Topical Questions 2024-02-05
2024-02-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Department for Work and Pensions has been active in supporting low-income households through cost of living payments.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. The third instalment of the £900 cost of living payments is starting to reach 8 million low-income households tomorrow, and the disability action plan will be published soon. I am concerned about local authorities' uncertainty regarding future funding for the household support fund after March 31.
Ten million payments have been made through the HSF since its inception, and £1 billion has been put into the fund in the last year. The Chancellor is responsible for confirming future funding after March 31.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific timeline for confirming future funding was not provided.
She Will Know That Her Question Is A Matter For The Chancellor
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Anglesey has an active autism parents' group and a coach named Ryan Gibbs who supports autistic children.
The Minister can update the House on the Buckland review of autism employment. The review was instigated in April 2023, with a report to be published shortly online.
The Buckland review will conclude relatively shortly, with a report being published online. I look forward to visiting her disability jobs fair in Holyhead at the end of this week.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Office for National Statistics published updated figures from the labour market survey showing a lower employment rate.
This morning the Office for National Statistics released figures revealing that there are at least 200,000 more people out of work due to long-term sickness. The cost of health-related inactivity is an additional £15 billion a year since the pandemic.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has scored us as having 371,000 fewer people on long-term sickness benefits than would otherwise have been the case.
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Assessment & feedback
The exact additional cost was not provided.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Former health Minister Lord Bethell said that he is “gobsmacked” by the figures showing an economic hit.
Yesterday, the Education Secretary said the Government cannot guarantee promises on childcare. Today's Prime Minister admitted failure on NHS waiting lists. Why does the Secretary of State not admit his failure too and adopt Labour's plan?
Under the last Administration, unemployment increased by 40% for youth, with more women being unemployed.
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Assessment & feedback
Unlike The Opposition
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Sizewell C will provide numerous jobs and apprenticeships in Suffolk.
Will my right hon. Friend outline the work that the Department for Work and Pensions is doing to ensure local people have every opportunity to work on Sizewell C and acquire necessary skills?
Local jobcentres have been engaged with Sizewell C, and a local partnership manager will be designated to promote opportunities, including 1,500 apprenticeships and thousands of jobs.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
A report by Royal London shows women lose on average £92,000 as a result of juggling part-time work and childcare.
Last month, the pension provider Royal London reported that women lose an average of £92,000 due to balancing part-time work and childcare. What are the Government going to do about this issue?
The proportion of women saving for their pensions has increased from 40% ten years ago to 89% now.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps were not mentioned, only a positive trend in pension savings.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Philippa's son volunteers in music workshops for local children despite societal barriers to gaining paid employment. He faces challenges in being recognized as a valuable member of the workforce.
People with disabilities often take on voluntary roles, as there can be societal barriers to gaining employment. My constituent Philippa has a son with Down's syndrome who volunteers, providing much-valued music workshops for local children. How can the Minister ensure that the work of people with disabilities is properly recognised in the workplace?
I congratulate Philippa's son on the very good work that he does. We have disability employment advisers in our jobcentres. I am visiting my hon. Friend's constituency later this week; I know that he has been involved in the Denbighshire project, including the We Mind the Gap programme for young people, and I will be interested to discuss that and other matters.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific plan or commitment on recognition of disabled individuals' contributions beyond general statements about employment advisers and visiting the constituency.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Fife Gingerbread contacted the MP to highlight delays in implementing provisions of the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023, which aims to protect vulnerable individuals from abusive ex-partners controlling their actions through child maintenance claims.
Fife Gingerbread, based in my constituency, contacted me to point out that most of the provisions in the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023, which was unanimously agreed by the House and received Royal Assent at the end of June last year, have still not been brought into force. That means that far too many vulnerable people who want to make a claim through the Child Maintenance Service find that abusive ex-partners use it to control their behaviour. Why is it taking so long to put in place the measures in the Act?
I can confirm to the hon. Gentleman that the Child Maintenance Service has a domestic abuse plan to ensure that parents are not placed in danger as a consequence of any suggestion of domestic violence; for example, it has a centralised sort code to limit the risk of parental involvement.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address why implementation is delayed but provided information on measures taken by Child Maintenance Service.
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP helped guide a private Member's Bill that lowers the pension auto-enrolment age from 22 to 18 and abolishes the lower earnings threshold. The bill has received support.
I wish to place on record my thanks to the Secretary of State for helping to guide my private Member's Bill through Parliament. It lowers the pension auto-enrolment age from 22 to 18, and abolishes the lower earnings threshold. Briefly, has the Secretary of State received reassurances from the Chancellor that the necessary forms will be implemented in the spring Budget?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. Those matters are under active consideration.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a direct answer or commitment on receiving assurances from the Chancellor but stated that matters are under consideration.
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State has indicated that the decision to continue the Household Support Fund after March is up to the Chancellor. The MP seeks assurance on prioritizing this matter in negotiations with the Chancellor.
Given that the Secretary of State has just said that the continuation of the household support fund after the end of March is up to the Chancellor, and given that, last week, we had the support of all parties in Westminster Hall for the continuation of this vital fund, will he assure the House that the subject is a top priority in his negotiations with the Chancellor?
The specifics of my negotiations with the Treasury remain between me and the Treasury. As I have said, the any of those decisions on the HSF are matters for the Treasury.
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Assessment & feedback
Avoided discussing priority of Household Support Fund in negotiations and instead stated that details of negotiations are confidential.
Details Of Negotiations Remain Between Me And The Treasury
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP points out that in 2005, the DWP failed to provide targeted information about state pension age changes to affected women, resulting in an ombudsman ruling of maladministration.
In 2005, the DWP failed to make a reasonable decision about targeting information at the women affected by state pension age changes. The ombudsman ruled that there was maladministration. These women, in Dudley and around the country, deserve more than just an apology. Does the Minister accept these findings, and if not, will he explain why not?
The Department is co-operating with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigation, which is ongoing, and it would not be appropriate to comment on it or the outcome.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not respond directly to the findings but stated that comments are inappropriate before an ongoing investigation's conclusion.
Would Not Be Appropriate To Comment On It Or The Outcome
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP's constituent has had her Universal Credit payments stopped over Christmas for two years due to receiving salary early, highlighting the need for caseworkers to use discretion.
My constituent's universal credit payments have been stopped over Christmas for two years running, because her employer pays her salary early in December. Why will Ministers not do more to ensure that caseworkers know that they can use the discretion that they have, so that my constituents and others like her have financial certainty at what is a very difficult time of year?
The way that universal credit works means that work coaches can use their flexibility, but if a payment is short one month, the appropriate thing to do is to sort it the next.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address how caseworkers are informed about discretion in handling payments during special circumstances.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State mentioned the assessment period for cost-of-living payments but did not address how people paid on a four-weekly schedule miss out due to these rules.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary of State mentioned the assessment period for cost of living payments, but people on four-weekly pay schedules miss out on support because they fall foul of the assessment period rules for universal credit. What assessment have the Government made of the number of people missing out, and what remedy do they have?
Cost of living payments can be affected by when people are paid, and therefore by whether they are on universal credit and qualify at precisely that point. I do not have the figure to hand that the hon. Lady requests, but I will of course get back to her with it.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific figures or remedies for those affected by assessment period rules.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
The Academy of Medical Sciences report revealed poor UK health and infant mortality rates, attributing them to child poverty. The MP inquires about the impact of stopping the Household Support Fund on relative child poverty and infant mortality.
This morning's report by the Academy of Medical Sciences revealed that our appalling child health and infant mortality rates are worse than those of 60% of similar countries and is the key driver of child poverty. What assessment has the Secretary of State undertaken to make on the impact that stopping the household support fund in April will have on relative child poverty and, subsequently, infant mortality?
As the hon. Lady will know, the number of those in child poverty has decreased by 400,000 since 2010. We do not yet have a decision on the household support fund, to which she refers, but I point her to the very significant uplift in the local housing allowance, which will give 1.6 million people £800 a year more on average, thereby taking many of them out of poverty.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific impact of ending Household Support Fund but highlighted other measures taken to reduce child poverty.
Not Addressing The Specific Impact
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP has received heartbreaking stories from constituents trying to chase up Personal Independence Payments, facing distress and limbo due to unanswered emails and unreturned calls.
From unanswered emails to unreturned calls, it has been heartbreaking to hear from so many vulnerable constituents who are in a state of limbo and distress, and trying to chase up personal independence payments. When will Ministers ensure that people can get the support that they need in a timely and straightforward manner?
If the hon. Gentleman has specific examples, I would be keen to hear from him and to look into them.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to addressing delays but invited MP to provide specific examples for review.
Would Be Keen To Hear From Him
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP points out that many councils used the Household Support Fund to pay £3 per day during school holidays for families entitled to free school meals, and inquires about the impact if this fund ends.
Will the Secretary of State point out to the Chancellor that many councils have used the household support fund to pay £3 per day per child during the school holidays to families entitled to free school meals, and that if the fund closes at the end of March, those families will be straight into hardship in the Easter school holidays?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his representation, and indeed would be grateful for any others that he is minded to make to me as we conduct our ongoing review on where we go with the household support fund.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to informing Chancellor about impact but invited MP to provide further representations.
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted the success of Cummins' apprentice system in Huddersfield, which is well-regarded and demonstrates the value of engineering apprenticeships.
When will the Minister wake up to the fact that working as an apprentice in engineering is a fabulous career choice, and well paid? Will she come up to Huddersfield to look at Cummins, whose apprentice system is first rate?
I would be delighted to do so on my tour of England. I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. My father is an engineer. It is a fantastic profession, and the more we can encourage apprenticeships right across the board, the better.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not specify when she would visit Huddersfield or provide concrete details about promoting engineering apprenticeships beyond general agreement.
General Agreement
Response accuracy