Contributions
635 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHealth AssessmentsWe are committed to ensuring that individuals receive high-quality assessments. Providers are closely monitored against a range of measures, including through independent audit,…18 Mar 2019HANSARDHealth AssessmentsI know that the hon. Lady has campaigned for a number of years on this incredibly important issue, and I pay tribute to the diligence of her work. I would be very happy to meet…18 Mar 2019HANSARDHealth AssessmentsIt will be a pleasure to meet my right hon. Friend. We have been working very closely with the Ministry of Justice to improve the capacity within the tribunal system, to speed up…18 Mar 2019HANSARDBenefit CapThere are automatic exemptions for claimants on DLA, PIP, carer’s allowance, guardian’s allowance, working tax credits when working over 16 hours a week, universal credit when…18 Mar 2019HANSARDHealth AssessmentsWe are always reviewing that process and we work very closely with stakeholders, with their wealth of experience, to make sure that we continue to deliver improvements.18 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will be very happy to look personally into this case and to report back. Actually, we do have powers to investigate further—these powers were opposed by the Labour party in…18 Mar 2019HANSARDBenefit CapAn evaluation of the cap, covering these groups, is expected to be published in spring 2019. Some claimants might not be required to look for work, but they are expected to…18 Mar 2019HANSARDBenefit CapI thank the hon. Lady. I have met a number of stakeholders to discuss this issue and wider issues connected to refugees. It is an area of priority for the Department, and I would…18 Mar 2019HANSARDHealth AssessmentsI thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the fantastic work that her local organisation does. Those with that frontline experience have to be at the heart of the improvements that…18 Mar 2019HANSARDHealth AssessmentsFrom my former role as Minister for Disabled People, I know that Scottish Ministers had the opportunity to take that forward. We are willing to work with their officials to make…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPovertyHousehold incomes have never been higher. In 2016-17, there were 1 million fewer people living in absolute poverty than in 2010. In Scotland, whichever way we look at…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPovertyI am sorry to hear about the circumstances of that case, and I am happy to look into it further. One of the recent announcements we have made is that there will be Citizens Advice…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPovertyThat is not something I recognise. Through the additional money being put into universal credit, record employment, the changes to the income tax personal threshold and rising…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPovertyMy hon. Friend is spot on. Only 5% of children whose parents work full time are in poverty, against 63% for families where there is only part-time work, which is why our…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPovertyThe hon. Lady continues to object to any measures to restore fairness to the benefits system. Under the last Labour Government, we saw welfare spending increase by £84 billion and…18 Mar 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit: Food BanksOur own evidence does not show a direct link between the increase in food bank use and the roll-out of universal credit. As the Trussell Trust has said, it is impossible to…18 Mar 2019HANSARDUniversal Credit: Food BanksFirst, I give a commitment that, yes, I am very happy to look into that specific case. It highlights the problems with the legacy benefits, whereby £2.4 billion a year of benefits…18 Mar 2019HANSARDPension Age: Women Born in the 1950sThat, too, is an issue that has been debated extensively in a number of Parliaments, and it has been encountered by Governments of all political persuasions. On our watch, we…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs has been extensively covered in several debates, we have allocated an additional £1.1 billion of transitional support. The recent uprating order included an additional £3…14 Mar 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere has been an impact assessment all the way through. If the hon. Gentleman highlights a good group, I am sure that the Minister with responsibility for pensions would be…14 Mar 2019