Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 29 June 2020 · 9 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 9 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Joy Morrissey asked about jobcentres and businesses working together to support employment, praising Pinewood Studios, and the Secretary of State agreed on the importance of collaboration.
  • Jonathan Reynolds inquired about the lack of legislation in the Pension Schemes Bill concerning pensions superfunds, and the response indicated that the Government will develop a permanent regime before legislating.
  • Grahame Morris questioned the need for additional staff in jobcentres and the Minister confirmed a review is underway, emphasizing an individual focus and a place-based approach to help people into work.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Joy Morrissey Con Beaconsfield
Economy Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Joy Morrissey praised the efforts of jobcentres and businesses in supporting employment during the pandemic.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree on the importance of jobcentres and businesses working closely together to support employment and economic recovery, and will she join me in praising Pinewood studios in Beaconsfield for their exemplary practices?

Answer from Therese Coffey (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)

The Secretary of State agrees on the importance of close collaboration between jobcentres and businesses. She is aware that Beaconsfield's local jobcentre staff are working with the local enterprise partnership to support people back into work, and she encourages companies like Pinewood Studios to use the Employer Help website for guidance.

Answered
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Q2 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Wrexham
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Pensions Regulator introduced an interim regime for pensions superfunds, which Jonathan Reynolds sees as a potential risk to financial stability.

Question

Why has the Government not legislated for this area in the Pension Schemes Bill? Why are regulatory requirements so much lower than those for insurance company buy-outs? Is there indeed a potential risk to the UK's financial stability?

Answer from Therese Coffey (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)

The independent Pensions Regulator published guidance on an interim regime for pensions superfunds. The Government will develop the permanent regime before legislating with full parliamentary scrutiny; market participants are aware that the interim regime may not become part of the final regulation.

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Q3 Grahame Morris Lab Easington
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

There are concerns about the Department for Work and Pensions having enough staff to cope with increased universal credit claims.

Question

Will the Minister confirm that senior management is suggesting an additional 31,000 staff are needed? How will this action avoid chaos given the current staffing levels?

Answer from Mims Davies (Minister for Family Support)

The Minister confirms that staff numbers are being reviewed, including the number of work coaches. She states they take an individual focus on claimants and will use a place-based approach to help people into work safely.

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Q4 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Bow
Children & Families
Context

There are estimates that the two-child limit policy has caused distress to over 230,000 families during the pandemic.

Question

When will Ministers scrap this cruel and vicious policy that is punishing children?

Answer from Will Quince (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions)

The Minister states that all policies are under review, but changing this specific policy would cost £2 billion annually and is not currently feasible due to the Department's focus on responding to COVID-19. The policy is based on fairness.

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Q5 Tom Hunt Lab Ipswich
Employment Business & Trade
Context

Beauty salons are concerned about not being able to reopen alongside hairdressers on July 4th, leading to job losses.

Question

Many beauty salons have shut down due to the inability to reopen as planned. What discussions has the Minister had with the Business Secretary to prevent further job losses and allow beauty salons to open on July 4th?

Answer from Mims Davies

We are actively working with colleagues across Government, including the Business Secretary, to reopen businesses in a phased approach guided by science. Job losses are supported through DWP staff who work with claimants to get them back into work.

Answered

Not addressed: The specific concerns of beauty salons were not addressed.

How: General Discussion About Reopening Businesses

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Q6 Greg Smith Con East Yorkshire
NHS Employment
Context

The Access to Work scheme helps disabled people start and remain in work, especially those working from home due to the pandemic.

Question

How is the Department adapting existing support through Access to Work to help disabled individuals who are now required to work from home?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

We are looking at additional ways to support people through Access to Work, including travel to and from their home to work as well as working from home. Some of these changes may become permanent as we return to normal.

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Q7 Alison Thewliss SNP Glasgow Central
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

60,000 families who made a claim since lockdown have been affected by the universal credit two-child limit.

Question

How can it be fair that these families are struggling to feed their third or subsequent children when they could not plan for this situation?

Answer from Will Quince

We recognise the financial pressure caused by covid-19 and have invested £6.5 billion, including a £20 per week increase in universal credit, tax credits, and local housing allowance.

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Q8 Scott Benton Con High Peak
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Universal credit supports new claimants and provides incentives to find employment as the economy reopens.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the strengths of universal credit is its flexibility in incentivising and rewarding employment?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank my hon. Friend for his question; he is correct. UC pays up to 85% of childcare costs, reflecting actual household circumstances and adjusting monthly.

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Q9 Paul Holmes Con Eastleigh
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Jobcentres are using technology to help with employment opportunities amid increased uncertainty.

Question

How are jobcentres using technology to assist constituents in securing future work opportunities?

Answer from Mims Davies

Work coaches have made over a quarter of a million outbound customer support calls each week since June. We use technology for virtual job fairs, online mentoring circles, and facilitating sector-based work academies.

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