Contributions
1,125 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityI beg to move, That the draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved.10 Feb 2026HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityThe question of how the tax system operates is a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury rather than for me. However, the hon. Gentleman might take some comfort from the reassurance…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityI am grateful for the opportunity to wind up this debate. I thank everyone who has taken part for their constructive and helpful contributions, and I want to make a number of…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityI think perhaps the point that the hon. Gentleman is making is that it does not fulfil the aspirations of the essentials guarantee campaign, with which he and I are familiar, and…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityWe would certainly like to do so. Let us get up to the level that we have set, which will be a dramatic improvement on the situation we inherited. Once we have done so, we will…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Pensions and Social SecurityI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising this point. It might be of some comfort to him to know that it was not only the last Government who failed to do anything…10 Feb 2026HANSARD Construction Industry Training Board: FundingCertainly, it is absolutely right that the construction sector has a lot of promising opportunities for exactly those young people, and we need to ensure that they have the…04 Feb 2026HANSARD Construction Industry Training Board: FundingMy hon. Friend makes a fair point, but CITB’s view is that most employers that are members of training groups now access support through employer networks. He raised an important…04 Feb 2026HANSARD Construction Industry Training Board: FundingI think on this topic there will be less difference across the Dispatch Boxes than was the case with the topic we debated yesterday. The pilots with the mayoral strategic…04 Feb 2026HANSARD Construction Industry Training Board: FundingThe CITB has concluded that the training group model has significant limitations. It is quite expensive to run; each group receives an annual £35,000 support grant, as my hon.…04 Feb 2026HANSARD Construction Industry Training Board: FundingLet me start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Steve Race) on securing this debate and welcoming the interest in it. I also welcome the opportunity for the…04 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillLike the shadow Minister, I will start by quoting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. At the start of the debate, he said that this Government have…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillThe change for which I think the hon. Lady is arguing would make a relatively modest alteration to the figures. There is a real advantage in the benefit cap, in terms of the…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillNo, I will not be giving way. It was very interesting to hear the arguments of the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby (Sarah Pochin). Her party is looking more and more like a…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI will not just at the moment. Poverty does immense harm, as we have heard, to children and their future prospects. In the classroom, children eligible for free school meals are…03 Feb 2026HANSARDDiffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme Levy 2025-26The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (Levy) Regulations 2014 require active employers’ liability insurers to pay an annual levy, based on their relative market share, for the…29 Jan 2026HANSARDAccess to Work: People with DisabilitiesI would be grateful if the hon. Lady would let me have a note on the hold-up with that particular complaint. There are delays with Access to Work, reflecting the big surge in…28 Jan 2026HANSARDAccess to Work: People with DisabilitiesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right: the disability employment gap is too big. Every Department has a lead Minister on disability and I chair regular meetings. The Minister for…28 Jan 2026HANSARDAccess to Work: People with DisabilitiesOur Pathways to Work guarantees will tackle the unnecessary barriers that keep disabled people out of work, Connect to Work employment support will be nationwide by April, last…28 Jan 2026HANSARDPIP: Number of ClaimantsMy hon. Friend will welcome, as I do, the dramatic record fall in waiting lists that has been recently reported, but of course we need to make further progress in reducing waiting…26 Jan 2026