Topical Questions

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The nation is today uniting to toast an important milestone in the Prime Minister's road map to recovery, with the long-awaited full reopening of the hospitality sector—thank God for that, given the rain we are suffering. The British public have stood up to the challenge of the pandemic and, while still being cautious, we need to get out there and spend our dosh. Let's do our bit to support our communities, businesses and jobs, including more than 1 million workers who were furloughed and whom I hope we will now see back at work. As hospitality booms, I am sure that many more new kickstarters will be out there, able to hit the ground running.

Question

Before the introduction of universal credit, single parents under the age of 25 received a higher rate of benefit payment in recognition of the increased costs of raising a child as a single parent, but that support has sadly not been extended to young single parents who are in receipt of universal credit. Does the Secretary of State agree with me and the assessment of One Parent Families Scotland that the omission amounts to a “young parent penalty”?

Question

We have heard a lot about youth unemployment this afternoon. The House of Commons Library tells me that it has increased by 10%, with a 110% increase in the number of young people claiming unemployment benefits. Those statistics are concerning, especially for the Clacton constituency, where historically we have struggled with youth unemployment. We must get these young people back to work. The new lifetime skills guarantee will help, but what discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Treasury about the introduction of national insurance contribution relief for employers who hire young people, as we have done for those that hire veterans? If discussions have not taken place, will they soon?

Question

The kickstart scheme was launched with much fanfare but it has been a bit of a flop, not to mention a headache for many businesses such as METERology in my constituency, which has been given a total runaround by the Secretary of State's Department. Recent figures suggest that if the UK Government maintain a rate of 400 new employees starting each day, they should hit their target of 250,000 new jobs in 625 days—that is two years—so what more are they going to do to ensure that kickstart can really live up to its hype rather than just be a slogan for the Chancellor's naff hoodie?

Question

As the Pensions Minister knows from when we visited Airedale Springs together last September, climate change is a major concern for many constituents of mine across Keighley and Ilkley. With COP26 now less than six months away, will my hon. Friend update the House on the progress the Government are making to ensure that pensions play their part in tackling climate change so that we can build back greener from the pandemic?

Question

Some 200,000 women who worked hard and paid their taxes all their lives have been underpaid their state pensions. It is an absolute scandal. I welcome the announcement that the DWP is trying to repay the money owed to these women, who have been so badly let down, but the repayments are being made far too slowly. Will the Minister confirm how many repayments were made last month and when the Department will finally speed up the process?

Question

My constituent Martin Burnell is living with motor neurone disease, which is a progressive terminal illness for which there is no effective treatment or cure. Earlier this year, he was told to reapply for his benefits or risk having them stopped. Will my hon. Friend commit to removing the burdensome and unacceptable requirement under the special rules that people with a terminal illness have to reapply for their benefits after three years?

Question

Youth unemployment is on the rise. One route to address this is through apprenticeships; however, one significant issue is apprenticeship pay, often described as 'apprenticeship poverty,' wherein it costs more for apprentices to attend work than they actually earn from their work. What measures are being taken across Departments to tackle this injustice?

Question

Society is moving beyond lockdown restrictions and entering a phase of rapid recovery. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that universal credit is not only aimed at those who are unemployed, but also serves as a tool to aid individuals in transitioning back to employment and continues to support them while they remain employed?

Question

Research by the Resolution Foundation indicates that we're facing an unemployment crisis with U-shaped patterns hitting youngest and eldest workers hardest, especially women who are working past retirement age and fearing they won't find work again. Do the Government have plans to assist these hard-working women or will they continue failing them?

Question

This Government aims to get more people into work through an ambitious jobs plan. However, a Redcar and Cleveland constituent with qualifications as a primary teaching assistant struggles to find work due to disclosing her autism and epilepsy leading employers to reject applications. What more can the Government do to ensure differently abled individuals have equal employment opportunities?

Question

Govanhill Housing Association has informed me that when there are rent hikes, some residents fall into arrears because they're unaware of the need to inform the Department for Work and Pensions. Would Ministers consider streamlining this process so housing associations can directly notify about all rent adjustments?

Question

I welcome the DWP's dedication towards delivering an improved welfare system for those with terminal illnesses and hope it happens soon. Can my hon. Friend confirm that the special rules change proposals will not be included in the upcoming Green Paper, thus avoiding further delays?

Question

Will the Minister recommend to his colleagues that they read “The Brown Envelope Book”, which contains more than 200 poems, pieces of prose, and short plays about disabled individuals who say they have been brutalised by DWP bureaucracy?

Question

I am organising a workshop between local disability support groups and the DWP tomorrow to discuss the upcoming Green Paper. Ahead of this meeting, will the Minister update us on what steps are being taken to increase access to benefits and support for vulnerable individuals during the pandemic?

Question

I have a constituent who had a nasty reaction after having her jab recently, could not go to work the following day, and lost 10 hours' pay—half her week's wages. This discourages people from getting vaccinated. What can the Government do to rectify this situation?

Question

What support is the Department for Work and Pensions providing to those who have unfortunately been made unemployed in aviation communities, which have of course been particularly negatively impacted by the covid-19 pandemic?

Question

Every day, 7.6 million people go without sufficient nutritious food, according to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, so will the Secretary of State look carefully at the Welsh Government's pilot for a universal basic income, and will she provide an estimate for the cost of a UK roll-out of a universal basic income?