Contributions
1,533 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPension Access Rules: Impact on Terminally IllI am grateful to my noble friend. He is absolutely right that the current rules are obviously intended to provide flexibility, but the downside is that the permissive nature of…30 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudMy Lords, on 23 June, I laid the Government’s response to the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner’s report before this House setting out our plan to pursue those who defrauded the…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudWhile I absolutely accept what the noble Baroness says about the evolving nature of fraud, I am not sure that I fully accept it is becoming as overwhelming as she says. I…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudI thank my noble friend for his question, and I agree with the underlying point he makes. In his report, the commissioner recommends that small companies and micro-entities be…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudThe Government have been clear that we expect robust action to be taken to protect the taxpayer, and we have fully supported the appropriate legal and insolvency processes being…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudI am afraid I do not know whether we are still using the same consultants; I am more than happy to check for the noble Lord.29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudAs I said in my previous answer, the estimated level of fraud and error stands at £10.9 billion. Some £1.6 billion has so far been recovered and a further £1.5 billion is in the…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudObviously, whether they choose to intervene or not is a matter for them.29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudI completely agree with my noble friend. It is vital that we deal with past instances of fraud. As he said, that must act as a deterrent to future acts of fraud. We will continue…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudI am very grateful to my noble friend for his question and his continued determination to see justice in this matter, which I share. Covid fraud and corruption is an appalling…29 Jun 2026HANSARDCovid FraudI can fully understand the noble Baroness’s desire to stand back from this. On entering government, this Government found that £674 million of contracts were in dispute. However,…29 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI agree; I am strong supporter of not blaming the UK Government. As the noble Baroness knows, funding is assessed through the fiscal framework, which links welfare block grant…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI am grateful to the noble Lord for his question but I do not agree with the assumption underlying it. Of course we must spend more on defence, but we must also continue to…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsMy Lords, following the devolution of social security powers, the Scottish Government are responsible for funding and administering social security benefits, with funding…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI did not know the specific example that the noble Lord sets out and I am grateful to him for educating me, as he has done many times in the past. I agree that Scotland, in my…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI worked for Gordon Brown for quite some years. I did not always agree with him and I am not sure I do on this occasion. The noble Baroness knows that the fiscal framework sets a…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsAs the noble Baroness knows far better than I do, the fiscal framework is designed to ensure that funding is fair and fiscally neutral at the point of devolution. It provides the…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsThere is a lot in what the noble Baroness says. I obviously agree with her, as I often do, on the matter of the European Union. I agree with what she says; it is very much worth…24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI did not know about what the noble Lord says. I am more than happy to take that back to my DWP colleagues and to discuss it with them.24 Jun 2026HANSARDScottish Government: Social Security BenefitsI think the noble Baroness means the UK Government. I know that the Scottish Greens are in coalition with the SNP in Scotland, so presumably she supports what they are doing. As I…24 Jun 2026