Topical Questions

Question

Since the last Work and Pensions oral questions, I am pleased to welcome the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Chloe Smith), and the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley) to join our ministerial team. I congratulate the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince) on moving to his new role, looking after childcare. I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson) for the great work that he did during his time in the Department; he should be proud of his achievements, including the changes to accessibility of benefits for those with terminal illness, and the national disability strategy.

Question

My constituent contacted the Department for Work and Pensions several times after her universal credit stopped at the end of July because she had reached state pension age, but she received no response. Three months later, I wrote to the DWP on the matter and received a letter on the same day, admitting the error, immediately depositing the outstanding amount and beginning the pension payments that my constituent was due. I listened to the excuses of the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), on this earlier, but I still cannot understand how it could have happened. Will the Secretary of State apologise to my constituent for the very great anxiety that she has suffered because of the DWP's blunders?

Question

May I add my welcome to the new Ministers on the Front Bench today? In the year before the pandemic, 380,000 sanctions were handed out by the DWP to the British people. Of course, there must be rules in any system, but since the Conservatives came to power in 2010, there has been a heavy focus on punitive sanctions, often for minor infractions, yet when the Home Secretary breaks the ministerial code by bullying, she gets off scot-free; when the Electoral Commission tries to investigate the Prime Minister's flat refurbishment, it gets its wings clipped; and last week, when Mr Owen Paterson broke the rules on paid advocacy, this Government tried to do away with the rules all together. These are not one-offs. This is a pattern of behaviour. Does the Secretary of State appreciate that many people are comparing how the DWP operates with how the Conservative party behaves, and are asking, “Why is there one rule for the Government and another for everybody else?”?

Question

People simply want to know that everyone in this country is playing by the same rules, and I think that is reasonable. Let me turn to another crisis of the Government's own making—the problems in the labour market we have seen over the past few months that left the pumps dry and the shelves sparse. As we left the single market it was obvious which sectors would be most disrupted: transport, logistics, and social care and the NHS. Regardless of how people voted, we have to make this work, which it clearly does not at the moment because of Government incompetence. This Government often claim they have a plan for jobs, but surely any credible plan would have tackled these shortages head on and got unemployed people the skills the economy needs to keep Britain moving. So, very simply, why was there no plan in place to prevent these problems?

Question

I am concerned about North Devon still seeing twice the number of jobseekers as before the pandemic despite local employers having numerous vacancies. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to match these jobseekers with available jobs?

Question

I refer to my entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. DWP staff report that Serco telephony services are causing excessive call times because private sector staff are poorly trained. How much is this outsourcing obsession costing the taxpayer and how fair is it on claimants who face long waits for often questionable advice?

Question

Will the Minister update me on the In-Work Progression Commission's report and explain how this will assist constituents to earn more and advance in their jobs?

Question

The British Government's statutory minimum wage is not a true living wage; it fails to cover basic needs. With differing rates for young people, how will the Secretary of State ensure that all workers receive a genuine living wage reflecting current costs?

Question

Almost exactly a year ago, I served on the Bill Committee for the Pension Schemes Act 2021. Can my hon. Friend provide an update on the implementation of pensions dashboards and undertake to write to members with a detailed response?

Question

Breaking the pensioners' promise by unlocking the triple lock will impact many pensioners with high costs. What steps will be taken to ensure they receive the money needed for this winter?

Question

Many sectors have staff shortages. Can my right hon. Friend inform the House about further steps being taken to help jobseekers find jobs and businesses to hire necessary staff?

Question

Can the Minister confirm that there will be no removal of funds from face-to-face services so potential claimants can still access help via these methods?

Question

Since leaving the EU, it is right that all those in the UK who are entitled to benefits receive them. What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure fair and consistent application of post-Brexit benefit rules for UK and EU citizens?

Question

The reduction in the universal credit taper rate does not compensate for the £20 a week cut. Previously, no impact assessment was done before the cut. Will the Secretary of State now conduct an up-to-date assessment of how this impacts child poverty?

Question

The reduction of the taper rate from 63% to 55% was vital. Has my right hon. Friend considered lowering it further so that working benefits more?

Question

Given that the PHSO report urged proactive cooperation, will the Government follow Northern Ireland's lead and commit to doing just that?

Question

Motor neurone disease patients and others struggle with accessing benefits. The Northern Ireland Executive are introducing legislation this month to reform the six-month rule. Will the Government follow their lead?