Topical Questions

Question

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Welcoming new team members and thanking those who have departed, while highlighting significant achievements such as cost of living payments, support for vulnerable individuals, 6.7% increase in working-age benefits, near-record levels of payroll employment, historically low unemployment rates, and rising real wages.

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Welcoming the 50% increase in childcare payments for parents on universal credit; asking for a review of childcare rules for parents in training and education, and other ways the government is supporting low-income families in Stroud.

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Given the former Health Secretary's statement about statutory sick pay being 'far too low' and needing fixing, with the current Minister having the authority to act, when will statutory sick pay be improved?

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Welcoming the Government's back to work plan; asking what support is available for people in high unemployment areas to travel or relocate to low unemployment areas such as Banff and Buchan, particularly for seafood processing jobs.

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Asking if the Department has made an assessment of the average delay in people receiving their pension top-ups, given numerous instances where top-ups have led to no pension increase and no explanations or refunds.

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Asking about the progress made towards transparently publishing outcomes of employment programmes so they can be assessed by location.

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Asking for confirmation on when local authorities and voluntary organisations will receive a definitive answer regarding the extension of the household support fund beyond March.

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Noting the current £10 Christmas benefit payment has not been increased for 51 years and asking if the Secretary of State will look at increasing it to £20 next year.

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Why has the Department not reached an agreement after receiving a section 23 agreement request from the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding concerns over breaches and potential discrimination against disabled people?

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What specific help can Jobcentre Plus give Lidl and other employers to ensure they are able to fill a large number of vacancies?

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Why has there been a significant increase in the number of young people on long-term sickness benefits, and what are the government measures addressing this issue?

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Is the Disability Confident scheme still in place and can I have confidence that it remains a priority?

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Will the Government urgently reverse their decision to downgrade the dedicated disabilities Minister's role?

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Will the Minister work with me to ensure that the publication of an independent review will be the beginning of a process to tackle the autism employment gap?

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What discussions has the Minister had with partners regarding the predicted increase in destitution in Northern Ireland?

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Will the new Employment Minister join me in celebrating the availability of jobs and support for those working in Gloucester?

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My constituents Susan and David Cfas have made representations to me about the situation facing them and many other pensioners who are having to access benefits and other Government support because they are stuck in an annuity trap, whereby at retirement they posted an annuity, which has remained fixed. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss the plight of pensioners in that situation to see whether more can be done to encourage them to access different approaches to increase their income?

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The Trussell Trust has recently reported that in the past year there has been an 80% increase in the number of children in Stretford and Urmston being supported with food parcels. Can the Minister tell me why it believes that is the case?

Question

Does she acknowledge that one feature of covid has been a big increase in the incidence of mental health issues, particularly among younger people? What is her Department doing to tailor its programmes to get those non-working parts of the population who have not been working since covid and are suffering from mental health challenges back into the workforce?