Contributions
1,402 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCost of Living: Food Bank UseThe most important thing is that this Government recognise that the best way out of poverty, and the best way to address the circumstances that the hon. Lady describes, is through…18 Mar 2024HANSARDWelfare ReformsWe are keen to do that. AJS, to which my hon. Friend refers, has been rolled out in parts of the country at six weeks, but shortly will be extended and strengthened for two weeks…18 Mar 2024HANSARDWelfare ReformsWe are bringing forward a number of important reforms to our welfare system at pace. Phase 1 of our universal support has already been activated, and phase 2 will be later this…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises the same point as her colleague, the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Stuart C. McDonald), about the two-child limit. I will not…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady quoted from The Sunday Times, and I scribbled it down: “We want to end this double taxation”. Of course we do, but that is not the same as a near-term pledge; it is…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for raising this matter. I obviously cannot comment on an individual case. However, I am very happy to look closely into the matter he has raised, and…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend and near neighbour for her question—I know that she cares deeply about the issue that she has raised. We work closely with other Departments. For example,…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am not surprised that the hon. Lady brings that up, because I am well aware of the position that her party has taken on the announcements that we have made. She will be clear in…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will of course look closely at the report that my right hon. Friend refers to; indeed, I reached out to him recently to invite him to the Department to discuss that and other…18 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsAmong the major drivers of the increase to which the hon. Gentleman refers are mental health issues and musculoskeletal issues. I am not entirely sure that he is accurate when he…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkJobcentre Plus provides a variety of different support to encourage and support people into work, including training and one-to-one, face-to-face counselling by work coaches.18 Mar 2024HANSARDSerious Medical Conditions: Financial SupportOf course, we always keep all benefits under review at the Department, including PIP and the assessment processes. As the hon. Lady points out, there is rightly an appeals process…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkI could not agree more with my hon. Friend. It is exactly why we have youth hubs providing advice and support on not just getting into work but other important matters to young…18 Mar 2024HANSARDSerious Medical Conditions: Financial SupportI thank my hon. Friend for his question and the typical assiduity with which he takes up his constituency case. May I send my best wishes, and I am sure those of the whole House,…18 Mar 2024HANSARDSerious Medical Conditions: Financial SupportMy Department does a great deal to support the long-term sick and disabled, including through universal credit and its health element, and through the personal independence…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkOne of the most important figures in the spring Budget economic and fiscal outlook was a recognition by the OBR that there will be a net 200,000 more people in employment as a…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkThe hon. Gentleman specifically raises long covid, which is one of many health pressures in our society and post covid in many other countries that were also affected by the…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkI have already referred to the 200,000 additional jobs that the OBR suggests in its forecast, but the hon. Lady cannot get away from the fact that we have record levels of payroll…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkMy right hon. Friend raises economic inactivity, which is lower in our country than in the United States, France and Italy. It is below the average of the OECD, the G7 and the…18 Mar 2024HANSARDHelping People into WorkI am pleased that the hon. Lady raises Access to Work, because it is extremely effective. The grant can be there year in, year out and be up to a maximum of £66,000. Along with…18 Mar 2024