Contributions
1,125 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDYoung Disabled People: Labour Market InequalitiesWe want young people with disabilities and health impairments to secure good employment as soon as possible and to fulfil their aspirations. The “Pathways to Work” Green Paper…03 Sept 2025HANSARDHealth and Disability Benefits: Spending EstimateThe Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in March that incapacity and disability benefits spending would be £90.7 billion in 2029-30. That figure will be updated at the…01 Sept 2025HANSARDHealth and Disability Benefits: Spending EstimateI very much welcome the NHS 10-year plan published by our right hon. Friend the Health Secretary, which gives a new priority and commitment to mental health support. I agree with…01 Sept 2025HANSARDHealth and Disability Benefits: Spending EstimateIt is crucial that we have a fair system. We are reviewing universal credit at the moment, considering problems such as the five-week wait that was inserted when universal credit…01 Sept 2025HANSARDPIP Application ProcessThe PIP application process is outdated and can be very difficult to navigate. The health transformation programme will deliver radical improvements and much better efficiency.01 Sept 2025HANSARDPIP Application ProcessThe review will look specifically at the PIP assessment, but one proposal in our Green Paper published earlier this year was increasing the age of transition from DLA to PIP from…01 Sept 2025HANSARDRemote PIP AssessmentsWe will increase the number of face-to-face, rather than remote, PIP assessments, and will increase the number of health professionals in assessment centres in order to deliver…01 Sept 2025HANSARDRemote PIP AssessmentsThere was a switch to remote assessments in the pandemic, for obvious reasons, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made the point repeatedly that, as was said in…01 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere has been no change at all to policy on Access to Work. As the hon. Member knows, we did consult, in the Green Paper earlier in the year, on reform to Access to Work. There…01 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have set up a panel of experts to advise us on how best to improve employment prospects for people with autism and neurodivergence. As the right hon. Member knows, we will be…01 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am grateful to my hon. Friend. We have announced that Zara Todd will be the chair of the Department’s disability advisory panel. The panel was announced in the “Get Britain…01 Sept 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have received the report from Liz Sayce, and I want to thank her very much for her review of earnings-related overpayments of carer’s allowance. We are currently considering…01 Sept 2025HANSARDHealth and Disability Benefits: Spending EstimateAs I have said, the OBR will update its forecast at the time of the Budget. We inherited a terrible situation, with record numbers of economically inactive people. Economic…01 Sept 2025HANSARDPIP Application ProcessThe health transformation programme that I mentioned will allow the introduction of a modern digital service, which is certainly not how the existing arrangements could be…01 Sept 2025HANSARDHealth and Disability Benefits: Spending EstimateWe have made it clear that we will co-produce our review of the PIP assessment with disabled people and representatives of disability organisations. The review will cover the…01 Sept 2025HANSARDThird British Sign Language Report: 2024-25This Government are committed to ensuring that our communications are accessible and inclusive, and to reducing the barriers deaf people face in their everyday lives. The British…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillThank you, Madam Chair.09 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillI thank everybody who has spoken in this debate. If someone can work, they should. My hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (David Pinto-Duschinsky) was absolutely right to remind the…09 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillNo, because reform is urgently needed. We were elected to deliver change and that is what we must do. It is particularly scandalous that the system gives up on young people in…09 Jul 2025HANSARD Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment BillNo, I will not give way. Some amendments seek to change the new universal credit arrangements. The increase to the standard allowance—the first permanent real-terms increase in…09 Jul 2025