Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentAt the heart of this problem is an interaction between employers and HMRC. If more employers followed the very clear and beefed-up guidance from HMRC, there would be far fewer…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentIt is something I am exploring as I look at our different options. My hon. Friend is an experienced member of the Select Committee, and I am happy to work with him and to hear his…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI did not entirely catch the question, but I think the hon. Lady is referring to the disparity between universal credit and legacy benefits. I would say that this Department acted…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank my hon. Friend for her helpful question. The system is largely automated, and that brings huge benefits—that is why we have been able to deal with those claims—but,…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI am certainly happy to look at the cases raised by the hon. Lady. I have said clearly that I am determined to find a fix. That will involve looking at numerous solutions,…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank my hon. Friend for that helpful question. My universal credit programme colleagues may well have their heads in their hands as we speak, depending on what I now commit…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentMy hon. Friend is absolutely right: universal credit is standing up to the challenge during this unprecedented time. The digital approach of universal credit, as he rightly points…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank my hon. Friend for that question, and he is right to raise the issue, because I know that those who work in the creative arts are particularly exercised and concerned by…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss those cases in more detail. As I said, I am absolutely committed to finding a fix. The court has not mandated any specific fix or…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. It was this Conservative Government who introduced our modern, dynamic, agile new benefits system, tailored for the claimant’s personal…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. I stress that we received the judgment only on Monday and it is a hugely complex issue. That is recognised by the court—it is not a…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank my hon. Friend, who is a firm champion of his constituents in this place. He is absolutely right that we have introduced a series of changes during the covid-19 pandemic,…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Each and every judicial review has its own grounds for being brought and is looked at on a case-by-case basis, and with each JR, the…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI can today confirm my Department’s intention not to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal of 22 June 2020 in the case of Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart v. the…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Court of Appeal JudgmentI thank my right hon. Friend for that question. We received the judgment only on Monday, and it is a complex issue, as he rightly recognised and as I believe was recognised by the…25 Jun 2020HANSARDUniversal CreditI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for rightly praising DWP staff for the work they are doing. That issue has been raised by a number of colleagues, and I am looking at…11 May 2020HANSARDUniversal CreditI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and welcome him to his new position. As he knows, we have announced measures that can be quickly and effectively put in place that will…11 May 2020HANSARDUniversal Credit: Five-week WaitIn these uncertain times, we would like to be absolutely clear that no claimant has to wait five weeks for a payment. Advances are available, enabling claimants faster access to…11 May 2020HANSARDFood BanksI think I did, Mr Speaker. I gently point out to the hon. Gentleman that jobcentres are working with local partners to signpost claimants to the support available in their local…11 May 2020HANSARDFood BanksMinisters and officials have had regular discussions with food bank providers and other stakeholders during this time. Flexibility and innovation in local jobcentre arrangements…11 May 2020