Contributions
1,125 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWork and PensionsOf course, at some point it may be that a decision will be made that these products should not be available, but we do not want that to happen before then , because then they may…13 May 2026HANSARDAutism: EmploymentI am sorry to hear about what has happened in the hon. Member’s constituency, and I very much agree with him. We recently received the report of our expert academic panel on…29 Apr 2026HANSARDAutism: EmploymentI commend my hon. Friend’s important work as chair of the all-party group and thank her for hosting me at the roundtable. This year, we funded ACAS to deliver masterclasses on…29 Apr 2026HANSARDAutism: EmploymentWe are committed to supporting autistic people into work. Our supported employment programme Connect to Work will be open throughout England and Wales by the summer. It has in its…29 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsYes. I was recently at a roundtable with someone who has multiple sclerosis who described to me the process of applying for PIP as “retraumatising”, rather like when she was…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisabled People: Benefits ReassessmentsWe are determined that disabled people should have the confidence to try work. Our “right to try” legislation will come into force on Thursday. People claiming universal credit,…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisabled People: Benefits ReassessmentsI very much welcome the fact that my hon. Friend’s local authority is joining up with Connect to Work, which will be available across the whole of England and Wales by this…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisability Living Allowance for ChildrenIn the six months up to March last year, we appointed an additional 111 case managers to help deal with increased demand for child DLA. The current target is to clear 90% of new…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisabled People: Benefits ReassessmentsI point the hon. Gentleman to the Keep Britain Working review, which Sir Charlie Mayfield is leading; it addresses exactly the issue that he rightly raises. We are also looking at…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisabled People: Benefits ReassessmentsThe support provided by Access to Work is absolutely vital. There has been a big surge in demand for the scheme over the last few years, which has led to some significant delay. I…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI regularly meet the lead Ministers on disability from all Departments, including the Department for Transport; I know that my colleague there is particularly interested in…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI welcome the hon. Member’s consistent interest in this important topic, and he will know that the SEND reforms that have been announced have been well received. Our youth…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs the hon. Gentleman has rightly said, we have now started reviewing those 200,000 cases. We anticipate that there will probably be 25,000 people among the 200,000 who could have…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI can certainly reassure my hon. Friend that we are ensuring genuine co-production. Two co-chairs, Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson, were appointed last October. The…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Member is right; there is a three-month period to wait after the onset of the incapacity or impairment. Sometimes I think there is a bit of confusion; people think it is…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisability Living Allowance for ChildrenAs I said to the hon. Member, we did hit the 90% target last month. That reflects a steady improvement over the last few months. We are also introducing a new online evidence…27 Apr 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am very sorry to hear that the system was not properly understood in the case of the hon. Gentleman’s constituent. He is absolutely right that there is special treatment for…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDisabled People: Benefits ReassessmentsThere is an urgent need to address the big rise in the number of young people not in work, education or training that took place before the last general election. We think that…27 Apr 2026HANSARDDraft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026. I am delighted to…21 Apr 2026HANSARDDraft Chemicals (Health and Safety) (Amendment, Consequential and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2026I am grateful for the Committee’s support for this statutory instrument. I will have a go at answering the questions raised. Is there a possibility that any of these 173…21 Apr 2026