Contributions
959 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: NottinghamThe hon. Gentleman makes a good point. Although that might be discrimination in terms of the terminology we would use, it might not fall under the legal definition of it. As a…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: NottinghamI do not entirely recognise the picture that the hon. Lady paints. There have been huge positive changes for some of the lowest paid in our country. The national living wage has…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: NottinghamI thank the hon. Lady for her question. That is exactly why we have introduced the targeted affordability funding and we have made available discretionary housing payments, but it…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: NottinghamI thank the hon. Lady for her further intervention, just as I was reaching the end of my conclusion. I will comment on what she has just said in a moment. The Government continue…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: NottinghamI thank the hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood) for securing this debate. I have not yet had an opportunity to visit Nottingham in my role but I look forward to…17 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingI thank my hon. Friend for his kind words and his question. He is right that supply is a key element. Raising LHA rates would be one thing, but it will not have the impact we need…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingFirst, I want to correct the record. I did not make those comments at the Work and Pensions Committee yesterday, and if the hon. Gentleman checks the record he will see that that…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingThe ruling was not against the Department; it was a case against Birmingham City Council. I will look at the judgment carefully. The Court decided that the local authority had…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingThe hon. Lady is right that LHA rates were frozen in the summer Budget in 2015 and have therefore been frozen since 2016. That was about getting our welfare bill under control. It…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingI am afraid that I do not recognise the picture that the hon. Lady paints. We are spending record amounts on our welfare system—over £95 billion a year for those of working age.13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingMy hon. Friend is right that we are taking action to build the homes that our country needs. The LHA rate is an issue in so many cases because of supply and demand. Demand…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingThe hon. Gentleman raises a good point. Those groupings are based on broad rental market areas, and in some parts of the country they pose an issue. A number of Members from…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingThe hon. Gentleman should not underestimate my determination—I chaired the all-party group on ending homelessness—to absolutely deliver on our commitments to halve and then end…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingDespite the freeze in Scotland, we have seen LHA rates rise. One rate rose in 2017-18, three rates rose in 2018-19 and 16 rates rose in 2019-20. The hon. Gentleman knows me well…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Local Housing Allowance: Supreme Court RulingI look forward to the Adjournment debate on Monday evening, when we will discuss these matters in more detail. We want everyone to have security in their home and a roof over…13 Jun 2019HANSARD Family LawThe fees and charges—20% for the paying parent and 4% for the receiving parent—are set by the Child Maintenance Service. The regulations build on the success of the child…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Family LawFirst, let me thank all hon. Members for their comments and the good-natured and constructive approach they have taken. With your permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to…11 Jun 2019HANSARD Family LawI beg to move, That the draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 9 May, be approved. These regulations amend child…11 Jun 2019HANSARDYoung Vulnerable Adults: Universal CreditI thank my hon. Friend for his question. He is a passionate campaigner, and I recognise that that is a specific constituency issue. There is no difference in how English…13 May 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I absolutely agree with him. He may know that I campaigned with the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) before taking up my…13 May 2019