pretty much back to the days of…14 Mar 2023HANSARD Draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) and Pensions Dashboards (Amendment) Regulations 2023It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I thank the Minister, as always, for maintaining her constructive relationship with Opposition parties. I very…08 Mar 2023HANSARD Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI agree with my hon. Friend. I tend to take the view that if the British Government concluded in March and April 2020 that social security was inadequate for the then economic…06 Mar 2023HANSARD Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillWill the Minister give way?06 Mar 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsDoes the Secretary of State understand and agree that expediting the rise in the state pension age is less about life expectancy, which, according to the Office for National…06 Mar 2023HANSARD Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillIt is not often that I find myself pleased in this place, but may I say how genuinely pleased I am to see you back in your place, Dame Eleanor? It is just right to see you in that…06 Mar 2023HANSARDEconomic Inactivity: Working-age PeoplePost pandemic, and under this uncaring Conservative Government, we have seen sanctions skyrocket, pushing many people into destitution. Can the Secretary of State come to the…06 Mar 2023HANSARD Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillOn amendment 2, the fact of the matter is that people have already been punished once by being sanctioned. This is a cost of living payment in recognition of inflation and high…06 Mar 2023HANSARD Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillIn rising to conclude this Bill, I also want pay tribute to the Clerk of Legislation and to Linda Nagy and Nansi Morgan from my own team for their help with the amendments. My…06 Mar 2023HANSARDCost of Living5. What assessment he has made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on people in Scotland.22 Feb 2023HANSARDCost of LivingThe former viceroy made reference earlier to social security powers. The current deputy assistant junior viceroy will be aware that we have the best start grant in Scotland,…22 Feb 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillIndeed not. I very much enjoyed being told to eat my cereal today. On the question of sanctions, how many people in Mid Sussex tell the Minister how wonderful the sanctions regime…21 Feb 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. I am hopefully allowing him to sit down and think about that just a little bit more. That might help him. The reality is that…21 Feb 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has seen the Budget submissions from both the CBI and the TUC. It is not often that they both sing from the same hymn sheet, but one key…21 Feb 2023HANSARD Scottish Affairs CommitteeOn a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. May I confirm that we have forced this to a Division to allow Labour and Conservative Members to go into the same Lobby together?21 Feb 2023HANSARD Scottish Affairs CommitteeWhy don’t we make a deal? We could let Labour have the two places; they could even give one to the right hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn), who is kind of a member…21 Feb 2023HANSARD Scottish Affairs CommitteeI congratulate the Chair of the Selection Committee, the hon. Member for North Herefordshire (Sir Bill Wiggin), on moving the motion. In rising to oppose it, there is nothing that…21 Feb 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI am grateful for the opportunity to outline my party’s position on this Bill and express our support for the broad thrust of what it seeks to achieve. To that end, as with His…21 Feb 2023