Contributions
1,226 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDContaminated Blood: CompensationI pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman’s work in providing a voice for the pupils who suffered such heinous medical experimentation at Treloar’s. On the issue of the evidence,…23 Apr 2026HANSARDUK-EU RelationsThe hon. Gentleman and I work very well on other issues; I suspect that over the next 12 months, this is an issue on which we are going to disagree. If he is genuinely asking me…23 Apr 2026HANSARDContaminated Blood: CompensationI thank my hon. Friend and pay tribute to him for the work he has done campaigning for victims. On IBCA and the culture, and on how it treats evidence, as I said, there needs to…23 Apr 2026HANSARDContaminated Blood: CompensationThe right hon. Gentleman quite correctly raises not only the fact that people have waited decades for compensation, but the urgency with which we want to drive this forward. To be…23 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is why the EU-UK reset is so important, as it will help us in bearing down on fuel bills and energy bills, which will help my hon. Friend’s constituents.23 Apr 2026HANSARDPublic Contracts: Value for MoneyI entirely agree with my hon. Friend’s assessment of Capita’s lamentable performance on the civil service pension scheme. We have to take individual decisions on contracts. For…23 Apr 2026HANSARDContaminated Blood: CompensationI wish a happy Warwickshire day to my Warwickshire friends and a happy St George’s day to all my English friends. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] We are prioritising paying…23 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesAs I said in my statement, there is a backlog of around 24,000 outstanding pension quotations. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about the taxpayer not having to pick up the…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI can certainly give an assurance to Royal Mail pensioners, who may be worried about the uncertainty, that we will do all we can to ensure continuity of service. I certainly have…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI certainly echo what my right hon. Friend says about it being imperative that taxpayers do not foot the bill for what has gone wrong. On the different contracts, each obviously…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesMy hon. Friend can rest assured that I have interrogated officials on the situation that I inherited. On the point about assurances and promises not being met, I think the House…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend on the importance of bereavement payments, because they are made at such a vulnerable time in people’s lives. The House should be fully…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesFirst of all, I echo the shadow Minister’s tribute to public servants, including his constituent Chris; I am very sorry to hear about his wife’s cancer diagnosis. I welcome what I…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesThe hon. Lady speaks powerfully about the very vulnerable situations in which her constituents find themselves, and I entirely share her concerns about the portal. I referred to…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesTo be fair to the hon. Gentleman, he raises a reasonable point, and we are certainly monitoring Capita’s general position. Capita holds a total of 85 contracts across the public…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesThe situations that the hon. Gentleman’s constituents have faced is exactly why the dedicated recovery team was put in place. I will be holding Capita to account on the timetable…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesMy hon. Friend is right that this is totally unacceptable, and that is why I have put in place the recovery plan and why the Cabinet Office is withholding milestone payments. On…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesI, too, am grateful for the engagement with my hon. Friend, and we are certainly looking at how we learn the lessons of this matter. On her second point about the specific issue…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right about the contract we inherited. On the hardship loans, we have already provided over £7.2 million in interest-free transitional support loans…22 Apr 2026HANSARD Pension SchemesWe are very committed to delivering that manifesto commitment, and the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister will be setting out more about that in due course, following his…22 Apr 2026