Contributions
1,831 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionThis question has cropped up before in this House. I deeply regret the anecdotal evidence that we have of those in the NHS who are minded to go to, or need to go to, food banks.…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionYes, I can certainly follow that up. The noble Baroness will be aware that there is a very strong link with the housing support that I say that “we” but in fact local authorities…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionWell, it is helpful to have some innovative solutions from the noble Baroness, but she will know of the huge amount of support that we have given, of which the House is very…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionMy Lords, food banks are an example of the generosity of spirt of giving across communities in Britain. This Government are committed to understanding and addressing poverty. Last…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionI would certainly be very pleased to join the noble Baroness to look at social supermarkets. She will be aware that the main supermarkets do offer some help in this respect. For…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionThe right reverend Prelate is right. We recognise that charities and community organisations have been hit by a triple threat of rising demand, rising costs and declining income…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionThe figures that have just come out help us with a regional focus. For example, 4% of households in the north-east and north-west use a food bank, which is 1% higher than the…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionFirst, I welcome the noble Baroness back. It is good to see her in her place. To pick up on what she was saying, our newly published statistics on food bank use, alongside the…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionMy noble friend will not be surprised to hear me say that we are committed to action that helps alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In answer to one of her questions, the HBAI…27 Mar 2023HANSARDCharitable Sector: Food ProvisionI fully understand that some people prefer to use cash, and that is certainly possible. I will have to write to the noble Baroness on the spread of where cash can be used.27 Mar 2023HANSARDRent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2023I absolutely have listened to the noble Lord, but how Governments spend money and whether they spend it wisely is a subjective issue wherever it is spent. We want and need to…22 Mar 2023HANSARDRent Officers (Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Functions) (Modification) Order 2023My Lords, I start by taking up the offer of the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy. This is a fairly straightforward answer: it is a yes. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to…22 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperI will quickly pick up on the noble Baroness’s point about the Jodey Whiting case. Our sincere condolences remain with Ms Whiting’s family. The department is ready to assist the…20 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperI will attempt to answer the noble Baroness’s questions. However, I start by saying that, as she will know, these reforms are the biggest undertaken in a decade and have been…20 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperI hope I can help the noble Baroness by saying two specific things. She will know that we have the national autism strategy, which was launched in 2021. As to what we are doing…20 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperThe noble Lord is right that this is another area we need to focus on, particularly those with neurodiversity issues or, indeed, autism. We have made progress in seeing more…20 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperI certainly do not. Having said that, we are not complacent. There is an awful lot we have done, some of which I have mentioned already, for the disabled cohorts, and it is…20 Mar 2023HANSARDHealth and Disability White PaperIt will be, but, as I mentioned to the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, we have a number of matters to work through, which is why I have said that it will take time. Sanctions are…20 Mar 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contribution to today’s debate. This is significant legislation that will provide support to low-income and vulnerable households…20 Mar 2023HANSARDSocial Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) BillI am delighted that we have the opportunity today to discuss this important legislation, which will make a huge difference to millions of families. This Government fully…20 Mar 2023