Health and Disability Benefits Spending Estimate 2025-09-01
2025-09-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The OBR forecasted spending on incapacity and disability benefits to be £90.7 billion in 2029-30. The questioner references a previous welfare Bill that was significantly watered down.
Just two months ago, the Secretary of State was left humiliated after being forced to significantly water down her botched welfare Bill. If the Government had pressed ahead with the Bill as originally drafted, how much less would taxpayers be spending on benefits by 2030?
As I have said, the OBR will update its forecast at the time of the Budget. We inherited a terrible situation, with record numbers of economically inactive people. Economic inactivity is down since the election, and employment is up. Those developments have been encouraging, but our reforms will go much further. The £3.8 billion that we are investing in employment support for people out of work on health and disability grounds—the biggest package ever—will be key.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific amount of savings if the original welfare Bill was passed
We Inherited A Terrible Situation
Economic Inactivity Is Down
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The NHS 10-year plan published by the Health Secretary gives a new priority to mental health support.
Does the Minister agree that we must invest in community mental health services if we are to reduce spending on mental health disability?
I very much welcome the NHS 10-year plan published by our right hon. Friend the Health Secretary, which gives a new priority and commitment to mental health support. I agree with my hon. Friend that that is an important part of tackling the problems that we need to resolve.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Minister is collaborating with disabled people and representatives of disability organisations for a review of PIP assessment.
It is good to see the Minister back after the break, but I am sorry to hear that there are still no plans to reduce spending on personal independence payments. He has said that he is collaborating with people who would not be working with him on his review if there were to be any reductions in the levels of benefit or eligibility. Given that veto on cuts to PIP, I implore him again to consider the benefits to which PIP is a gateway, such as Motability, disability premiums, council tax discounts and blue badges. Will he promise at least that those entitlements could come down?
We have made it clear that we will co-produce our review of the PIP assessment with disabled people and representatives of disability organisations. The review will cover the assessment for the mobility component, which leads on to the Motability scheme, and other entitlements to which PIP is a gateway.
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Assessment & feedback
Promise of reducing entitlements linked to PIP
We Are Reviewing Universal Credit At The Moment
Response accuracy