Contributions
1,402 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. A hallmark of a civilised society is that it looks after the most vulnerable and those who are most in need. That lies at…21 Feb 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have a clear view on all these matters, which is that a hallmark of a civilised society is that it looks after the most vulnerable; the Government have a proud record in that…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for mentioning the Huddersfield jobcentre and the extraordinary work of the staff there. They organise several job fairs every month, and I commend my hon.…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I have said, we have invested £7 million in the west midlands engine pilot, and we are looking closely at that pilot. The right hon. Gentleman criticises us on the employment…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe right hon. Gentleman knows the answer to his own question, which is that we are looking at precisely those matters as part of our review of economic inactivity. He is well…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI can provide the hon. Gentleman with that reassurance. There are discussions ongoing between officials in my Department and in DLUHC, and we will continue those through time. We…23 Jan 2023HANSARDLocal Housing AllowanceIn 2020, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government boosted the local housing allowance by almost £1 billion, taking it to the 30th percentile of rents. For those where…23 Jan 2023HANSARDLocal Housing AllowanceThe right hon. Gentleman makes a perfectly valid point, but he needs to see this issue in the round. My fellow Ministers have outlined at some length the cost of living support…23 Jan 2023HANSARDIncentivising Return to the Labour MarketMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. May I just say how helpful it is that, having left the Department, she continues to show such a positive and constructive interest in the…23 Jan 2023HANSARDIncentivising Return to the Labour MarketI would, of course, be happy to look at the right hon. Gentleman’s private Member’s Bill. He makes an important point, which is that we have to ensure that employers see disabled…23 Jan 2023HANSARDIncentivising Return to the Labour MarketAs the House will be aware, I am currently reviewing economic inactivity—it is not satisfactory that we currently have almost 9 million people who are economically inactive—and I…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthI stand by, and make no apology for, our record on encouraging disabled people back into work. We were set a target for dramatically increasing the employment level for disabled…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs the House knows, the Prime Minister has asked me to review economic inactivity. We have 9 million people who are economically inactive at the moment, and I will be looking…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthI would be very happy to write to the hon. Lady on exactly how many people are waiting for access to that scheme. We should not in any way play down the importance of the Access…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthMy right hon. Friend has great experience in these matters, and he too is entirely right. It is essential for the Department to do whatever it can at the early stages to support…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthI am pleased that the hon. Gentleman has raised the subject of this pilot, which I agree is hugely important. We are looking closely at the results, including the effect not only…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthMy hon. Friend is entirely right, and I commend him for the huge amount of work that he does in his constituency in this regard. There is no doubt that the conditions of those who…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthThe hon. Lady is right: there is an issue with economic inactivity, which is why the Prime Minister has tasked me with reviewing this entire area, including the matters that she…23 Jan 2023HANSARDUnemployment: Mental Ill HealthThe Department for Work and Pensions provides specialist help for those who are suffering from mental ill health, both through the Access to Work scheme and by funding advisers in…23 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Conditionality plays a central role in the way in which the benefits system works and our drive to get people back into work. She is…23 Jan 2023