Contributions
238 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI thank the hon. Lady for her question. I would of course be delighted to meet her and discuss Gillian. Clearly something is not right. It does not sound like it is related to…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI disagree with the hon. Lady about our motivation. Since the issue came to light, we have had ministerial statements, written statements and debates in the House. We are…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsThe hon. Lady makes a very important point about the culture of the DWP and the need to make sure that it is a learning organisation, so that people on the frontline feel…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI very much thank my hon. Friend for what he says. This is why the Government are taking such a measured and careful approach to the managed migration of people on ESA on to…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsWe are absolutely determined to learn the lessons from this particular situation, but also from all other situations, and to make sure that people have the personal, tailor-made…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsFor the first phase of people we have contacted, we have nearly completed the exercise. Most of those people will have been contacted and we will have paid them their arrears by…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that point and I want to reassure him and all other hon. Members. This was an official error, so the additional payment that people…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his active engagement with me in coming into the Department so that we could absolutely get this right. It is very important, for people who have…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI think my hon. Friend is talking about the benefits that are available for the additional costs of disability. There are three benefits there: disability living allowance,…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsMy hon. Friend makes a good point. In not only the process for claiming new benefits but this particular exercise, a lot of effort is going into ensuring that we find people and…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsThe hon. Gentleman asked me a range of questions. First, let me say that nobody has dragged me to the House. I regularly update the House; it is a matter of record how often I…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI point out to my right hon. Friend that we are talking about ESA, and the entitlement or opportunity to have a Motability car comes with personal independence payments. We are…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsI thank the hon. Lady for her questions. Let me make it absolutely clear that, each and every time I have addressed the House, I have thoroughly apologised on behalf of the…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support Allowance: UnderpaymentsThe Department is correcting some past underpayments of ESA that arose when people moved from incapacity benefit on to ESA. We realise how important it is to get this matter…25 Feb 2019HANSARDEmployment and Support AllowanceThis written statement is a fifth update to the House on progress in reviewing and, where necessary, correcting past employment and support allowance (ESA) underpayments and…21 Feb 2019HANSARDPeople with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating AchievementsThe hon. Lady makes a really important point. We do not want employers to miss out on this fantastic talent pool of people. Through Disability Confident, we are able to provide…11 Feb 2019HANSARDPeople with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating AchievementsI congratulate my hon. Friend on taking that initiative. She is an absolute champion of enabling people to reach their full potential in society through work. I pay tribute to the…11 Feb 2019HANSARDPeople with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating AchievementsI absolutely share the hon. Gentleman’s passion and enthusiasm for speaking up and out for people with autism, who do have many special skills and talents. It is a pleasure to…11 Feb 2019HANSARDWork Capability AssessmentsI will allow the right hon. Gentleman to catch his breath, by saying that all people who carry out work capability assessments are fully qualified healthcare professionals,…11 Feb 2019HANSARDWork Capability AssessmentsLet me make it absolutely clear that I want to make sure that every person claiming a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions has a really positive experience. We look…11 Feb 2019