Topical Questions 2022-12-05
2022-12-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The new jobcentre in Kings Norton has enabled 973 people to find work.
Will the Secretary of State set out how we can help jobcentres such as those in Kings Norton and Longbridge do even more to get even more people into work? Will he visit Kings Norton so we can both thank the jobcentre's fantastic teams that have got so many people back into work?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The talented and hard-working people at Kings Norton jobcentre do an extraordinary job, and I know he has personally done a great deal to encourage them. This is why overall unemployment is as low as it is. I will certainly consider his request for a ministerial visit.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ways to help the jobcentres do more was not addressed in detail, only mentioned they are doing well and thanked them.
Considering This
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Unemployment is lower than before the pandemic, but there are issues with economic inactivity.
The Secretary of State will know that employment is lower than before the pandemic, that 2.5 million people are out of work for reasons of sickness—a record high—and that half a million young people are not in education, employment or training. There is a £1 billion underspend on Restart and other schemes, so why not use that money to help the economically inactive get back to work?
As the right hon. Gentleman will know, we look at our budgets on an ongoing basis. Where we have an underspend, such as on the Restart scheme, it is largely because the Government have been so successful in lowering the level of unemployment. Compared with 2010, youth unemployment is down by almost 60%. It is 29,000 down on the last quarter, and 77,000 down on the year.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific use of £1 billion underspend was not addressed in detail, only mentioned current youth unemployment statistics.
Looking At This
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
83% of people with a cancer diagnosis experience financial impact.
The Secretary of State will have seen the Office for Budget Responsibility's projection that we are likely to spend more than £8 billion extra on health and disability benefits. We are getting sicker as a society, yet only one in 10 unemployed disabled people or older people are getting any employment support. Does he think that is acceptable? How will he fix it?
On assisting the disabled into employment, this Government have an excellent record through Disability Confident. Our work coaches do a huge amount of work to ensure that those with disabilities are in work. The right hon. Gentleman will know the Department is currently undertaking a large amount of work on economic inactivity.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plan or commitment on increasing employment support for disabled individuals was not addressed.
Working Together
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Macmillan research shows that 83% of people with a cancer diagnosis experience a financial impact.
Research by Macmillan shows that 83% of people with a cancer diagnosis experience a financial impact from that, with the average figure being £891 a month on top of their usual expenditure. What more can be done to ensure that those with a cancer diagnosis get rapid access to everything to which they are entitled?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this point. The experience he describes illustrates the troubling and worrying times for families when a diagnosis of cancer comes through. We are committed to ensuring that people can access financial support, through the personal independence payment and other benefits for which they are eligible, in a timely manner.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures or timeline on rapid access was not detailed.
Committed
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Department for Work and Pensions took £2.3 million from claimants in Scotland.
Recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions, acquired from an answer to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens), show that the Department took £2.3 million from claimants in Scotland, at an average of £250 per sanctioned household. Sanctions against young people in Scotland have almost doubled since 2019, undermining the significant investment the Scottish Government are making in tackling child poverty. Does the Secretary of State stand by the practice of sanctioning the most vulnerable and leaving them hungry?
As we focused on in our earlier exchange, the most important thing is that there is a proportionate response to those who are in debt, for whatever reason. It is appropriate that we help people out of debt, and reductions—or deductions—are part of that process.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific stance on sanctions against the most vulnerable was not fully addressed.
Reductions
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent with motor neurone disease cannot claim the additional mobility element of attendance allowance after reaching pensionable age.
One of my constituents has motor neurone disease. She became disabled after she reached pensionable age and the only support she can now claim is attendance allowance, which, as we know, has no additional mobility element of payment. Others who have the same condition but are under pensionable age can claim and receive the mobility addition. Does my right hon. Friend agree that people on benefits who end up with these health issues should be able to claim for their disability based on a disability and not their age?
Nearly 1.5 million pensioners are receiving attendance allowance, at a cost of about £5.5 billion this year. It is normal for social security schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives, which reflect varying priorities and circumstances.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific change or policy towards assessing disability based on condition rather than age was not addressed.
Priorities
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Ealing, Southall has an unemployment rate twice the national average since before the pandemic.
Unemployment in my constituency is still significantly higher than it was before the pandemic and it is twice the national average. Ministers keep saying that times are tough and that we need to make difficult decisions. Will the Minister commit to raising payments in line with inflation to prevent misery for thousands in Ealing, Southall? Will he work with his colleagues to help the economy, not hinder it?
I am slightly puzzled by the hon. Gentleman's question. Clearly, we did raise a significant proportion of benefits in line with inflation at the autumn statement. He will also be aware of the taper that was reduced to 55%, and the work on increased work allowances, additional earnings thresholds and the in-work progression—I could go on.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to raise payments with inflation without specifics.
I Am Slightly Puzzled By The Hon. Gentleman'S Question.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
A private Member's Bill on supported housing exempt accommodation is progressing in Parliament. The system loses more than £1 billion annually to unscrupulous providers.
My right hon. Friend will be aware that my private Member's Bill on supported housing exempt accommodation is making its way through Parliament. He will also have seen the exposé that demonstrates that more than £1 billion is going out in housing benefit to providers. Many of them are providing an important service for vulnerable people, but a large number of rogue landlords are ripping off the system. Will he undertake a review to make sure that people who are claiming this benefit are properly assessed and provided with the support they need?
I recognise the extraordinary work that my hon. Friend has done over many years to campaign for those in social housing, private housing and also, indeed, those who are homeless. I fully support his Bill. It is absolutely right that we clamp down on these rogue landlords.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to review without specific details.
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Mr Hudson, a constituent of mine, has not been receiving national insurance contributions for his state pension for the past three-and-a-half years.
My constituent, Mr Hudson, has raised with me that the DWP has not been paying any of his national insurance contributions for his state pension for the past three-and-a-half years, and that the Department has been unable to advise him on when he will receive the update to his records, because he is in receipt of class 3 benefit contributions. Will the Secretary of State or his Ministers explain when this will be undertaken, so that my constituent can get the much-needed contributions re-established, enabling him to claim his state pension when the time comes?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising Mr Hudson's situation. If he would care to write to me, or have Mr Hudson write to me, I will be very happy to make sure that it is thoroughly looked into.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to investigate without a timeline or specific action.
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
A new disability action plan is being prepared by the Government to improve the lives of disabled people.
Can my right hon. Friend give the House an update on the new disability action plan that the Government are preparing at the moment?
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for asking about that. It is right that we work across Government to identify priority areas where we can deliver meaningful change and progress for disabled people to improve their lives.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to update without specific details or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent of mine, Brandon, was medically discharged from the armed forces in 2020 with physical injuries and mental health consequences.
My constituent, Brandon, was medically discharged from the armed forces in 2020 after serving six years. He sustained a number of physical injuries and mental health consequences, but the DWP is failing to adhere to the armed forces covenant and to recognise the Ministry of Defence's medical assessment for universal credit purposes, or to recognise the assessment of Combat Stress for personal independence payment purposes. Will the Minister consider his case and take the appropriate action to address those deficits?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that matter and it is a concern. There are 11 armed forces leaders and 50 champions across the DWP.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to look at the case without specifics or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Next year will be the fourth consecutive year that local housing allowance has been frozen at its current level, despite rising rents.
We were grateful for the answers that the Secretary of State gave at the Work and Pensions Committee meeting last week, and we are looking forward to him returning on 11 January. He has been pressed this afternoon, repeatedly and rightly, about local housing allowance, and I have heard his answers to those questions. Next year will be the fourth year that the local housing allowance has been frozen at its current level, during a period when rents have risen sharply. Does he recognise that the case for rebasing local housing allowance, so that it reflects actual local rents, is becoming a very pressing one?
Once again, I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the opportunity to appear before his Committee last week.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to review without specifics or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
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Context
11-year-old Harry Sanders is waiting for a tribunal date to appeal his disability living allowance.
I raised 11-year-old Harry Sanders's disability living allowance appeal at the last DWP questions, but despite a letter from the Minister, for which I am grateful, his parents are still waiting for a tribunal date. Will the Minister look again at Harry's case, understand why the long wait is causing such anxiety and work with me to resolve this matter as soon as possible?
Again, I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue so constructively.
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Assessment & feedback
The commitment to look at the case without specifics or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
A Lloyds Bank Foundation report indicates that even a 25% deduction rate is pushing people into other debt and leaving them without enough to live on. The Work and Pensions Committee has recommended pausing debt recovery during the cost of living crisis.
The Secretary of State mentioned reducing deductions for universal credit, but deducting 25% from money that barely covers essentials is too much. A report says it pushes people into other debts. Will the Secretary of State pause debt collection and reduce levels when resuming?
The 25% deduction rate has decreased from 40%. Debt recovery was paused during the pandemic but led to increased debts among claimants. We work with people to get them out of debt carefully.
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Assessment & feedback
Pausing debt collection and reducing levels when resuming
We Need To Do That With Great Care
Response accuracy
Q15
Direct Answer
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Context
200,000 pensioners have yet to be compensated for historical underpayments in the state pension.
What measures are being taken to speed up repayments to the 200,000 pensioners who have not been compensated?
We have hired over 1,000 people to look at this issue and are working hard to rectify the mistake as quickly as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
Constituents are unable to use childcare vouchers during the pandemic, leading to a build-up of unused vouchers.
A number of constituents have written about unused childcare vouchers from the pandemic. Can we reduce restrictions on refunds and allow parents to take advantage of it during the cost of living crisis?
I thank my hon. Friend for raising the issue but I would be keen to meet him and hear more about it.
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Assessment & feedback
Reducing restrictions on refunds or allowing parents to take advantage of unused vouchers during the cost of living crisis
Would Like To Meet
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
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Context
Many Barnsley pensioners would be better off if they were automatically enrolled in pension credit.
Why won't the Government automatically enrol all pensioners on pension credit to help lift them out of poverty?
Pension credit is complicated involving savings, so automatic enrollment isn't possible with current information. We are looking at ways to speed up payments working with local authorities.
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Assessment & feedback
Automatically enrolling all eligible pensioners on pension credit
Pension Credit Is Complicated
Response accuracy