Contributions
948 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportI would say that the ombudsman’s report itself says there would be a huge cost and administrative burden of going through 3.5 million women individually, but I am sure the hon.…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportNo, I do not, because the ombudsman used the research that was provided to him—he looked at those aged 16-plus and found that 43% of them knew what their state pension age was—but…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportThis is about how we make sure in such a situation that, once a Department has decided it needs to provide information and to send out letters, we actually do that, and do not…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportWe do not ignore the ombudsman; we just do not agree with the approach he takes to injustice or to remedy. We provided research that showed that only one in four people who…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportBack Benchers can put forward proposals for debates, as can Opposition parties. If the main Opposition party wants to do so, it would be perfectly at liberty to do so.17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportThe hon. Lady raises a really important point. As we get older, many of us are working while caring for our elderly loved ones or for children—sometimes both—and those family…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportWe are prepared to take difficult decisions if we think that they are fair and right. That is why we have taken this approach to the issue of how the state pension age increase…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportWe were campaigning against the increase in the state pension age, and we had all sorts of proposals in our 2019 manifesto. We lost that election, and the courts have since…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportI am sure the hon. Gentleman supports an increase in the minimum wage that will deliver a £1,400-a-year pay increase for someone who is working full time on the minimum wage in…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the tone of his questions. As he knows, I have huge respect for him. While many 1950s-born women will be deeply disappointed by this…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportMay I say gently that I know what is on my website? We did campaign with WASPI women, including in 2017 and 2019, but we lost those elections. This decision is not about the…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportWe are delivering change, with £22 billion of extra investment in the NHS and a substantial rise in the minimum wage that will deliver a pay rise for 3 million of the lowest-paid…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportNo. What I am saying is that we have to be able to give people sufficient notice in future. That was at the heart of the problem with the former Conservative-Liberal Democrat…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportI am sure that there could be a vote in the Scottish Parliament if the SNP Government decided to do that.17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportGiven that sending out letters earlier, which we should have done, would not have made the difference that the ombudsman claims it would, and given that 90% of 1950s-born women…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportI know that a number of women expected to be able to retire earlier than they could, but the decision to increase the state pension age has been taken. It was taken by Parliament,…17 Dec 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportMy hon. Friend states the fact that the Conservatives broke the triple lock two years ago. Indeed, their shadow Chancellor says that it is unsustainable. I am sure that his…17 Dec 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperMy hon. Friend is exactly right: we have to deliver better jobs in every part of the country, including coastal communities like hers. We need to give young people the skills that…16 Dec 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI am not sure where to start. If the Conservatives’ programmes were so successful, why do we have a record 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term health problems, and 1…16 Dec 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperOur ambition is an 80% employment rate over a decade of national renewal. We will get Britain working by creating a new jobs and careers service in our overhaul of jobcentres. We…16 Dec 2024