Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 16 December 2024 · 19 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 17 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Alison Griffiths raised concerns about the loss of winter fuel allowance for many residents in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.
  • Tom Rutland welcomed the review into overpayment of carer's allowance and sought assurances to prevent family carers from getting into debt.
  • Helen Whately inquired about the number of people who will receive the winter fuel payment this winter, pressing for a direct answer from the government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alison Griffiths Con Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Over 23,000 people in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton have lost their winter fuel allowance. The MP questions the fairness of taxing state pensions.

Question

In Bognor Regis and Littlehampton more than 23,000 people have lost their winter fuel allowance—more than 90% of former claimants. Does the Secretary of State think that it is fair that someone who has paid tax all their working life will now be taxed on their state pension as well as losing their winter fuel allowance?

Answer from Liz Kendall

The hon. Lady talked about the winter fuel payment, but she failed to mention our determination to ensure that the 880,000 pensioners who do not claim pension credit, but are eligible, claim it so that they can get their winter fuel payment. The £4.9 million allocated from the household support fund to West Sussex, which covers her constituency, can be used precisely for those pensioners just above the pension credit threshold who have worked hard all their lives but need extra support with the cost of heating.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address fairness of taxing state pensions and loss of winter fuel allowance; focused on eligibility and support fund instead

How: Under Review

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Q2 Tom Rutland Lab East Worthing and Shoreham
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP welcomes the review into carer's allowance overpayments. He wants confirmation on preventing unnecessary debt for family carers.

Question

I welcome the review into the overpayment of carer's allowance, which will come as a huge relief to many people in East Worthing and Shoreham. Can the Minister confirm that the Department will do everything it can to prevent family carers unnecessarily getting into debt?

Answer from Stephen Timms

Yes, I can confirm that. We place a very high value on the contribution of family carers. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said, the Budget announcement on the carer's allowance earning threshold will help avert inadvertent overpayments, and will make an additional 60,000 carers eligible for carer's allowance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify actions beyond confirming high value placed on family carers and previous commitments

How: Under Review

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Q3 Helen Whately Con Faversham and Mid Kent
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP questions the number of people eligible for winter fuel payments this winter.

Question

How many people who should get the winter fuel payment will get it this winter?

Answer from Liz Kendall

We intend to ensure that everybody who is entitled to pension credit, and therefore the winter fuel payment, claims it and gets it. We have seen a 145% increase in claims—far more than was ever achieved under the last Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide exact number of people expected to receive payments; focused on claim increase instead

How: Under Review

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Q4 Helen Whately Con Faversham and Mid Kent
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the delay in determining winter fuel payments and its impact on pensioners.

Question

Unfortunately, the right hon. Lady simply will not give a straight answer. She will not tell the House what she knows; she knew that the Government's choices would push 100,000 pensioners into poverty and she did not tell the House that, either. Let us try this question instead. The Government's own figures show that pensioners applying now will have to wait until the spring to find out whether they will get winter fuel money. What is her advice to a pensioner sitting in the cold and wondering if they can afford to turn on their heating this Christmas?

Answer from Liz Kendall

If the hon. Lady cared so much about pensioners in the cold, why did her Government leave 880,000 not claiming pension credit? Why did they first promise to bring together housing benefit and pension credit in 2011 and never deliver it? This Government are taking action—42,500 more people are receiving pension credit now than when she left government. We are determined to act; perhaps she should apologise for her failure.

Not addressed: Did not address advice to pensioners but criticised the opposition instead

How: Criticised Previous Government

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Q5 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about pensioners in Slough who are eligible for but not claiming pension credit.

Question

Many of my more senior constituents are concerned about their finances and winter fuel payments, especially those just above the threshold. In Slough, 1,688 households are currently eligible for pension credit but not claiming this vital benefit, so what steps is the Department taking to increase the uptake and ensure that those who are not eligible are not left out in the cold?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

I place on record my thanks to the 160 local authorities that have worked with the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of applying for pension credit, and also to the various charities around the country that have worked with us. The number of people claiming pension credit has doubled—a record number—and we are processing those claims at pace.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify measures but highlighted collaboration efforts and uptake increase

How: Under Review

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Q6 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

A report highlights how the care allowance system has resulted in £250 million owed by 136,000 people.

Question

A report by the National Audit Office last week highlighted how cliff edges in the care allowance system have resulted in 136,000 people owing £250 million. In the light of that, will the Minister ensure that we stop this injustice and stop the demands until a fairer system is introduced?

Answer from Stephen Timms

I welcome the NAO report, which I asked for last May, when I was Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee. We are determined to address the problem of carer's allowance overpayments. The cliff edge could be dealt with through the introduction of a taper instead of the current arrangements, as the Chancellor mentioned in her Budget speech in the autumn.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to stopping demands or introducing new system immediately; noted future possibility but no timeline

How: Under Review

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Q7 Peter Swallow Lab Bracknell
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP's constituent Gary has seen his real-terms income fall due to the pension built up before 1997 not being subject to indexation.

Question

My constituent Gary has seen his real-terms income fall because the pension he built up before 1997 in a defined-benefit scheme is not subject to indexation, even though 80% of defined-benefit schemes are in surplus. Will my right hon. Friend ask the Pensions Regulator to look at this issue?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

I thank my hon. Friend for representing the concerns of his constituent. The Department is working closely with the Pensions Regulator. We are looking to gather information on the number of schemes that provide discretionary increases on pre-1997 benefits and those that do not.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to a specific investigation but noted ongoing work with the regulator

How: Under Review

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Q8 Andrew Snowden Con Fylde
Taxation Employment
Context

James Reed, chief executive of a large recruiter, stated that UK job vacancies have decreased by 26% over the last year. He warned this could be an indicator of impending unemployment and economic downturn.

Question

Over the weekend, James Reed noted job vacancies are down 26% compared to the same period last year. Will the Secretary of State plead with the Chancellor to reverse the jobs national insurance tax raid that is harming employment figures before it worsens?

Answer from Alison McGovern

We still have over 800,000 vacancies and businesses need staff. Through our reform programme, we aim for the DWP to serve business better.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not address reversing the national insurance tax raid on employment as requested.

How: Working With Members Across The House

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Q9 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Andrew Price and Matthew Whitmore visited Adam Jogee's surgery to report their pensions being stolen by an investment company, leaving them out of pocket.

Question

My constituents Andrew Price and Matthew Whitmore have lost money due to pension theft. What protections exist against this, and will the Pensions Minister meet me to discuss how they can recover their funds?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Many cases of pension fraud occur. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not specify what protections are in place against pension theft as requested.

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Q10 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Economy Employment
Context

The OBR estimated that the recent Budget would cost 50,000 jobs.

Question

Why did the OBR estimate that the recent Budget will result in a loss of 50,000 jobs?

Answer from Alison McGovern

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the OBR report which says overall employment will increase.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide a reason for the 50,000 job loss prediction as requested.

How: Overall Employment Will Go Up

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Q11 Douglas McAllister Lab West Dunbartonshire
Scotland Benefits & Welfare
Context

The role of jobcentres in the constituency and Scotland, and technology's involvement.

Question

How does the Secretary of State see the future of jobcentres in my constituency and across Scotland, and what part will technology play?

Answer from Andrew Western

My hon. Friend highlights that reform to our jobcentres must include digital transformation, such as a 'Jobcentre in your pocket' app.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specifics on the future of jobcentres or timeline for technology integration as requested.

How: Exploring Schemes

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Q12 Seamus Logan SNP Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Women & Equalities
Context

The Prime Minister told the WASPI campaign that the Government were working 'at pace'. Since then, 1,400 or 1,500 more women have died without justice or compensation.

Question

Since the PM said they would work 'at pace' on this issue, what does 'working at pace' mean and can you give us a timeline?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The first Minister to meet WASPI campaigners in eight years. The ombudsman took six years to investigate six cases, but we are working on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No timeline or definition of 'working at pace' was provided as requested.

How: Listen To My Answer

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Q13 Richard Quigley Lab Isle of Wight West
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Young people in supported housing face a marginal rate of tax of 55% on their universal credit when they start work, meaning that earnings of £133 per week see housing benefit tapered to nil.

Question

Will the Minister look at reducing the taper and increasing applicable amounts for those in supported or temporary accommodation?

Answer from Stephen Timms

My hon. Friend raises a very important point about the interaction between UC taper rates and HB taper for those in supported or temporary accommodation, causing work disincentives.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to altering tapers was given as requested.

How: Looking At Options

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Q14 Paul Kohler Lib Dem Wimbledon
Children & Families
Context

Over one in four children are living in poverty. This could be addressed by scrapping the two-child benefit cap and reversing the tax cut on banks.

Question

What is more important: addressing child hunger or bankers' bonuses?

Answer from Alison McGovern

The hon. Gentleman raises the issue of children living in poverty, and our taskforce is doing extensive work to address it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific action on child poverty was committed as requested.

How: Extensive Work

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Q15 Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
Children & Families
Context

The Migration Observatory report states over 200,000 children are in families with no recourse to public funds. The Work and Pensions Committee highlighted tough circumstances faced by these families.

Question

Is the child poverty taskforce engaging directly with affected families?

Answer from Alison McGovern

The taskforce is considering all children in UK, recognising distinct challenges faced by groups such as migrant and disabled children. We are engaging directly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific direct engagement with affected families was committed as requested.

How: Considering All Aspects

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Q16 Helen Maguire Lib Dem Epsom and Ewell
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Only 6.9% of people with learning disabilities are currently in paid work, impacting local charities such as the Sunnybank Trust.

Question

What measures is DWP taking to help employers hire individuals with learning disabilities?

Answer from Stephen Timms

The hon. Member raises an important point. The Buckland review looks at employment support for autism, and we are looking to implement its proposals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures were committed as requested.

How: Meeting Sir Robert Buckland, Looking Forward

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Q17 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
Science & Technology Benefits & Welfare Standards & Ethics
Context

A recent freedom of information request revealed that AI tools used to detect DWP fraud are biased and disproportionately discriminate against people based on age, disability, marital status, and nationality.

Question

The recently published freedom of information request indicates that AI tools used to detect DWP fraud are biased and disproportionately discriminate against people by age, disability, marital status and nationality. This has caused considerable concern. What assurances can the Minister give that the procurement and use of such tools will be covered by strict governance standards, including tests for fairness?

Answer from Andrew Western

My hon. Friend will know that we face a significant challenge, with fraud and error costing the Department almost £10 billion a year. It is right that we look to utilise all available tools to tackle it. However, I understand her concerns, although I would remind her that the final decision on whether someone receives a welfare payment is always made by a human. That is the most robust safeguard that we can have in place—although of course it sits alongside a broader suite.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not provide specific assurances regarding governance standards or fairness tests for AI tools.

How: Right That We Look To Utilise All Available Tools To Tackle It, Reminds Her That Final Decision Is Made By A Human

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Q18 Aphra Brandreth Con Chester South and Eddisbury
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question was prompted by the case of Bells Lewers, a constituent with terminal bowel cancer who faced significant delays in receiving personal independence payment.

Question

My inspirational constituent, Bells Lewers, has terminal bowel cancer. When she was first undergoing treatment, she was initially turned down for personal independence payment, despite the significant impact on her ability to work and carry out basic daily activities. Has the Minister considered incorporating clinical diagnosis alongside function in eligibility assessments, and will he meet Bells to discuss the assessment process?

Answer from Stephen Timms

We do keep the assessment process under review, but I would be happy to look at the details of this particular case and perhaps meet the hon. Lady and her constituent, if that would be helpful.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not commit to incorporating clinical diagnosis into eligibility assessments.

How: We Do Keep The Assessment Process Under Review

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Q19 Sally Jameson Labour (Co-op) Doncaster Central
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Since the pandemic, an astonishing £35 billion has been lost to benefit fraud and errors.

Question

An astonishing £35 billion has been lost to benefit fraud and errors since the pandemic. Will the Minister outline the plans and the timeline for recouping that money?

Answer from Andrew Western

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the enormous cost to the Department—upwards of £35 billion—of fraud since the pandemic. She will be pleased to know that the fraud, error and debt Bill is due to come to the House early in the new year. This Government are serious about tackling fraud; it is just a shame that we inherited the mess we did.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The minister did not provide specific plans or timelines for recouping lost benefits.

How: It Is Just A Shame That We Inherited The Mess

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