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Health and Disability White Paper
16 March 2023
Lead MP
Tom Pursglove
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSBenefits & WelfareMental Health
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Tom Pursglove raised concerns about health and disability white paper in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Yesterday, the Secretary of State published “Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper”. This document is a significant milestone demonstrating the Government’s commitment to ensuring that disabled people and those with health conditions can lead independent lives and achieve their full potential. It outlines an ambitious reform package aimed at transforming the benefits system for this group, focusing on capabilities rather than limitations. Key reforms include removing the work capability assessment, introducing a new universal credit health element in 2026-27 to enable people to try work without losing benefits, providing tailored employment support, and investing in additional mental health and musculoskeletal treatment through a programme called Universal Support. The White Paper also aims to improve access to benefits by testing new initiatives for easier application processes.
Battersea
Question
Although most proposals will not take effect until the next Parliament, a significant number of ill and disabled people will be impacted. The shadow minister criticised the Government's carrot-and-stick approach, citing sanctions that could worsen health and finances. She questioned relying on the PIP assessment alone given its flaws and highlighted potential losses for up to 1 million currently receiving incapacity benefits. She also inquired about additional investment in Access to Work, mitigation strategies, changes to PIP assessments, fixing flawed decision-making processes, and publishing research on sanctions.
Minister reply
Tom Pursglove acknowledged the shadow minister's concerns but emphasised the structural disincentive to work that these reforms aim to remove. He welcomed scrapping the work capability assessment and noted opportunities for improving quality in PIP assessments through specialist matching of assessors with conditions. On sanctions, he clarified that no one would be forced into something not right for them; support will be personalised and voluntary. Transitional cash protection is in place to ensure no loss for those moving to the new system, particularly for pregnancy risk or cancer treatment patients. The minister stressed the importance of working constructively to get this major welfare reform right.
Selaine Saxby
Lab
Penwith and north Cornwall
Question
Welcomes the announcement of the Government’s new universal support programme, asks if it will help disabled people in her constituency find an appropriate job, backed by £4,000 resources per person, and invites the Minister to visit and see for herself.
Minister reply
Commends Selaine Saxby's work with the jobcentre and employers, excited about opportunities universal support brings. Highlights that existing schemes show positive outcomes in employment and health when people are supported in taking and retaining roles.
Karen Buck
Lab
Central Lancaster
Question
Welcomes reform of WCA but asks for details on how PIP assessment will be reconciled with the WCA, what will happen to those not receiving PIP or LCWRA, and whether capacity is in place for work coaches to use discretion. Also asks for transparency and publication of report on sanctions.
Minister reply
Welcomes cautious welcome from Labour but says structural impediment to work must be removed for those who want it. On PIP, will look carefully at eligibility criteria and encourage people to apply. Confirms UC health element award rate same as LCWRA. Reform to happen on a staged geographical basis starting in 2026-27.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Welcomes announcement, highlights purpose of universal support package to intervene and help people change their lives. Cites survey showing 700,000 want work but fear losing benefit, urges Government to bring in ESAs on UC.
Minister reply
Speaks with passion about issue, excited about opportunities for matching people to roles and supporting retention, wants to draw on Iain Duncan Smith's experience.
Marion Fellows
SNP
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Question
Asks why Government intend to expose more disabled people to punitive benefits sanction regime. Asks for guidance in White Paper on statutory timescales, flexible working as default right, uplift for legacy disability claimants missed out during pandemic, and consideration of dignity, fairness, and respect.
Minister reply
Argues reforms are about tailored approach helping people into work when appropriate, no one forced to do anything inappropriate. Will not force engagement with employment support if it does not work out. PIP journey now 14 weeks but more can be done on digitalisation.
Christchurch
Question
Draws attention to Daily Express article on Justice for Jab Victims crusade, describing problems faced by thousands due to covid-19 vaccines.
Minister reply
Welcomes initiative to emphasise need to improve health outcomes. Has not seen the article but will look at it and speak separately.
Stephen Timms
Lab
East Ham
Question
Welcomes measures in White Paper but asks for more detail on new personalised health conditionality approach replacing WCA.
Minister reply
Says details need to be worked through, stakeholder engagement important. Wants people to feel they can engage with programmes announced voluntarily.
Mark Jenkinson
Con
Fenland and Cambridgeshire
Question
I thank my hon. Friend for bringing forward steps to abolish the work capability assessment. Does he agree that that will enable more disabled people in my constituency to take up work without fear of losing financial support?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend hits the nail on the head about what we are trying to achieve with these reforms. He is a passionate campaigner for employment opportunities in Workington, and has had considerable success in that regard during his time in this House. I appreciate his welcoming the reforms, which are about helping people to achieve their aspirations.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) for asking this important urgent question... What are the Government doing to tackle negative attitudes about disabled people, which are preventing many of them from fulfilling the opportunities that they should be taking?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to raise this issue. We all have a duty and a responsibility to be brilliant advocates and allies of disabled people, promoting opportunities for them at every turn. I expect that we will be in a position to say more about autism specifically over the coming weeks—something that I feel very passionately about as Minister for Disabled People.
David Simmonds
Con
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Question
I welcome the focus in the White Paper on people with learning disabilities. For many years my constituent Jeremy Child has run the project Community ConneX, formerly Harrow Mencap, which supports adults with learning disabilities to grow their confidence with a view to entering the workplace. Does the Minister agree that such projects are a critical part of the infrastructure that will make this White Paper a success in practice?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for raising the work of Community ConneX, which makes a huge difference in his community. I see that replicated in many of the visits that I undertake in this role. I was in Bristol just before Christmas and it was inspiring to see the work experience placement opportunities that are being provided, often by charitable organisations.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Question
May I suggest to the Minister that, as part of this, he looks at reforming statutory sick pay? The pandemic laid bare the inadequacies of that system. Millions of people do not qualify at all, and the rate is one of the lowest in Europe. If we are genuine about getting people with long-term health conditions into the workplace, we need a proper safety net for when they fall ill.
Minister reply
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s thoughts on statutory sick pay. If there are particular ideas or suggestions that he would like me to consider, I would be very happy to do so.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
I am really pleased that the Government are dealing with the issue of an ageing population and the difference between good health and poor health. The reality is that many people will live with long-term health conditions. I have seen at first hand that when someone has a heart attack or a stroke, they struggle to get back into the workplace. Is this part of changing the environment to make sure that people have support all the way through, from diagnosis to desk? If so, how will my hon. Friend ensure that the environment is compassionate and supportive all the way through to getting people back into work?
Minister reply
Compassionate and supportive is precisely the approach that I see when I carry out my visits and look at the employment support that is being provided.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Question
Waiting times for Access to Work grants have skyrocketed under the Conservative Government, with the average clearance time now more than two months. Although plans to enhance the Access to Work support offer are welcome, how does the Minister plan to reduce waiting times so that disabled people can access the support that is available before an employer pulls a job offer?
Minister reply
I am not satisfied with where we are in relation to Access to Work, and that is why I am driving a real effort within the Department, which is resulting in more staff being dedicated to it. We are refining our practice, streamlining processes and reflecting feedback, particularly on workplace assessments and travel claims.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Question
I welcome this health and disability White Paper, because we know that health issues may mean that people feel unable to carry on working or struggle to continue in the working environment. I thank my hon. Friend for the Government’s new £400 million fund to increase the availability of mental health and musculoskeletal resources. Does he agree that this support will help people across the country, including in Keighley and Ilkley, who need such support to stay in work for longer?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is a brilliant champion for his constituents, and he is always arguing for improved employment opportunities for residents in his area. The Budget commitments amount to more than £500 million of employment support by 2025-26.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Minister for his answers on this important issue... Will he outline whether greater financial incentives can be offered to employers to take time to put in place procedures to allow disabled people to be part of the team yet work from home? That would allow more people to overcome their physical restrictions and be a huge asset to a team, and thereby gain confidence and independence through employment.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is right to touch on the fact that disabled people contribute so much to our workplaces, and I want to extend their contribution further so that we can unleash the potential in our society.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
The report points out that autistic people are the least likely of all disabled people to be in work. It goes on to reference the nine local authorities where there has been a pilot, which is to be extended to a further 28. Does that 28 include the nine? Can the Minister outline the criteria for local authorities to participate?
Minister reply
I am happy to provide further detail for my hon. Friend separately. We recognise that there is real value and opportunity in having locally led and locally initiated employment opportunities and support that are tailored to meet localised needs on the ground.
Andrew Jones
Con
Hemel Hempstead
Question
It is fantastic that we have seen 2 million more people with disabilities enter the workplace in the last decade and that, as my hon. Friend said earlier, those who want and are able to work are supported to do so. I have spoken before about my support for the Disability Confident and Access to Work schemes. The White Paper builds on all the progress made thus far. Can he outline more about how the Access to Work scheme will evolve with an enhanced package and about the flexibility? Basically, can he update the House? The programme is fantastic, but there needs to be significantly greater awareness.
Minister reply
It is fair to say that the Access to Work scheme is a flagship scheme that has made a big difference over the years in helping to support disabled people into work. As we move forward with the reforms, we want to look at how we can be more ambitious on Access to Work and, as I touched on earlier, what more we can do to support employers to have those soft skills so that they have good-quality workplace conversations with employees about how they can be best supported. We also want to ensure that we deliver digitalisation to bring waiting times down. Frankly, I do not want anyone to have to wait longer than necessary to start work, if that is something that they want to do. We must support people to retain their roles.
Shadow Comment
Marsha de Cordova
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister expressed concern over the Government’s reforms, particularly regarding the impact on disabled individuals and those with health conditions. She highlighted that while scrapping the work capability assessment is welcome, relying solely on the PIP assessment raises concerns given its flaws and poor decision-making record. The Labour Party questioned the lack of additional investment in the Access to Work scheme, and raised worries about potential sanctions and the risk of pushing people into poverty. Marsha de Cordova also asked for details on how many will be impacted and what costs are involved with these reforms, as well as how the Government plans to mitigate negative impacts.
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