Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 9 March 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • People will not be penalised for following government recommendations during self-isolation.
  • The Government is working on preparing guidance for jobseekers, advisers, and MPs.
  • The Minister is considering extending the repayment period for universal credit advances beyond the current 16 months.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Davis Con Haltemprice and Howden
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Discusses the requirement for jobseeker's allowance claimants to attend jobcentres every two weeks to prove they are looking for work. Sanctions can be applied if these requirements are not met.

Question

The Secretary of State mentioned that sanctions will not be applied if jobcentres are informed in advance, but the process may disrupt disorganised lives further. The question asks if the Department will ensure flexibility to prevent punishing those who follow government recommendations during self-isolation.

Answer from Therese Coffey

People will not be penalised for doing the right thing. It is important that people have a conversation with their work coach, who can exercise discretion. The Department is working on preparing guidance carefully, guided by the advice of chief medical officers and scientific advisers.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q2 Patrick Grady SNP Glasgow North
NHS Employment
Context

Acknowledges the previous statement about exercising discretion but asks for a more robust and clear approach.

Question

The Government need to provide clearer advice rather than just relying on discretion. When will this advice be published for jobseekers, advisers, and MPs who scrutinise government actions?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Government is working on preparing guidance carefully across different scenarios. Rapid progress is being made in collaboration with chief medical officers and scientific advisers.

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Not addressed: null

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Q3 Selaine Saxby QT9
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns raised about the ease and implications of requesting advance payments under universal credit.

Question

Many constituents are taking advantage of online application for advances in universal credit, but no bank would lend in this manner. Will the Minister ensure proper debt advice is given before requests and extend repayment periods significantly?

Answer from Will Quince

Advances are an important tool for vulnerable claimants, repayments and advances are explained in the application process. Repayment period will extend to 16 months from October 2021; sympathetic to extending it further and looking into that detail.

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Q4 Grahame Morris Lab
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

Evidence shows that home visits for people suffering from cancer and claiming universal credit vary considerably across the country, often waiting up to a year. Before coronavirus, those undergoing chemotherapy should not attend jobcentres due to infection risk.

Question

What advice will the Minister give regarding home visits for claimants with cancer? Will he publish figures on availability of these home visits across the country?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Thanking the hon. Member for raising this matter, working with Macmillan to improve access; disappointed it is proving too difficult for some claimants and will look into that.

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Q5 Alison McGovern Lab
Taxation Employment
Context

Health Secretary has announced changes to provide financial support for those currently ineligible for statutory sick pay due to the £118 per week threshold.

Question

Will the Minister confirm that changes will include emergency legislation to remove the £118-a-week threshold, which excludes 1.8 million low-paid workers from receiving sick pay?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The £118 a week threshold is an average over eight weeks and will swing eligibility. Reinforcing comments that people working will not be penalised for not being able to work; continuing to work with Government to bring forward necessary changes.

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Q6 Patrick Grady SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Secretary of State previously mentioned that people will not be penalised for doing the right thing, but there is concern about how this affects conversations between claimants and work coaches.

Question

Can the Secretary of State tell the House that the Department will retain sufficient flexibility to ensure that people will not be punished for doing what the Government recommend?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I have tried to make clear to the House that people will not be penalised for doing the right thing. It is important that people have that conversation with their work coach. As I emphasised to the House, work coaches can exercise discretion but the important thing is a claimant's ongoing conversation with their work coach.

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