Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Health and Disability Green Paper

Wednesday 19 March 2025 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Gordon raised concerns about constituents worried about changes to the disability benefits system, stating the new proposals go further than previous Conservative plans.
  • Cat Smith inquired about the impact of sodium valproate on mothers with epilepsy and their children, proposing a meeting to discuss the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.
  • Christine Jardine discussed the higher costs of living for disabled individuals and the need for investment in mental health and social care, welcoming the additional 26 billion investment in the NHS.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Constituents are worried about changes to the disability benefits system. The previous government proposed converting PIP from cash into vouchers, causing anxiety.

Question

In recent weeks, I have been inundated with messages from constituents who are worried sick about changes to the disability benefits system, but yesterday’s announcement goes further than even the Conservatives managed, or dared, to. Disabled people already face systemic barriers in society, including in accessing health, transport and housing. Inadequate financial support already means that some of the most vulnerable have to access food banks. These cuts will exacerbate their pain, and fuel hunger and debt. What assessment has the Department made of the cuts, the impact on finances, and the harm that they will cause?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the previous Government’s proposal to convert PIP from cash into vouchers, which caused huge anxiety. We made it clear in the announcement yesterday that we are not going to do that, but we will make changes to ensure that the personal independence payment is financially sustainable in the long term. That will reassure a large number of people for whom PIP is vital.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment and impact on finances

How: We Are Not Going To Do That

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Q2 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Wyre
NHS
Context

Mothers who had epilepsy and took sodium valproate while pregnant have children who are severely affected.

Question

Epilepsy is a lifelong disability that has huge consequences for the lives of those who have it, none more so than those mothers who had epilepsy and took sodium valproate when pregnant, and whose babies were harmed. Will the Minister take time to meet me and my constituent, Janet Williams, whose sons have been affected, to discuss how we can ensure that their quality of life is best supported by the Government?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

My hon. Friend raises an important subject, and as she knows, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has set up the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. I, or a Minister from DHSC, will be glad to meet my hon. Friend to discuss those points.

Answered
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Q3 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
NHS Scotland Benefits & Welfare
Context

Liberal Democrats argue that fixing health and social care would reduce the benefits bill in the long term. The announcement of changes to PIP is seen as slashing support for vulnerable people.

Question

We all know that life is more expensive for someone who is disabled, and that investing in mental health and social care would give disabled people the support that they deserve. Liberal Democrats believe that if the Government were serious about cutting welfare spending, they would get serious about fixing health and social care, and the broken Department for Work and Pensions. By fixing that, we would reduce the benefits bill in the long term, but yesterday’s changes, which slash the support offered to vulnerable people, will leave many people facing difficult choices. Can the Minister assure disabled people, including the 80,000 in Scotland who are still receiving PIP, that they will be listened to, their needs will be taken into account, and they will somehow continue to get the support that they need?

Answer from The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)

I am sure the hon. Lady will welcome the additional £26 billion being invested in the national health service in the coming financial year, for exactly the reasons she set out, and the most severely impaired people will be protected under the changes that we announced yesterday to the personal independence payment. Yes, we will be consulting—there will be a full 12-week consultation period on the Green Paper proposals, and we will be listening carefully to what everybody says in response.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assurances about support for disabled people

How: We Will Be Consulting, Listening Carefully

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