Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Severely Disabled People: East Worthing and Shoreham

Monday 23 June 2025 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Rutland asked about working with disabled constituents to ensure they are not just recruited but also retained and thriving in jobs locally.
  • Shockat Adam inquired about a freedom of information request revealing thousands of PIP recipients with eye diseases set to lose out from reforms, leading to a doubling of referrals to RNIB's counselling services.
  • The minister stated that nine out of ten current PIP claimants will be unaffected by the reforms, and that 750,000 more people will claim PIP by the end of the Parliament.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Rutland Lab East Worthing and Shoreham
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

Tom Rutland is concerned about the support provided to severely disabled individuals who cannot work. He cites working with disabled constituents, local jobcentre, and employers.

Question

I have been working with disabled constituents, our local jobcentre and employers to ensure that everyone is working together to maximise opportunities for disabled people, and that they are not just recruited but retained and thriving in jobs locally. However, some people will never be able to work or return to work, including many people with advanced progressive multiple sclerosis, and it is right that they are properly supported. Will my right hon. Friend confirm what support will be in place for people like my constituents living with this disease?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall)

Those with severe lifelong conditions—progressive conditions that will never improve, and which mean they will never work—will be protected. Even more importantly, they will never again be reassessed for their benefits, removing that unnecessary and unacceptable anxiety and stress, and giving them the dignity and security they deserve.

Answered
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Q2 Shockat Adam Ind Leicester South
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

Shockat Adam refers to his work with the all-party parliamentary group on eye health and visual impairment. He cites a recent FOI request by RNIB indicating that thousands of recipients with primary condition as eye disease will lose out from PIP reform, with referrals to RNIB's counselling services doubling.

Question

A recent freedom of information request by the Royal National Institute of Blind People found that thousands of recipients whose primary health condition is listed as eye disease are set to lose out from the reforms to PIP, with referrals to the RNIB’s counselling services more than doubling since the Secretary of State announced the reforms. There are over 3,500 people in Leicester with sight impairment. What is her Department doing to help those constituents, given these harmful changes to PIP?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall)

I would say to the hon. Gentleman that nine out of 10 people who are claiming PIP when these changes come into place will be unaffected by them. We are going to see 750,000 more people claiming PIP by the end of this Parliament compared with when we were elected, and, even with these changes, spending will still be £8 billion higher.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The number of visually impaired individuals who might lose out from the reforms was not addressed specifically.

How: Under Review, Working On

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