Live Work and Pensions Questions House of Commons

Order, order. Questions to be Secretary of State for Work and

Pensions. Number one, Mr Spdaker. Mr Speaker, I I might just takd this

opportunity given the weekend events to say on behalf of myself `nd my

other colleague on the other side of the House, we wish a speedy recovery

to those who have been injured. . Only took off his almost ond in five

households had no work. Manx people had been on benefits brought most of

the previous decade. Since 2010 the number of nonworking household has

fallen by 6008000. My consthtuency covers the major part of brhghter

for us, in 2014 and had the highest percentage of working households in

the country. Does my right honourable friend not agree that

continuing to encourage households into work is one of the most

effective ways of improving the chances of life of everyone in that

family? As I say, my honour`ble friend is right that growing up in a

working family is crucial. When his government took off his door over

2.5 million children growing in work was households. This has fallen by

nearly half the billions since 010. By targeting work business, our new

life chance measures which we think will make an enormous difference for

children's lives... I understand now there are almost no work was

households in this county. Then I asked the Secretary of Statd to be a

little careful about any of us getting complacent about working. --

worthlessness. Has he seen the new gradation of work were people seized

to have good employers and contracts are increasingly pushed into

self-employment. I say to bd honourable gentleman, by thd way

welcome back, I understand he has had some difficulties with health.

Can I say to him he is right if that were the trend in the direction in

which we are going. The difference a difference between us and the US.

What we see is a vast majorhty of the jobs being created are

white-collar jobs and full-time jobs and. That is really important whilst

we think being self-employed is excellent. For those whose choose to

do it. We are seeing a huge trend in jobs for full pay and full-time

The selling point of the government universal credits theme was that it

was supposed to increase work incentive. However the reduction in

work allows us and universal credit to take effect in April next year

will have about 25,000 workhng household... The seats that these

changes more actively distance decentralised people into work? I

don't. What I do believe is that universal credit is acting `s a huge

incentive to go back to work. Even the statistics post over thd weekend

show that universal credit leans that people are 8% more likdly to go

into work than jobseeker's allowance. I remind her that

jobseeker's allowance has bden seen by many in the Western world as one

of the most successful that to work benefits. Universal credit performs

even better by some considerable degree. He didn't answer thd

question about those 35,000 households and transitional relief

coming into affect in April 201 . So what does he expect for people who

will be thousands of pounds worse off in April? First of all, people

are getting back to work. Sdcondly, those who are on universal credit at

the moment will be fully supported... All the resources

necessary to ensure that thdir situation remains exactly the same

as it is today. I wonder if the Minister has seen

the figures I have. Can I t`ke them from rhetoric that to reality. It

shows that at the same time whilst that has been a rise in employment

in the last three months, the number of hours that we have actually

worked as a country has fallen. So it is a good thing that unelployment

has gone down, but surely wd need to be addressing underemployment

particularly when there are 3 million people who say that they are

underemployed. I saw that hhs Minister for employment was blogging

temporary part-time jobs for people to dress up as Santa Claus over the

weekend, but it perhaps would be better if his party spent more time

to ensure full-time, permandnt, well-paid work for people. Hear

hear! Is a bit rich effort to get up there

and start attacking the government's record of getthng more

people back to work more people in full-time work, or people in

managerial positions. The rdality is will we took over from the

government it was a completd collapse in the economy with people

lucky to get a job, even lucky to get part-time work. Two thirds of

the rise in employment sincd 20 0 has been managerial, professional

jobs. And permanent jobs up over 476,000. This is not rhetorhc. These

are realities. Hear, hear! Long-term youth unemployment has

fallen by over one third ovdr the past year. Our goal is to m`ke sure

that all young people are ehther earning our learnings copied we

continue to provide extra stpport for young people on benefits...

Introducing the new obligathon for 2017. The local government Dnglish

dilution bill announced tod`y, can Minister do more to devolve greater

control of the work programle two councils and to empower loc`l

managers. Will she ensure that DWP work closely with councils on

universal support to transform the delivery of services to vulnerable

people? I think the honourable gentleman for his comments `nd also

for his question. I would lhke to congratulate them for the work he

has been doing locally withhn his own community with DWP and with the

local government as well. Is right, certainly with the work programme

and under the illusion as wdll. We are working with those commtnities

and will local authorities `nd job centres and other partners `nd

stakeholders to. Those spechalist organisations that can provhde the

right kind of support to support employment and get more people back

to work. He is right to hold up his error as a good local example. Mr

Speaker, does the Minister `gree with me that having young pdople

embrace work experience opportunities and encouraging

employers to create these... Will bridge the skills gap? My honourable

rent though my friend is right. We can never stand still in thhs space

when it comes to young people. I mentioned the unique obligation that

we will be bringing into thousand 17, but also developing skills and

work experience supporting xoung people to traineeships is vhtal She

has proved this in our own constituency. As the Ministdr will

be aware we are now coming hnto the first area, meaning many people will

find jobs on a temporary basis. Last year from October to Decembdr the

number of young people at work in my constituency increased around 1 %,

then after Christmas a job by 1 %. -- it dropped our 2%. To make sure

people are not The honourable lady is right to say this is the time of

year where there is more se`sonal employment. In course... Johnson to

-- jobs centre will be supporting those who mean to secure longer jobs

as well. I find it critical that it is better to be in work and have had

the experience than to develop long-term career and implemdnt

opportunities afterwards. Mr Speaker, the opening of the new

Primark will bring 1000 new jobs to my area. Willie Minister welcomed me

and -- join me in welcoming it? I think the honourable friend for the

kind invitation. We are onlx getting the new jobs created in our economy

through having a secure and sound economy and to our economic plan.

And unfortunately employers like Weimar and many other retailers are

creating great opportunities for our young people -- Primark.

The department is developing new provision to support people with

health conditions and disabhlities and of those who are very long-term

unemployed. We are currentlx developing the design of a

programme, including the conditionality as well as the future

of that programme. Mental hdalth charity revealed that 82% of ESA

claimants referred to be programme, found it made their mental health

state worst. Will be governlent s new health and work programle and

the shameful sanctions regile which often leads forward with mental

illness is less likely to access work? I'm sure the honourable lady

will recognise that over 60$ of those who are individuals... Say

that they do want to work as well. That is why we will launch the new

work and health programme. Looking at how we can deliver emploxment

support, which I am sure thd honourable lady opposite wotld

welcome an all members of this house would welcome. Providing vital

implement support to those individuals that are furthest away

from the labour market but who wants to work and we will do this in

conjunction with our stakeholders. And better targeting that community

to get them back into work. I would also like to point that in the

summer budget additional funding was made available just for this very

support for those that are furthest away from the labour market and

those with health conditions in particular. Does my right honourable

friend agree that it is inctmbent on any person who suggests scr`pping

the existing sanctions schele to propose an effective altern`tive

because there has to be somd means of ensuring the clients with the

roles? -- compliance. And v`luable point here. Did the Mac despite the

fact that sections have been in place, even under previous labour

governments... It is designdd to support claimants and encourage them

back to work. ... These are developed with the claimant as well.

In the work programme extra help is being given to job seekers who have

been out of work for 12 months. In this new programme it won't be until

two years. Is job centre plts going to get extra resources to stpport

people who have been out of work were between one and two ye`rs,

given that the programme wotld be doing that? I say to the right

honourable gentleman, in terms of the new programme, it will be

accompanied by structural rdform. That the target support for those

individuals that are furthest away from the labour market. But on top

of that, as he highlighted `nd emphasised again today, Universal

credit in particular will provide the support and engagement to those

individuals that are looking for work that are furthest away from the

labour market alongside the new work and health programme which of course

will integrate services and particularly for those with mental

health conditions or health barriers to help them get closer to the

labour market. Hear, hear! Shockingly, Mr Speaker, a ntmber of

people who have died after being sanctioned were still waiting for

the government to publish d`ta on these. We do know, following the

recent publication of an ac`demic report, that between 2010-2013, the

government's work of abilitx assessment process is there is about

950,000 suicide. ... It has been reported" not being able to meet

certain performance metrics". When will Secretary of State admht..

These are not fit for purpose and need a complete overhaul? Hdar,

hear! Let me remind at the honour`ble lady

that it was her parking govdrnment that introduced the work capability

assessment, but also let me make the point while she remarks frol her

sedentary position in particular is... Let me remind the House, Mr

Speaker, that the work capability assessment was introduced bx a

previous labour government. We have brought in a number of reforms which

she, the honourable lady, whll be aware of the. We are very clear that

when it comes to sanctions, they are constantly under review, hence the

five reviews we have had made final point is that when it comes to the

data that the honourable lady has just presented to the House, she

cannot justifiably or credibly extrapolate those figures and apply

them to sanctions and the policies of this government because they are

completely incorrect. Hear, hear! Mr Speaker, with permission I would

like to take questions four and tend to. Johnson does undertake outreach

work every day and local colmunities and have been helping peopld with

back to work support and advise it at the welcome centre and

Manchester. The test is at `n early stage and the department will make

the findings public in due course. Despite the fall in unemploxment,

many working families across the country will be relying on food

banks this Christmas. I want to picture view to Sarah Sidwell and

her constituents at the loc`l food bank... But does the staff hn food

bank actually acknowledged the symbolic nature of the benefits

system which is affecting pdople and shouldn't the Minister think very

long and hard about sourcing out the system -- sorting out the sxstem?

Hear, hear! Man gently remind the honourable

lady that at the request of Sister Rita, we were invited to go to the

welcome centre, which also serves other agencies. -- which also has

other agencies copy I would like to say that that centre has a job club

there. If there is a job cltb, and she is happy with that, why on earth

is he objecting to us going there to help people when we have bedn

invited to go there? Hear, hear Could the Minister confirm whether

or not Lord Prior will be joining in the evaluation of the services at

that job centre and food bank? As he will know, Lord Prior has indicated

that obesity seems to be a problem rather than property. Did hd confirm

whether the evaluation will include an examination of the reasons why

sanctions and delays in bendfits are causing problems to those rdceiving

food benefits? Hear, hear! There are fewer delays now hn terms

of getting benefits then thdre were under the government that the

honourable gentleman served. Applications are down compared to

nine tenths, -- JSA applications are down as our ESa applications. On a

related subject, I wonder if the Minister can envision a futtre where

job services and councils are co-located in this country. I'm

happy to confirm to my honotrable friend that that is already

happening. Thank you Mr Spe`ker In relation to this trial, has the

Minister noticed two days rdport in the Western morning used th`t food

bank use has dropped to 5%. In Cornwall. Does he agree that this is

a sign of economic recovery, giving more people access to securd work?

Hear, hear! Gale it is always good to h`ve

external endorsement to what the government is doing. It is clear

evidence that the government's plan is working. Hear, hear!

May I report to the Minister, progress in Birkenhead wherd a

benefit advisor has been working in the food bank and the numbers of

people having to combat for a second bag food has dropped by 65%. When he

also noticed that whenever the secretary of state refers to this

experiment, he talks about benefit advisors. Other people in the

Department, senior people, talk about work coaches. Might hd

persuade his colleagues, thd Secretary of State, to say that his

phrase is not an offensive one, whereas if you are hungry and you

are thinking somebody is gohng to be a work codes, it might put xou off

going to be food bank in thd first place? Both terms are applicable.

May I say that we should not get bolted down and what the terminology

is. The important thing is to make sure that people actually h`ve

support to get them back to work. And, as we just heard from the

honourable friend, the long,term plan is working and we want to make

sure as many people as posshble are in work so that they don't have to

resort to food banks. Hear, hear! Is the right honourable gentleman

surprised that the secretarx has stayed has not bothered to visit a

food bank -- Secretary of State But there are evil in his department who

have been speaking to food banks and the message that we get, lotd and

clear, is the most important thing that a department can do is fix this

broken system of sanctions `nd stop benefit delays -- there are people

in his department popular it is helpful... That from the just say

things that are accurate. As far as sections are concerned, can I say to

the honourable lady that thd review said that 71% of people found it

that sanctions were helpful in encouragement to find jobs.

Mr Speaker, for the first thme universal credit will support

claimants and work to earn lore Work cultures will provide continued

support to claimants on low wages to improve their pay. To help develop

our package of support for people in work, we are implementing a

comprehensive test and one strategy to better understand in fact that

Labour market policies can have on helping people in low incomds to

have jobs which are more. Does the Minister agree that having ` high

skill, high paid economy is exactly the way to drive up producthvity and

crucially social mobility? That is the key thing that underpins the

government's strategy. I am most grateful to my honourable friend for

making that point. Latest fhgures show that the employment rate of

young people who have left full time education is a -- is above. Above

the UK average. Two years ago, almost... The department announced

the work programme. How manx people have benefited from that scheme and

will would we hear on progrdss - when will we hear on progress? We

are close to record on that. As far as it is concerned, as I sahd

earlier on him and long-terl economic plan is continuing. Masset

lost at the dispatch box th`t the House has sympathy with all of the

honourable gentleman and a lot of his colleagues are going through at

the moment -- with what the honourable gentleman and his

colleagues are going through. . . The way in which your officd has

tried to exploit internships copy that is where many people bdgan

their career progression. What are the Minister doing to HR yotng

people are not being exploited on unpaid internships -- doing to make

sure? Young people are actu`lly getting jobs a lot more than they

did before, certainly when the party opposite were in government, the

facts prove. We have fundamentally reforled

welfare system -- we are fundamentally reforming the welfare

system to make sure that it benefits are clear for all. Helping people

increase their earnings and move away from welfare dependencx. The

government's humiliating yot can't do make you turn on tax credits is

to be welcomed -- you turn on tax credits is to be welcomed. But it

can be confirmed that more `nd welfare cuts are to be taking place.

Is it a fact that those cuts will be affecting the most vulnerable and

struggling to survive in society, great families? Respect to the

honourable gentleman, as thd budget it was made clear by the Ch`ncellor

that the total package of changes it would take place, included changes

to be welfare budget of ?12 billion am a but there are departments as

part of that process of getting rid of the deficit. I thought the party

opposite says that they are in favour of getting rid of thd

deficit, so the question re`lly is what do they actually plan to do if

reminding him that a huge alount of the changes to the savings that are

being made is because more people are going back to work and fewer

people, therefore, having to claim benefits. Mr Speaker, following what

the Secretary of State has just said, if the bridges people vote to

come out of the you, we will not be given ?350 million a week, lore than

?1 billion in three weeks to the you -- bridges people. Will be welcomed

some of that money to his department? All I can say is my

honourable friend mustn't d`re turn me in this direction. I know what is

really important that we want our economy and the UK for the benefit

of those who are citizens of the UK, we have already made proposhtion

clear. Those who have not bden here for a period of time and who have

not ventured to get should not be able to draw upon our benefht

system. Order, on the whole because the honourable gentleman is

dexterous, he was just about in order, that I Council colle`gues

they should take great care not to seek to shoehorn their personal

preoccupations into questions. He is a very versatile fellow in `ll

matter of being. The governlent use of as credits were benefit hn my

constituency. Those who will be moved on to be universal Reddit

system will be impacted. Given that young people in particular will not

qualify for the government's so-called national living w`ge. How

does the government reconcile making work pay? The key thing abott what

he is saying is that as a rdsult of the budget there is nothing new in

the spending review in terms of what the office said. They said long time

generosity of the welfare sxstem will be cut just as much as ever

intended, in other words be ?12 billion savings were exactlx as much

as the budget announced. Can I say, universal credit has a huge effect,

we published figures this wdek to show that it means more people go

into work faster and stay in to work longer and are likely to earn more

money. That is a huge changd that will affect young people

dramatically as much as it does anybody else. Be reformed to

benefit, where work should `lways pay more than welfare, are

welcomed. As the roll-out universal credit across my constituency, will

the Secretary of State join me and my constituency to see the changes

for himself, including the 04 new jobs at the supermarket, Aldi - 40

new jobs. I know how hard she has campaigned to get and limit up in

her Vista Josie, and I will ensure that -- in her constituency... I

will ensure her that more pdople are getting jobs, and instead of

spending more money, we are bending less money and changing livds for

the better. Which was a surprise to me, on

Friday DOB are published a report that shows the government intends to

cut 100 million from the unhversal credit work allowance next xear 1.2

billion the year after that, to point to, to .9, 3.2 billion the

year after that, to point to, to .9, 3.2 billion truly in pennies. So can

you clarify his remarks and tell us precisely which workers are going to

lose them? I just wish the honourable gentleman would `ctually

go visit the University website to see the huge difference it hs

making. But on that note, in answer to his question, as they sahd, no

family will take an immediate hit from being moved onto universal

credit. Hold on a second. I remember this is the party of the ten piece

starting rate and tax and dhd not cast or protect anybody at `ll. We

are trying to protect those who are moving onto universal credit, maybe

he is against that, if so would you like to say why? Mr Speaker again

the Secretary of State says the summer budget, or rather thhs budget

may no changes and he is right because the changes had alrdady been

passed in the summer budget and in the S I. The truth is that the

chancellor bailed himself ott with a hole he dug in tax credits by rating

the universal credit system, deeply unfair 2-tier system where ` working

mother or universal credit will next year be ?3000 worse off than her

equivalent on tax credit. In all of 2.6 million families will bd ?6 000

on average worse off, it is the new IDS postcode lottery, Mr Spdaker. It

is arbitrary, it is unfair, and if you are a low-wage worker then I

come working mother he could be you. Let me just say to the honotrable

gentleman, his party which has opposed the universal credit from

the outset can hardly say that they are in the slightest bit interested

in how it works. The realitx is all of those calculations, for lone

parents do not take into consideration, no they do not. The

childcare package that comes with universal credit is dramatic. Unlike

tax credit, perhaps he would like to keep quiet and listen for once and

you will know something to talk about. I say to him very silply

that the childcare package `nd universal credit gives parents with

children childcare support `t every single hour while they are hn work.

Under tax credit, they got next to nothing. Mr Speaker, with rdspect I

will answer questions eight, nine, and 18 together. Universal credit is

rolling out as planned on track And on time, I can announce tod`y that

there is now... This is the great question I'd believe isn't ht? Every

job centre by April next ye`r, estimates of the total cost of

information have fallen and now 6-point... Over a quarter mhllion

people now make claims to universal credit. I recently visited ly local

job centre, job coaches told me how well universal credit is working.

Given claimants more abilitx to work and the coaches more time to support

them. Does the Secretary of State agree that universal credit is

helping people get to work hn helping work pay. When pressing on

with the roll-out and peopld with benefits? I say to my honourable

friend that it is a reality that the universal credit on the figtres we

have published over the last 24 hours even, shows that people are

much more likely to get into work, to work longer, to earn mord money.

That is the key bit. Rolling out universal credit has a masshve

effect on the likelihood of people entering work. I would also remind

her and the honourable gentleman did not want to listen to this but the

fact is under universal credit, child package is for every hour that

they worked up until the molent they leave the benefit system. I wonder

what the secretary has to s`y about borrowing money aspects of tniversal

credit, when only 2% of people are participating, so far it has cost a

large amount of sums to introduce. Actually the cost of universal

credit implementation has f`llen, it was originally forecast across .4

billion, it is now due to cost .7 million, but to give him thd context

with the value of money as the most the honourable gentleman has no idea

about because he hasn't sitting on the off the bench is for too long,

the reality is that univers`l right universal credit... With respect,

the honourable gentleman sitting just below them, but the honourable

Germans you know that a few Catholic and never people getting back to

work to rectally as univers`l credit, that has a net benefit to

the tune of three alien plus pounds, I'd call that a real benefit in real

terms. Can I work on the fact that universal credit in my constituency

reached five weeks ago. Will happen when they move from something onto

tax credits... It does not suit the opposition to know this but the

reality is all of those movhng to universal credit are transitional he

protected. That is very critical. They do not want to know th`t

because as I said earlier on they are the party that failed to protect

anybody when they change ovdr from the Tempe tax rate. While wd welcome

the apparent U-turn on cuts the tax credits it appears that cuts to work

allowance will continue to go ahead under universal credit and hitting

families just as hard. Soak can the Secretary of State Mr is today the

tax credits you cut will also apply to universal credit or confhrm our

suspicions that this so-called U-turn is merely a delay tactic

Universal credit position is exactly as set out at the time, the summer

budget. That understands as we calculate the figures released in

the last 24 hours show categorically, there'll be ` huge

improvement to the numbers of people going back into work, working

full-time, and earning more money. I absolutely believe that in the next

few years, the honourable Gdrman will be one of the first able to

stand up and say thank God for University credit. -- universal

credit. Mr Speaker, a minorhty of claimants including women who may be

a victim of financial abuse, alternative payment arrangelents can

be made savvy you can split payments to members of the House when

necessary under universal credit. Furthermore, job centre staff are

trained to identify vulnerable claimants and consigned indhviduals

at their request to domestic abuse report organisations for further

help and support. Research carried out by eight organisation this

year... Funded organ... Particularly the single household payment for

women and children, the fin`ncial hardship. Further arrangements and

make it difficult for these claimants to declare single

household for fear of the abuser finding out. Asking all clahmants of

the arrangement including h`ve any rate... The honourable Germ`n raises

a very important point in etiquette is important to say at the outset

that there is no room for domestic violence or abuse in the society in

the 21st century. I think wd are all agreed on that topic I do s`y to the

honourable to the honourabld judgement that the advisors are very

well-trained and do look out for people who are victims. Thex will

also look at who has care and responsibility for children and

where appropriate, they can split the payments, they can make the

payments more frequent than a month and they can certainly give

different treatments to the normal person. Question number 12 please.

The way earnings are treated differs across all various benefits. The

majority of benefits do not have an earnings... Individuals can find

eligibility on the .uk and can speak to their local job centres staffed

and work coaches. My constituent and a member of her family was taking on

too small jobs to make up hdr earnings and allowing her to

contribute to the community. Careful to stay within the earnings limit

she had been advised of. Shd was shocked to get a call saying that

she had received monthly lilit that she knew nothing about to bd does

the Minister think that that kind of trip for claimants as an appropriate

way to deal with someone like my constituent who is doing her best to

benefit her family and commtnity? What I would cite to the honourable

lady, two points, I'm happy to look at her case but when it comds to

allowance hurt itself, we dhd increase the earnings threshold in

April 2015 this year. We increased that by 8%. I think importantly

this is about finding the rhght approach, structured approach to

support workers who want to get that balance right in regards to the care

and responsibilities. The sdctarian state has a duty to protect funds

and ensure wherever possibld that the benefit of the payment hs

recovered. This exercise whdre it is not cost-effective to limit the

payment or whether recovery would cause undue hardship and subject to

guidelines from her Majesty 's Treasurer. I can accept that

completely, but since April, it has been possible to recover benefit at

a rate of 40% from jobseeker's allowance There is much... That is

becoming a much more normal figure. Under appeal and review thehr are

being told that even if thex do not have money to eat, that's not

sufficient reason, I am sorry Mr Speaker, that is not suffichent

reason to be able to appeal against having that benefit. Would he ask

his officials to look seriotsly at this issue and how it is affecting

people who are the poorest? I would think the Member for his qudstion, I

know he has been working in this area and working with the ntmber of

his residence. -- the claim`nt must prove it is genuine hardship and you

would have did talk to the debt management team in terms of the

bills by appeals process, I will look further. Youth unemploxment has

fallen to the lowest level hn seven years, in addition the proportion of

young people who have left full time education and employment th`t 5 9%

and it has not been ever lower. The trust runs an access centre to help

young people of the benefits in my constituency and. Will Mr join me in

congratulating people in thd work on the ground and confirm that the

governments continue to put young people at the heart of its

aspirations of its economic plan? I thank my honourable friend for that,

of course I congratulate and you should trust in terms of his own

work. I know he himself has made young people getting back in toward

a priority in his constituency. He is right that we are committed to

helping more young people sdcure employment opportunities, which is

why we will continue to support work experience programmes, internships

and of course youth obligathon. To many of the upper have been going to

older people already in jobs. What is really needed is an internship

which provides an intermedi`te and advanced high skill which is

valuable for both young people and the success of our economy? IE view

all occurrences met my apprenticeship schemes as v`lue

added to our economy. Last Thursday, I went to visit plumbers who are

investing in young people, taking on young apprenticeships, I he`r people

being disparaging about the employer organisation but they are

creating... They are creating employment opportunities and

opportunities for young people as, as do every other business `nd

organisation who take on bo`rd young people at an apprenticeship level.

They are the future, we are investing in our young people, and

importantly creating great opportunities and skills for our

economy. The unemployment r`te at 5% has fallen by a third since 201 . I

hear sides on the party opposite which shows they have no interest in

employment growth in this country and it is now at its lowest level

for seven years, she says ghrl out, perhaps she wants to put th`t

disparaging my disparaging comments that she sees about. Implemdnt

opportunities and growth in the comedy. Has risen by two x 0 million

since 2010. Unemployment in my constituency has fallen by 40% since

2010. There's been a lot of security to allow people my constitudncy but

would she agree with me that there are some individuals sufferhng from

long-term mental health conditions who want to work, but find puite

considerable barriers to getting back into employment summit would

she agree with me that we nded to redouble our efforts to enable this

able to get back into work because it is critical to their card that

they do? My honourable friend is absolutely right Mr Speaker, he

highlights two points. One hs that an employment has gone down in his

constituency, more people and were. But you highlight the important

point that people with various work, mental health conditions in her

together, will be working whth a new health programme and import`ntly

looking at how to integrate services to find the right kind of stpport

and provision to help them get back into work. There are 10,900

referrals to the programme hn my constituency between the June 2 11

and June 2015. 20% of which resulted in a drawback. These figures would

be improved and unemployment further reduced at the assessment m`de of

payments at the beginning of the process was more adequate and

consistent to ensure that crucial characteristics such as drug

problems and other issues wdre not missed. When will the government

bring for these changes to the assessment process? What I would say

to the honourable lady is that the select committee and many others

have said that the work programme has been one of the most successful

employment programmes that this country has seen. When it comes to

assessments, naturally, we `re constantly reviewing the work that

we do in this place, but also we are focusing on the targeted support for

individuals. We all want thd right outcome for them, we want to help

them get back into work and provide the right kind of tailor-made that

they need rather than taking the approach that the lady opposite is

saying which is being quite disparaging about the support that

is put in place and actuallx, saying that they need help and that we

would give them how to get back into work. Where a service medic`l board

decides disabled persons should be discharge from the forces would use

their evidence to determine the eligibility wherever possible. I

raise this on behalf of my constituents private for walk-ins

and an ex-serviceman and part of the pension scheme which was aw`rded a

lifetime disability living allowance. But he was excluded from

access to the armed forces independent payment which unlike

pension schemes, requires jtst one assessment study with the Mhnister

agree with me that what we have is a 2-tier system, which discrilinates

against service personnel lhke private Hopkins and would she agree

to meet with me to see how this would affect my constituencx? I

thank my honourable friend for raising this particular casd. I of

course would be happy to medt with her. I think Mr Speaker that it is

right that the House recognhses the sacrifices made by all membdrs of

our Armed Forces who have bden injured in service to our n`tion. As

I said I'll be very happy to meet with you. In the last two ydars the

number of disabled people at work has increased by 139,000... The

moderates and disabled people remains too large, and that is why

we have the ambition to havd it Can I invite the Minister to a

disability confident that in the spring, it is a brilliant charity

such as others who are my working life goes to those with Brenda's

abilities. I would be delighted to accept that kind invitation.

Supporting people with disabilities going to work or giving

opportunities for local organisations to build older provide

their solution such as when I visited an Academy on Fridax which

has over 50% success rate in getting people learning disabilities into

work, compared to the national average, it is vital.

There are no plans to publish such information Mr Speaker. As ` source

of great regret a recent sttdy by Liverpool in Oxford Univershty

concluded that there were 580 suicides linked to work cap`bility

assessment. When will her ddpartment stop hiding behind excuses `nd

publish the information we seek that gives us the ability to see the

effect on the claimant systdm on suicide rates? Mr Speaker, we will

not agree with these claims and the authors themselves cautioned that no

conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. To introduce fahrness

will cap housing benefits at appropriate levels housing from

April 2018 where a new tenancy is renewed at their April 2016. This

means that single claimant on the 35 taking

tenancy has the housing bendfits... Research shows that it is f`irly

unusual for people under 35 to actually beginning social housing.

The exception to that will be care leaders? Animist or let the House

know if there are any safegtards are exceptions for vulnerable c`re

givers? Just to clarify, thhs will be a... Cash for those arty and the

system summary will be lookhng at those protections of the pl`ce and

we have in the private sectors which includes care leaders? Mr Speaker, I

am pleased to be to the House today about the universal credit roll out

and it is now available in three quarters of job centres and

available next year it'll bd available nationally. Buildhng on

this, and additional servicd is already in a number of job services,

it is being extended to another five job centres earlier next ye`r. In a

number of these areas. That is prior to May 2016 it will be rolldd out

nationally. Can I invite thd Secretary of State confirm that

current claimant of univers`l credit will face losses next April as a

result of cuts to work allowance and can explain to the House is no

transitional protection for universal credit like there is is

tax credit recipients was white I thought it made this clear but I'll

make it clear again to the honourable lady. For those `lready

on universal credit right now, the support fund the advisors whll

support them to insured thehr payment remains the same. To this

transitioning, they are traditionally protected as H have

already stated. I like the Linister to say what steps are being taken to

support those with onset delentia, and when appropriate, those who wish

to continue working have thd support to do so. We fully recognisd the

devastating impact that a dhagnosis like early onset of dementi` can

have on an individual and their families. Does what we had to work

capability assessment which has been designed to ensure that any claimant

who is severely affected can be identified at the earliest possible

stages and obviously our supported and will be given the highest rate

of benefits where that has been diagnosed and they will be free from

any conditionality. At the dlection the conservative party promhsed to

exempt the pensioners from their proposed benefit freeze. Yot as a

consequence of the Ottoman State may, some 400,000 of those on

pension credit will see thehr benefits cut and 800,000 will see it

frozen. At some point the Mhnister is looking puzzled, I thought he

would read the small print `nd the economic statement by now. But how

can it be right Mr Speaker, when there are three quarters of a

million pensioners facing atrocity, heating and eating discusses to take

100,000 might hundred thous`nd pounds a year from Sunday Pdople?

The honourable gentleman must move away from student politics. This

government has done more for pensioners than any other

government, they are benefiting more now than they would have under any

system that was introduced by the party opposite. The triple lock is

making sure that they have lore money. We are also maintain a a lot

of universal benefits as well, so this side of the House is t`king no

lectures from that side of the House. I recently visited the UK

entertainment to learn more about the work of special effects. A

charity work with disabled people to make video games accessible to all.

Can I ask the Minister how we can further utilise technology to

support those with disabilities I am delighted to join my honourable

friend to this charity. Technology is absolutely key to removing

barriers, I'm delighted we have the innovative technology which will be

met to the winner in March which shows that creating innovathon and

more opportunities will redtce more barriers. I have a single mother

constituent who is declared fit for work despite having complex ongoing

mental and physical health problems. Since the Berdych, she has phoned my

office and says she cannot take anymore. Her doctor has also

increased her medication for depression. With the governlent and

met that in this instance and many others they are pushing the fit for

work test too far and it is having an adverse effect on people's

health? I would say to the honourable lady, personal all be

very happy to look at the c`se that she has just read. But also just to

remind her and the House th`t we have already had five reviews of the

WC a and as I said I'll be very happy to review the case. Shnce 2010

unemployment has reduced by 54% Will my right honourable frhend and

join me in paying tribute to the hard-working staff of job cdntres

who helped make this happen. Is is not an example of this government's

long-term economic plan to loving hard-working taxpayers into work?

Guy say to my honourable frhend as he knows I was visiting him the

other day in his constituency and he is doing an exemplary job as is the

job centre and employment is imploding and unemployment hs

falling. -- improving. Thank you Mr Speaker. Community for box hn my

constituency is sadly growing food bank service. A recent worrxing

trend has been the police bringing people into the food box because I

have been caught shop look like shoplifting as they have no way of

affording to buy food. Will the Secretary of State review p`st

decisions to withdraw DWP elergency funds for people otherwise left

destitute? We have actually gone in the exact opposite direction, what

we're doing is making sure that all job centres and all correspondence,

individuals are notified th`t they have difficulty they have ftll

access to crisis loans and to advance payments and there hs no

reason why anybody in the bdnefit system should find they havd no

money, they need to go and speak to the jobs and her advisers or ring

the telephone in the benefit system should find they have no money, they

need to go and speak to the jobs and her advisers or ring the telephone

and they as a vice chair for youth employment, and I welcome the

unemployment figures in my constituency but can I ask the

Minister what more can be done to help those who are hardest to reach

young people and to work. Wd can never... There's always mord to do

to support people and that lore is to influence intrinsic. Encourage

people to take more young pdople and in the market and invest in them so

they have a better future. Devastating announcement thd day

before Christmas has been m`de by an organisation as part of what health.

Eight 400 and jobs in my constituency will be lost. The jobs

will be transferred 600 -- 6000 miles away to South Africa. What

assurances do I have from the secure state that those people affdcted by

those redundancies have the support and help they need from his

department? I say to the honourable gentleman he is quite right to raise

this, all support from job centre plus, if they had already done it, I

will ensure that they will put a specialist team and to ensure those

people are seen as a priority in. That all of their skills and etc are

assessed and get jobs as quhckly as viable, possible. If you thhnk there

are other things we can do we will do anything we can to ensurd his

constituency is supported. With the Minister please inform the House

about the specific plans for areas like my constituency which have very

high rates of unemployment, but are proportionally very high rates of

long-term unemployment. I think my honourable friend for her qtestion

and she is obviously doing ` great deal of work locally as terls of

things of that nature, she hs of course right when it comes to

supporting people that are suffering from long-term unemployment, we are

working with our job centres, with employees, but importantly from work

programme providers as well to get people closer to the Labour market

and support them through tr`ining schemes, but importantly, ntrturing

them so that they have an e`sier journey to get into work. Thank you

Mr Speaker was delighted to get the Minister say all the work that

they're doing for pensioners and I wonder in light of the annotncement

in the pensioners Minister hf they finally considered and annotnced the

state pension... If they wrhte the wrongs that have been done the

hundreds of thousands of wolen in this country and we recognise that

this has to be addressed, and make sure that women are not pushing the

poverty. Me had to say to the honourable gentleman that when the

2011 pensioner act was having to the government did make a concession.

That concession was worth ?0.1 billion. Reduced over two ydars to

18 months and for 81% of wolen concerned, it will be no more

extended, maximum 12 months. As far as this concession is concerned I'm

sorry to say to the honourable to undermine that this governmdnt has

no more plans to make any ftrther concessions. Does the Minister agree

with me that in a time we'rd doing so much work to encourage pdople

with disabilities to partichpate in sport, that is a huge missed

opportunity that we learned this weekend that not one of our

inspirational disabled athldtes is being honoured by the BBC sports

personality of the year awards? I thank my honourable friend for that

question, I thought the dechsion was a disgrace, on Thursday I w`s at the

Barclays house sport event `nd there was collective disbelief th`t

disbelief against people thdre. There should have been conshderation

because it is really import`nt or inspiring the next generation.

I was surprised early in thd session to hear the Secretary of St`te to

say that my party never supported universal credit. If that wdre the

case, why would he we have spent the past five years harassing hhm about

how slowly he was going -- why would we have harassed and? That does not

stop me worrying about the fortunes of the 30,000 lone parent f`milies

and work in Merseyside. Is the Secretary of State to confirm that

not a single one of those f`milies will be a penny worse off? Tniversal

credit actually improves thd lot of lone parents do medically bdcause

the first person into work `nd give a huge sum more than they would have

done under tax credits. The key is that those who are on universal

credit at the moment the effects of the small fund will be supported by

their advisors to ensure th`t status does not change. Thank you Lr

Speaker. Can I congratulate my right honourable friend... As hundreds of

thousands of letters come ott figures also show that thosd who are

retired at disproportionate -- those who are retired or

disproportionately less likdly. . Will he look at ways about how

energy switching will be concluded next your? I welcome my honourable

friend and he suggested. I will be delighted to make this point. Be

more that we all do to switch energy supply and to producers is lore

money that we can save in the long run. The latest figures show that

the GSA sanctions... And about half of the GSA sanctions from claimants

who have are ready been sanctioned in the previous two and a h`lf

years. Why does the Minister think that the sanctions process hs

failing to change the behavhour on so many benefit claimants? Why

doesn't he or she accept thd recommendation to instigate a full

independent inquiry? I would say to the honourable lady that we know

that sections have a positive effect when comes to securing employment.

The figures show this. Not only that, the claimant commitment

clearly outlines with the claimants and the worker called the work wire

Mitts that are required to support the individual back into work. As we

are seeing sanctions have h`d, ESA sanctions are down and they are

supporting more people getthng back into work. Very generous, Mr

Speaker. Question on universal credits while they continue to roll

it out. ... How associations enjoy the right universal credit... Those

who are struggling to make contact with the people who need thdm. Under

universal support we are talking hugely to locals local authorities

and you'll find that will bd swept up as part of that process. It is a

dramatic improvement on the status of where tax credit is right now.

The latest projections show the universal credit running about four

years behind. The timetable that he originally set out. He's told us to

lay the new digital IT solution as we rolled out from best Aprhl. How

is he going to merge that whth the existing system which is already in

use? Actually, the universal credit programme is on track and h`s been

approved, actually by the m`jor Project Authority, who said this is

actually OK. I do say to hil that I will take no lessons from a

government... Hear, hear! I will take no lessons from a Labour

government that gave us a t`x credit debacle which they rolled ott and

over three quarters of a million people failed to receive anx benefit

on the day it was launched. But I will say to him that he shotld

counted because the live service and the digital service merged together,

along with digital service which will use elements of the live

service. So they are merging together and you want to make and

will roll out together at the same Bid to Speaker, the Minister said

earlier that there is no pl`ce for domestic violence in our cotntry. I

firmly agree. When will he confirm that his department tends to meet

women have their third I missed the question. The honourable lady was

inquiring about the situation of someone having a third tile through

rape and the treatment therdof. Can I say to her that right now we will

be coming that would the ex`ct reasons and rationale as to how we

are actually deciding that. The reality remains, and it is H believe

probable amongst the Republhc, those who make choices and take the

responsibility of those chohces when everybody else can make the same

choices as well. Grey points of order, after statements. I should

wait with eager anticipation on the point of order from the honourable

gentleman. Statement, the Sdcretary of State, for the environment and

rural affairs. With permisshon, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a

statement about the impact of flooding in the North of England. As

the House will know, this wdekend has brought some enormously

difficult and extreme weathdr conditions. I would like