Contributions
211 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPension Schemes Bill (Second sitting)Q I am just interested in examples of recent shocks that have happened, where you had to pay out significant sums and what those sums were. Michelle Ostermann: The biggest example…02 Sept 2025HANSARDPension Schemes Bill (First sitting)Q I want to go back to your point around the value for money implementation, which a few Members have already raised. Specifically, there is always this competing challenge…02 Sept 2025HANSARDPension Schemes Bill (First sitting)Q Where is that support going to lie—with organisations such as Age UK, charities or the pension provider? Where do you see that balance sitting? Christopher Brooks: It could lie…02 Sept 2025HANSARDPension Schemes Bill (First sitting)Q I think financial education is the key to ensuring pensions adequacy. To build on Damien’s question about ensuring that members are fully informed about their pension assets and…02 Sept 2025HANSARDPoverty ReductionThe best way to reduce poverty is for people to be in work, but as a result of this Government’s damaging economic policies, we have seen youth unemployment rise by 6% since the…01 Sept 2025HANSARDBorders and AsylumIt is not populist to want safe and secure communities, but we are going round in circles. The only way we are going to solve this crisis is by withdrawing from outdated refugee…01 Sept 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillI have a lot of respect for the hon. Lady, but I am not going to withdraw the comment I made, because there are people in that situation—09 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillThe social contract is fraying, as I said. When my constituent Nick, who works hard for the money he earns and pays into system, walks through his town centre, he asks himself,…09 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillI rise primarily to speak to the amendments tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately). However, I would like to begin by addressing the…09 Jul 2025HANSARDPension Schemes BillMy right hon. Friend makes a compelling case. As I said in my speech, this goes back to financial education and ensuring that we all understand the implications of pensions…07 Jul 2025HANSARDPension Schemes BillThe hon. Member makes an important point. That goes back to financial education and ensuring that people truly understand their pensions and savings. Increasing savings is…07 Jul 2025HANSARDPension Schemes BillCross-party working is essential to ensuring that there is public confidence in a system we will all need to use in our twilight years. That is why Conservative Members are ready…07 Jul 2025HANSARDUniversal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillI am not giving away; I am going to make progress. The hon. Member can repay the favour sometime. Thirdly, we needed a guarantee that taxes would not rise again in the upcoming…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUniversal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillI am not giving away. The Chancellor has also blown billions of pounds on GB Energy—a project so vague that no one seems to know what it does—while handing out inflation-busting…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUniversal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillSo there we have it: a Prime Minister not in control, a Work and Pensions Secretary with her hands tied behind her back, and a Chancellor now scrambling to find ways to balance…01 Jul 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsT3. On Friday I had the privilege of visiting LOROS, Leicestershire’s much-respected palliative care charity. At full capacity it could offer 31 beds to local residents, but…01 Jul 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI thank the hon. Member for his intervention and I absolutely agree. As a Unionist myself, I want to see all parts of the UK thrive and grow, and that obviously includes Northern…24 Jun 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI beg to move, That this House has considered the impact of the VAT registration threshold on SMEs. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. It was Napoleon…24 Jun 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI absolutely agree. Over the last year, particularly in the Budget and recent announcements, we have seen measures that stifle the growth of SMEs and small businesses. I thank my…24 Jun 2025HANSARD VAT Registration Threshold: SMEsI thank the Minister for his speech. I ask him to take back to the Treasury the various arguments that have been put forward today, particularly about the benefits for the broader…24 Jun 2025