Contributions
1,402 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationIt is a fact that people are better off, on average, being in work than being on benefits. I pay tribute to my predecessor who introduced universal credit, which makes that the…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationMy hon. Friend has used exactly the right word: it is imperative that we get those people into the world of work. If somebody is on benefits—and we know that one in five of those…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationNot at all, Madam Deputy Speaker. I have set out very clearly the principled reason why we are bringing forward these measures. As the hon. Gentleman will know, when it comes to…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI have addressed the issue of Access to Work—what a significant programme it is and the recent improvements in the processing of those particular awards. On economic inactivity, I…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI feel duty bound to correct the hon. Gentleman. It was my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone) who asked the question to which he referred. Of all the Members in…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationThe hon. Gentleman is able to feed into the consultation and I encourage him and his constituents, as appropriate, to do so. I cannot comment on the individual case that he…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI thank the hon. Lady for her question. Just to clarify, there are no plans on the part of the Government to make any changes to the way in which PIP operates—and she did refer…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI thank the hon. Lady for her remarks. It is gratifying that she agrees with much of the premise I set out. She recognises the importance of work and that 2.5 million people, or…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI share my right hon. Friend’s keenness to see these proposals—whatever may or may not emerge—come forward as soon as possible. They will require a lot of work on IT systems and…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI believe that my hon. Friend the Minister for Disabled People will be meeting the hon. Lady very shortly. That is in the diary, so those matters can be discussed in greater…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI thank my hon. Friend for all the passion and intelligence he brings to these issues. I can confirm that our door will be open to Seetec Pluss. In fact, I will go further and…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI respect the hon. Gentleman; having appeared before the Select Committee, I know how seriously he takes the matters that he has raised. However, I cannot accept being described…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationWith your permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on our proposed changes to the work capability assessment, which aim to ensure that no one who can work is…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWork Capability Assessment ConsultationI dealt in my statement with my hon. Friend’s question about why we are doing this, given that we will be getting rid of the WCA in due course: I said that there is no reason why…05 Sept 2023HANSARDWorkplace Sickness AbsenceSickness, and supporting those who are sick in the workplace, is an important focus for the Department, which is why we are consulting on occupational health and ensuring that…04 Sept 2023HANSARDLabour Market InactivityMy assessment of economic inactivity is that it is falling; it has fallen by around 350,000 or more since its peak during the pandemic. That leaves us below the average rate of…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentIt is good to be back, Mr Speaker. I trust that you had at least some rest during the recess. Let me also extend my welcome to the new Members who have just taken their seats. The…04 Sept 2023HANSARDWorkplace Sickness AbsenceLike the hon. Lady, I and my ministerial colleagues take bullying in the workplace extremely seriously. There is no place for that in our country. I would be very happy for her to…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentMy hon. Friend will be pleased to know that since 2010, youth unemployment has fallen by over 40%, which is the mirror image of what happened under the last Labour Government when…04 Sept 2023HANSARDRegional Inequalities in EmploymentThe hon. Gentleman raises the issue of support during the cost of living squeeze that we are experiencing. My Department has been responsible for distributing millions of payments…04 Sept 2023