Topical Questions 2023-04-24
2023-04-24
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The young parents visited One Parent Families Scotland and expressed concerns about the young parent penalty.
I thank the Minister for his answer. On Thursday, I and my hon. Friend visited One Parent Families Scotland. The young single parents we met were outraged and upset about the young parent penalty, as they are receiving less universal credit than older parents. Does the Minister care to explain why he feels that younger parents are worth less than those who are over 25?
We do not feel that in any way whatsoever. I will write to the hon. Lady setting out the legal and statutory basis behind the policy.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The specific reasons for the young parent penalty were not explained, only promised to be written later.
Will Write To
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Member advocates for DWP workers in primary care to support people from diagnosis to work.
A key area that we need to consider is people who have a diagnosis and then try to return to work. One way that we can solve this is potentially having DWP or jobcentre workers in primary care to help support people from diagnosis to desk. Is that something that Ministers will consider in the White Paper?
My hon. Friend is a passionate advocate of the join-up between health and work, and work as a determinant of better health outcomes for people. A number of jobcentres have work coaches working with GP surgeries to provide employment support to customers with health conditions. The Work Well partnerships programme announced in the Budget will build on this to design an integrated approach to work and health.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The local elections are next week, with high unemployment in some areas like Blackpool.
We on the Labour Benches join you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and the Minister in the tribute to Len Goodman. The local elections are next week, so people will be thinking of the fortunes of their towns or cities. In many places, unemployment is not low, but high. For example, one constituency has an 8% unemployment rate. What about that chronic poor performance should be rewarded at the ballot box next week?
We all know that unemployment is always higher when the Labour party leaves office. Vacancies have fallen for nine successive quarters; employment is up; payroll employment is at a record high; claimant count is down; economic inactivity has fallen; disability employment is up by 1.3 million over the past five years.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The question about rewarding areas with chronic poor performance was not directly answered, instead focusing on general employment trends and criticising Labour.
Criticising Labour
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Member visited the charity that provides tools to developing countries and supports local volunteers.
A few weeks ago, I visited Tools with a Mission, a 40-year-old charity in Ipswich. It takes old, disused and discarded tools and sends them to developing countries like Zambia and Uganda. The charity also helps local pensioners and individuals with educational needs find jobs. Will the Minister join me in applauding that work, and work with me to find funding to enhance what the charity is doing?
Local charities play an important role. I look forward to visiting my hon. Friend's constituency later this month to see Combat2Coffee and hope to take a keen interest in Tools with a Mission too, if possible.
▸
Assessment & feedback
No commitment was made regarding funding or specific support for the charity.
Visiting Constituency
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Member referenced a previous statement from the Secretary of State about transparency and accountability.
When he appeared before the Select Committee, the Secretary of State said that more transparency is better. In light of that, can the Minister provide figures on how many DWP staff are reliant on universal credit?
I know the hon. Gentleman takes a particular interest in transparency. I work strongly with the Minister in the Lords and will write to the hon. Gentleman with a response.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The figures requested were not provided, only promised to be written later.
Will Write To
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Department has signed the Age-friendly Employer pledge. There is a need to promote this among employers.
I welcome the measures in the Budget to encourage over-50s back into work, harnessing their experience and skills. I also notice that the Department has signed the Age-friendly Employer pledge—I have signed my office up too. What is being done to promote the scheme more widely among employers to encourage them to do the same?
We are doing huge amounts of work to encourage over-50s employment. My hon Friend refers to the pledge, and we encourage all employers up and down the country to sign up, to participate in the mid-life MOT, to embrace older workers' fairs and generally to accept that older workers have a great deal to offer.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures or initiatives for promoting the pledge among employers.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Changes to women's state pension age have affected around 3.8 million women, many of whom have contacted the MP about the negative impact.
Some 5,260 women in Liverpool, West Derby have been affected by the changes made to the women's state pension age, and many have contacted me about the devastating impact it has had on their lives. What consideration has the Minister given to early-day motion 1040 by my right hon Friend the Member for Knowsley (Sir George Howarth), which calls for an alternative dispute resolution process, including representatives of the 3.8 million women affected, to address the injustices they have been through?
The hon Gentleman will know that state pension age equalisation has been the policy of successive Governments since 1995.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not address consideration of EDM 1040, instead stated long-standing policy.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Disability Confident scheme is a way for employers to support people into work, and there are initiatives to encourage local councils to participate.
As the Minister will know, the Disability Confident scheme is a great way for employers to support people into work. What is the Minister doing to ensure that local councils such as Torbay Council are setting an example to other employers in their area?
I am hugely appreciative of my hon Friend, who is a passionate advocate of Disability Confident. I would hope that local authorities would want to engage with the scheme and set the example that they would like to see businesses and other organisations in their communities follow. I know he has good conversations on this question with Councillor David Thomas, the leader of the Conservative group, who I hope may be in a position in a few weeks time to help set the standard in the Torbay area and blaze a trail for Disability Confident at Torbay Council.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions or commitments regarding local councils like Torbay participating in the scheme.
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Many women have been underpaid their state pensions, and there is a concern about the delay in addressing this issue.
Do Ministers think it acceptable that thousands of women who have been underpaid their state pensions will be forced to wait until the end of 2024 to see that error addressed?
We have massively increased the number of people working on that at the moment. We are undertaking work against scams, we are prioritising cases in which the recipient is alive, and we will try to get that done by the end of the year. I am accelerating that as much as I can. I am very aware that it is a problem.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly state if waiting until 2024 is acceptable, instead focused on actions being taken.
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
▸
Context
There has been an increase in pensions and benefits uplifts, but there is a need to ensure people are aware of pension credits.
This month has seen the uplifting of pensions and benefits by 10.1%, but what more is the Department doing to ensure that people in my constituency and around the country get the maximum that they are entitled to and, therefore, take up pension credit?
I thank my hon Friend for all that he is doing to encourage pension credit take-up in Crawley. The Government have undertaken a sustained communications campaign to raise awareness of pension credit and promote its take-up. The latest stats release at the start of the year shows a substantial rise in the number of claims.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions beyond mentioning communications campaigns, focused on existing efforts.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
▸
Context
A constituent with a brain injury has had their personal independence payment stopped despite no change in condition.
My constituent had a brain injury 20 years ago and was receiving personal independence payment for care and mobility support. A recent review said that there was no change to his condition, but somehow the decision has been made to stop his benefits. The Minister has already indicated that he is considering this matter, but will he meet me to discuss that particular case?
I am always very happy to meet colleagues from across the House to discuss such issues, and this circumstance is no different.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to meeting specifically regarding the constituent's case beyond general willingness to meet.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
▸
Context
There is a need to tackle parents who do not pay child maintenance, with home curfew measures in place.
We must do more to tackle delinquent parents who do not pay child maintenance. When can we expect the home curfew powers to come into effect, and how many people do we expect to be subject to them?
Enforcement action is used as a last resort when a parent is failing to pay their maintenance payments and other action has failed. Home detention is a powerful deterrent and, as such, we would expect usage to be low—perhaps less than 10 cases a year on average. I know that my hon Friend focuses on this matter. The Child Maintenance Service continues to explore how existing powers can be used to encourage compliant behaviours and facilitate constructive relationships between parents to ensure that, importantly, financial support reaches the children for whom they are responsible.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline or impact figures beyond general expectations.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
▸
Context
A new report highlights issues with the DWP health assessment system, which have led to deaths of claimants.
A new Work and Pensions Committee report on the health assessments for disability benefits such as PIP and employment support allowance has found that “issues or errors” in the DWP health assessment system have, in some ways, contributed to the deaths of claimants. What assurances can the Minister give the House that those issues and errors will not continue to kill our disabled constituents?
We take those matters incredibly seriously, which is why we have internal process reviews in the Department to look at them. We have serious case panels constituted by senior leaders from within the Department, and the independent case examiner, for example. Where there are issues and learning that must be taken on board, that must always happen. This is structured through that. We will look very carefully and closely at the Select Committee report, and we will, of course, respond appropriately in the normal way. The hon Gentleman can be absolutely assured that these processes must always be looked at carefully, and that any learning is taken on board and acted on.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures or actions to address issues with disability benefits assessments beyond general statements of seriousness and internal reviews.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The apprenticeship levy is aimed at improving economic activity rates but faces issues with accessibility for smaller businesses.
I am concerned about the apprenticeship levy's relevance to small employers who find the process unwieldy. Will you engage with other Departments to make it more relevant?
I am happy to meet my right hon. Friend and Ministers in the Departments that control the policy to discuss any improvements.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to a specific timeline or concrete measures for improvement
Building On What We Are Already Doing
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Equality and Human Rights Commission issued a section 23 agreement against the Government regarding discrimination against sick and disabled people.
On April 19 last year, the Equality and Human Rights Commission informed the Government of its intent to issue a section 23 agreement under the Equality Act 2006. When will this agreement be reached given it has not yet been concluded?
We are in a phase of advanced discussions and further detail will come forward as soon as possible.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a concrete conclusion date for the agreement
Cannot Give A Definitive Conclusion Date
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
▸
Context
There is an employment gap where only two in ten adults with autism are currently employed.
We have embarked upon a review into autism and employment this month. What further measures will the Government take to close this employment gap?
We are committed to initiatives that support more disabled people and people with health conditions into work, including focusing on knowledge and responsiveness in workplaces.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify any new measures or commitments beyond general principles
Shift The Dial
Make Meaningful Improvements
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Unpaid work trials are being increasingly used despite Government guidance discouraging their use.
Given the growing abuse of unpaid work trials, will you meet me to discuss what new legislation might look like?
If he writes to me with the details of his argument, I will certainly consider it.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit directly to a meeting or any specific action
Not Sure I Totally Accept The Premise
Response accuracy