Topical Questions 2020-01-27
2020-01-27
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
Laura Farris
QT1
▸
Context
The question is about the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions' departmental responsibilities.
If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. In the context of leaving the European Union, Laura Farris asks if Therese Coffey will make a statement regarding her department's role in supporting the economy and labour market post-Brexit.
In the week that we leave the European Union, I am pleased to say that our labour market continues to thrive. Employment has reached a new record high of 76.3% matched by a record number of people in work, pulling Britain forward into the new decade. That includes 15.5 million women—more than ever before—and 1.3 million disabled people have joined the labour market since 2013. This shows a bright outlook for our buoyant economy as we continue to grow and enhance the labour market in this new era for our country.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
Laura Farris
QT1
▸
Context
The question is about discrimination against women during their pregnancy and periods of maternity leave, a problematic form of workplace discrimination.
Discrimination against women during pregnancy or periods of maternity leave remains a particularly problematic form of workplace discrimination. Laura Farris asks what steps are being taken to improve the take-up of shared parental leave to remove the onus from new mothers at this vulnerable period in their working lives.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy leads on this issue. I assure my hon. Friend that we encourage people to take up the options and we support their efforts. We will continue to do more with our work coaches on helping people to get the most out of working.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Pension Schemes Bill aims to support pension saving while protecting people's pensions, but there are concerns about the exploitation of pension freedoms by scammers who put individuals' savings at risk.
Jack Dromey asks how the Government can claim a joined-up pension policy when pension freedoms can be exploited by rogue financial advisers, putting retirees' savings at risk and potentially impoverishing them for years to come.
The hon. Gentleman will realise that FCA rules already require an individual to seek independent advice when making a DB transfer, but I urge the FCA both to crack down on transfer scammers and to ensure that the quality of advice is fit for purpose. I welcome the FCA's action at this stage.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
Rob Roberts
QT7
▸
Context
There is a low take-up rate for certain benefits such as pension credit and attendance allowance, sitting at about 60% nationally.
Rob Roberts asks what material the Minister has to increase awareness of benefits locally in order to boost claimants' numbers.
My hon. Friend is right to raise that important point. We already publicise pension credit as much as we can, but we are working hard to get material into jobcentres and local authority premises to ensure that take-up is as high as possible.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
Stephen Timms
QT2
▸
Context
Benefit claimants on universal credit are two and a half times more likely to need food banks compared to those on previous benefits due to the five-week delay in receiving payments.
Stephen Timms asks why the Minister is not looking at significantly shortening the delay of five weeks for the first payment of universal credit, which is causing significant harm.
As I said earlier, no one has to wait five weeks for their first payment. People are able to get their initial payment on day one, repayable over 12 months—16 months as of next year. We have the two-week roll-on of housing benefit and a further two-week roll-on of additional benefits starting next year. I am considering other measures we might take, all of which will require Treasury approval, but I am happy to meet the right hon. Gentleman to discuss any ideas he has.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
Stephen Crabb
QT10
▸
Context
The EU structural funds have been extensively used to support training programs in constituencies like west Wales, but the UK is moving towards a new system with the shared prosperity fund.
Stephen Crabb asks what progress has been made in discussions about using the shared prosperity fund to continue supporting high-quality training and skills programmes in places such as west Wales.
My right hon. Friend is right to point to the creation of the shared prosperity fund. Discussion is ongoing within the Government. I know that the Wales Office is already engaged in conversation; we will engage in due course, once we have got through the initial design internally.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
Daniel Zeichner
QT3
▸
Context
There are delays in personal independence payment (PIP) home assessments, which have been cancelled twice for one constituent due to lack of available appointments.
Daniel Zeichner asks why the Government think it is acceptable to treat disabled people so poorly by not providing timely PIP home assessments when other services would not tolerate such practices.
The hon. Gentleman flagged up that issue with me earlier. We are investigating urgently, because that should not be the case.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
▸
Context
A constituent of Anne McLaughlin's waited five months for a universal credit decision and started receiving payments but there was no mention of backdated payments or decision.
Will the Secretary of State urgently look at that case? If she lets me know the next time she sends one of her Ministers to my area, I will take him along with me and he can explain to my constituent why she nearly went bankrupt.
I suggest that the hon. Lady lets the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson), know directly about her constituent's particular circumstances so that he can follow up on that individually. I know that he believed that he had let hon. Members know about this matter. We take the issue seriously, and we will check after Question Time what happened regarding the communication.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Will Quince, visited several constituencies without informing the local MPs.
Alison Thewliss criticises the Minister's visit to her constituency last week where he did not inform her or show respect. She suggests that instead of patronising them, he should meet with the Glasgow Disability Alliance who are furious at Tory incompetence on benefits.
The protocol is that all Members—whether they are Ministers, shadow Ministers or Back Benchers—who are carrying out political business in those constituencies should inform the MP that they are going there. I think it is wrong to break that protocol. I do frown upon it. It is not good practice, and it is a practice that I do not want to see happening again.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q10
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Will Quince, visited Ibrox stadium in Chris Stephens' constituency without informing him.
Chris Stephens asks if the Speaker can inform the House about the protocol for Government Ministers visiting constituencies they are not home Members to. He mentions that the Minister met the Rangers Charity Foundation during his visit.
The protocol is that all Members—whether they are Ministers, shadow Ministers or Back Benchers—who are carrying out political business in those constituencies should inform the MP that they are going there. I think it is wrong to break that protocol. I do frown upon it. It is not good practice, and it is a practice that I do not want to see happening again.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q11
Direct Answer
Will Quince apologises for not notifying the MPs of his visit and suggests that they would have been welcome to join him on these informative visits.
I have now checked with departmental officials and I apologise unreservedly that such notification was not given. I think that the hon. Members know me well enough to know that such notification would have been given. In fact, they would have been very welcome to join me on those visits, which were very interesting and very informative. When I return, I will certainly be giving notification and inviting them along.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy