Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPensioners: Winter SupportTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support pensioners this winter.29 Oct 2024HANSARDPensioners: Winter SupportThat is all very well, but I want to raise a particular concern about pensioners living in rural and coastal communities. As the Minister may be aware, Age UK and Public Health…29 Oct 2024HANSARDEmployment, Education and Training: Young PeopleMy Lords, the Youth Futures Foundation—an independent not-for-profit organisation—calls the number of NEETs a “crisis”. As we know, 66% fall into the economically inactive…29 Oct 2024HANSARDWomen’s State Pension Age: PHSO ReportMy Lords, the final PHSO report in March cited maladministration, as the noble Lord, Lord Sikka, said. This is regarding communications by the DWP for 28 months from August 2005.…28 Oct 2024HANSARDPensions Regulator Defined Benefit Funding Code of Practice 2024My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Davies, for giving us the opportunity to have the first pensions debate in this House since the general election. This Committee is my first…21 Oct 2024HANSARDAutism Employment: Buckland ReviewMy Lords, the previous Government saw it as a vital priority, on the back of the key recommendation from the Buckland review, to work with employers to encourage more employment…10 Sept 2024HANSARDPension CreditMy Lords, allied to pension credit, the Government find themselves firmly between a rock and a hard place on this ill-judged decision to cut the winter fuel payment. On the one…09 Sept 2024HANSARDEuropean Social CharterThe noble Baroness mentioned the employment rights Bill. Many businesses are already facing uncertainty given these government plans to introduce French-style employment laws. The…03 Sept 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceThe noble Baroness will know that we keep these matters under constant review and that the carer’s allowance is a non-means-tested benefit, with no capital rules, in England and…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceAlthough I do not have the figure to pass on to the noble Baroness, I can say that the other main category for overpayments comes under the title of “conditions of entitlement”.…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceI have to say that the gist of the argument that came from the noble Baroness’s question is, “What is going on?” I can tell her that around 1 million people are in receipt of…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceI think I should just reiterate that the Government thoroughly recognise and value the vital contribution made by carers, but it is also the case that, if a claimant incurs an…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceI think the noble Baroness will know that, each year, there is an uprating letter, so the communication is there for individuals. However, it is fair to say that we are looking at…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceIndeed. I think I have made it clear already that we need to be fair. We need to balance carefully our duty to the taxpayer to recover the overpayments with safeguards in place to…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceWe certainly do not agree with the idea that any of the debt should be written off; we think that the debt is there to be repaid. However, as I have said, we have a number of…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceThe noble Baroness makes a very good point. Each carer has his or her own responsibilities, some of which are very great, involving permanent lack of sleep. However, it is very…21 May 2024HANSARDCarer’s AllowanceMy Lords, while fully recognising and valuing the vital contributions made by carers every day in providing significant care and support, claimants have a responsibility to ensure…21 May 2024HANSARDPeople with Disabilities: Access to ServicesI certainly always listen to the noble Lord. It will be for others to judge, but I very much hope so, and I take note of that. Quickly on housing, which was raised by the noble…16 May 2024HANSARDPeople with Disabilities: Access to ServicesMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their very valuable contributions to this important and wide-ranging debate. As it has highlighted, disabled people share the same hopes,…16 May 2024HANSARDPeople with Disabilities: Access to ServicesCertainly, I will write to the noble Baroness on that. Briefly, on healthcare matters—I realise that time is marching on—my noble friend Lady Browning was right to raise the issue…16 May 2024