Contributions
635 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBenefits for People with Severe DisabilitiesAs a Government, we are currently spending £55 billion supporting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. The level of financial support will reflect the level…29 Jun 2020HANSARDSupport for the Terminally IllI thank the hon. Member for setting out powerfully the torment and challenges that MND sufferers face; he has been a champion of their cause in Parliament. I am grateful for the…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is a very important point. We are looking at additional ways we can support people, through Access to Work, to travel to and from their home to work and to have ability to…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsI can absolutely reassure my hon. Friend that disabled people will be at the very heart of the consultation on both the Green Paper and the national strategy for disabled people.…29 Jun 2020HANSARDTopical QuestionsWhen it is safe to do so, I would love to visit and see the work of RCS. I pay tribute to the great work it is doing in its community. We understand the role of good mental…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Support for People Self-isolatingAs a Department, we have rightly put an additional £6.5 billion into welfare support, on top of the £500 million hardship fund provided to local authorities. I welcome the further…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Support for People Self-isolatingIn addition to providing support through statutory sick pay, we are expecting employers to do the right thing, and we will be working with employers to make sure employees can…29 Jun 2020HANSARDSupport for the Terminally IllI thank my hon. Friend for raising this. I know that he has campaigned hard on the matter. We are reviewing all areas. The key three themes are the six months and not having the…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Support for People Self-isolatingWe have made changes so that statutory sick pay and employment and support allowance are payable to people who are self-isolating, including those who are shielding and who…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Processing Work Capability AssessmentsI absolutely agree. We have independent audits looking at this. We are in the early stages of using telephone assessments, and there is a mix of the benefits because the WCA is…29 Jun 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Processing Work Capability AssessmentsWe have temporarily suspended face-to-face work capability assessments so that we do not place people at unnecessary risk. Healthcare professionals continue to make…29 Jun 2020HANSARDDisabled People: ProtectionTo provide greater financial security at this time, we have automatically extended by six months PIP—personal independent payment—awards for existing claimants that are due to be…11 May 2020HANSARDDisabled People: ProtectionOn behalf of the ministerial team, I would like to welcome the new shadow ministerial team. I look forward to working constructively with them. In addition to the more than £1,000…11 May 2020HANSARDDisabled People: ProtectionMy hon. Friend is diligent in championing the issues that his constituents face. We have rightly continued to accept new claims; we are allowing reviews where claimants accept…11 May 2020HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceThe Government recognise and appreciate the vital role played by unpaid carers now more than ever. We have already made changes to the carer’s allowance rules to reflect changes…11 May 2020HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceRightly, we target support at those most in need—those with low incomes—and they could, through universal credit, receive an additional £1,950 per year through the universal…11 May 2020HANSARDAccess-to-work CostsThe access-to-work support has prioritised payments, including those to key workers, and where possible is making payments the same day. Key worker and new employee applications…11 May 2020HANSARDAccess-to-work CostsObviously, PIP is different from access to work. There was an issue for those on fixed-term, short awards, but we have now addressed that, and those claimants will continue to get…11 May 2020HANSARDStatutory Sick Pay and Protection for WorkersWe are in extraordinary times. The coronavirus pandemic is the most serious public health emergency that our nation has faced for a generation, but the Government will do whatever…18 Mar 2020HANSARDStatutory Sick Pay and Protection for WorkersWhen people in work are isolating due to Government guidance, which seems to be the case in the circumstances that the hon. Gentleman describes, they would be eligible for…18 Mar 2020