Live Work and Pensions Questions House of Commons

services built which applies only in England and aims to cut congestion.

Over now live to the House of Commons. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

government is committed to providing free impartial advice on pensions to

help people make informed and confident decisions as to how they

use their savings in retirement. Can my honourable friend reassure me

that as well as making sure people have access to information what

steps is the government taking to protect people from being deceived

out of their savings? My honourable friend is right to pose this

question because the government takes the threat of scams very

seriously. We highlight the risks posed by scams to savers, we wish to

gather and share intelligence, we have also consulted on further

evidence to tackle scammers including a proposal to ban cold

calling to pensioners and the next step will be announced soon, Mr

Speaker. Can he tell us when he will crack down on this cold calling,

people trying to scam people out of their hard earned life savings taken

advantage of this notion that there are these freedoms yet potentially

putting pensioners at great risk, when will the legislation be brought

forward? As to be expected from the gentleman is a pertinent question

and the answer is very soon. Preying on elderly people to take advantage

of their pensions, giving them bad advice, is a despicable crime. Is

the Minister satisfied that the number of prosecutions of those who

do this frankly evil activity is nearly enough? I would like to say

to my honourable friend that I thought it was enough. I don't think

it is and I think the steps that we intend to take should make

prosecutions for cold calling and scamming much easier and hopefully

if I am asked the question in the future I will be able to answer in

the affirmative. Thank you, Mr Speaker. On the issue of accurate,

clear information the report last week stated that an increase in the

state pension every ten years, one year the decade representing an

appropriate rate of change, with the Minister agree with that statement

and if so will he revisit the case of the Worcester women facing an

increase in pensionable age of more of five years? I know that the right

honourable gentleman has read it in detail and I thank him for doing so.

The government 's response will be published at the end of May and will

become intensive. As far as these women are concerned, I have said

many times here and elsewhere that the government has made the

concession it was going to make, in terms of transition arrangements

from the 1995 act, and I have no further news for him and that is it.

Reducing fees and charges levied by companies, could administer update

the house and what progress has been made? My honourable friend and I

have discussed it. I am pleased that he has highlighted this. There has

been consultation on this subject and the government, and no, will

make an announcement threw ourselves and the regulator very soon. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. The government missed an opportunity this you to

tackle a range of issues in the pensions industry bid chose to

ignore most of them, bringing forward instead the narrow pensions

schemes bill. And the Secretary of State failed to follow his own

agenda by instructing his ministers to resist any attempt to introduce

transparency and greater clarity on cost. Why decisions to protect the

industry instead of savers and what is the government going to do to

correct this failure and help us all build trust in our pensions

industry? I would like to thank the shadow spokesman for voting for the

bill on its second reading and its positive approach to it. The bill

has passed to a much broader agenda and the government will be making

progress very soon. Tim Vickers. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm currently

dealing with two constituency cases were old people have been robbed of

their life savings. In both cases they have been disappointed with the

police response. Will the cross departmental work include contact

with the Home Office and individual police forces to ensure more work is

done on this? Thank you Mr Speaker. I can confirm to my honourable

friend that the police and the antifraud authorities are involved

in this cross governmental body. Secretary of state secretary Damian

Green. This government supports those who aspire to be their own

boss, self employment grew by 148,000 in the last year to reach

4.8 million. A record level. Self-employment has contributed 30%

of the rise in employment since 2010 to its current record levels. It

seems not under the week goes by without another story about a

judgment of the self-employed. This is exploitation. Over one year ago

the report recommended equal treatment for the self-employed and

all we have is yet another review from the government. When are they

going to take some action? Here come here. As the honourable gentleman

knows, the government has commissioned Matthew tailored to

investigate. He asked what we have done. The self-employed now have

access to the new state pension, we have doubled the amount of free

childcare, particularly useful for the self-employed, worth up to

?5,000 per child per year and we have increased the personal

allowance worth ?1000, the typical basic rate taxpayer. The Secretary

of State is right that we have helped self-employment, what they

are G1 is the government out of the business. They don't want to pay

higher taxes. They don't want more benefits, they just want to get on

with their business. Is that something the Secretary of State can

support? And the government supports that more widely of course. We are

looking all the time and regulations that might hinder the growth of

entrepreneurship and self employment, and the actions taken by

my department, for instance the new enterprise allowance actively

encourage people into self-employment, 90,000 new

businesses have been set up as a result. The governments proposed

insurance contributions showed scandalous detachment from the

orality, both the majority of self-employed workers lives, a

failure to understand the boom in self-employment or the will to

address the issues self employed workers face including one in three

concerned if they become sick or injured doing their work. What

discussions to the Secretary of State have with the Chancellor on

this before the budget and is he concerned with the reliability given

the comment by the OBR? I am confident in the minimum income

floor calculation and as the honourable lady would expect we have

discussions all the time with the Treasury on a wide range of matters,

and I would point out first of all that as my right honourable friend

the Chancellor said in his letter to the budget it is important that we

comply not just with the letter but also the spirit of the commitments

made. That's why the Chancellor decided not to proceed with the

measures set out in the budget. Also, I think this is important, of

all the spending measures set out in the budgets including on social

care, technical education and new schools will be delivered in full.

My right honourable friend is right to notice that new businesses have

been started by job-seekers but still many do not know what help is

provided for them and the universal credit system and the new enterprise

allowance, so could my right honourable friend say what measures

are being promoted to increase awareness of these measures? My

honourable friend makes a good point, many of the self-employed may

not be aware of the many benefits that arise from it for them

specifically. The first time self-employed claimants will be

offered help to increase their earnings, will test the offer of

support to tax credit claimants, and also there is an issue and level of

earnings but new self-employed claimants will be exempt from this

five to 12 months following the application which I'm sure people

thinking of setting up their own business will find very helpful.

Nine Minister Penny Mordaunt. Minister, I will answer question

three and question 17. Assessment reports deemed unacceptable are

returned very work and a range of measures including contractual

remedies are used to address performance falling below those

standards. A constituent contacted me after she submitted a claim for

personal independence payment and then had to wait 12 weeks for the

home assessment appointed you need it. They finally telephoned giving

her less than 48 hours notice of the visit only to cancel ten minutes

before the appointed time. After three and a half months she is no

nearer to receiving the support that she needs. I know from my

discussions with the advice group that she is one of dozens of

disabled people being let down by her department. When will she

address this catalogue of failure? I thank the honourable lady and if she

will allow me the details I will look into the case because that

falls below the performance and the courtesy that we would want from our

providers, thankfully. The personal experience of people is very

important in getting this process right and I'm pleased to be able to

say that from April we will be commencing the user wrap panels,

about 300 people initially across the UK who we will be giving real

experience, real-time experience of both PIP and Anier and I think

that's an important step forward. We have all had cases like that, but

can it only be an arrogant Tory Government that ignores legal

decisions that overrides expert medical opinion in order to deprive

people with mental health the right to benefits? What level of cuts has

the minister promised the Chancellor in order to get this policy through?

I'm afraid I think the honourable gentleman is being very

irresponsible in saying that. There is no change to policy, budget or

award amounts and I would remind him that people with mental health

conditions are receiving the higher levels of benefit than they did

under DLA. This benefit is not about people's conditions, it's about the

impact that they have on that individual being able to thrive and

live their life as they would wish and it's it's quite wrong and

irresponsible to say otherwise. The vast majority of successful appeals

are because of late additional submitted evidence. Therefore to

avoid unnecessary appeals what steps is the minister taking to

automatically access medical reports with the consent of the claimant?

This is one of the key reasons why not only are there still 3% of PIP

case load being overturned at appeal but also we are not getting the

right decision at mandatory reconsideration stage. We have been

doing a number of trials to improve that, including telephoning claim

Arndts to ensure a good decision is made and is in place. There are

other measures as well. Any delay in making an award... A

number of cases successful at first day of tribunal are ultimately

upheld so can the minister assure me that this number is both monitored

statistically insignificant and in light of improvements in assessment

falling? I can give the honourable lady those assurances and, in

addition to the measure that I've already mentioned, there are a

number of other trials going on and a number of changes that our

providers are making, for example sitting down with someone and

talking about the effects of their condition on their ability to live

their lives prior to a medical history being gathered. 1,099 people

use the motability system in Inverclyde. Claimants are without

their car while their claims are going through. What is being done to

address this specific issue? As I reported to the House before, we

have been working ever closer with motability, a great scheme in its

40th year. There are a number of issues we are looking at - appeals,

people who may wish to leave the country, whether for study, work

experience or any other reason and looking at potentially extending the

scheme to other groups. We'll report as soon as we can on that review.

Far from cutting support for the disabled people, can the minister

confirm that disability spending will increase every year to 2020,

both relative to 2010 and today? I thank the honourable gentleman for

his question. He's absolutely right that spend will increase, but also

it's vital that this Government looks at other issues which we are

doing, for example, on the consumer agenda. It's no good us spending

money, it's no good us getting the employment support right if

buildings are not accessible and people can't make use of those

opportunities. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Last Thursday

at business questions, the leader of the House stated there would be a

debate on the Government's emergency PIP regulations which will effect

over 160,000 people's eligibility to PIP. Mainly those with mental health

conditions. However, he failed to give a date and the period comes to

an end on 3rd April. If there is no debate and the vote before the House

rises for Easter, then even if the House vote against the regulations

next month, they'll not automatically be revoked. This has a

huge democratic deficit. Will the Secretary of State or minister now

commit to schedule a debate and vote this week? I thank the honourable

lady for her question. She will know that that is not within my gift,

it's for the usual channels, but what I would say to her is that it

is not correct to say that this is going to be affecting 160,000

people. It is... No, there is no policy change, there is no change to

budget, there is no change to the guidance, there is no change to the

guidance that we have issued to our assessment providers. There isn't.

And so it's quite wrong to say, and raise fears with people, that they

are going to be affected. No awards will be affected an we are operating

exactly the same policy and guidance in our assessment practices as we

have done before. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Former sergeant... Sorry, number four. Th Mr Speaker, with permission

I'll answer questions four, 14 and 146 together. We cent changes to the

PIP regulations clarify the original criteria used to decide how much

benefit a person receives. It's not a policy change or a budget change

and it will not result in any claimants regardless of their health

condition seeing a reduction in the amount of PIP they have been

awarded. Thank you very much. Former sergeant

William Bradley who's one of my constituents developed severe PTSD

and depression whilst serving in the Gulf war and was medically

discharged from the Army in 2003. Having been on the enhanced PIP rate

since 2014, it was cut to the lower rate last year. On appeal, it's now

been removed completely and the reply from the PIP hotline was that

someone with mental health issues can work and that this is really a

benefit for people with severe physical disabilities. So will the

minister meet with me to discuss this often case or, if PIP is not

the right benefit for those with mental illness, can she explain what

is -- this awful case. What the honourable lady's told me has

happened is truly shocking. I would be incredibly surprised if somebody

manning that hotline said those things to the honourable lady. I'm

not saying I doubt her story, but I would like to see that and I would

like to know if possible the exact time that that conversation took

place because that is quite wrong. I would be happy to meet the holt. The

statistics show that if you have a mental health condition, you are

better served under this benefit, if you have PTSD, a psychological

disorder, a mental health condition or dementia, that is the case and

it's important people know that. Why did the minister not consult the

social security advisory committee where her contentions about the

impact of this benefit could have been changed, could have been

challenged? Well, the committee is within its rights to look at the

decision. It did so and concluded that it would not formally review

that decision. We have used the urgency procedure which was in our

rights to do so to establish certainty. What we would not want to

happen is for there to be a long period of uncertainty around this

and we being in a position of actually having to take money off

people. What we've done is actually restore that certainty. Everyone

knows where they are and people know that there is no change and their

awards will not be change. It was a constituent of mine whose

case led to the recent tribunal ruling. Clarifying the eligibility

criteria for PIP and the subsequent amendments to the regular laces by

the Government. She lives with multiple health problems and was

supported by Sheffield Citizens Advice, due to publish a report this

week on the wider impact on the shift from DLA to PIP and the impact

it's having particularly on the over 60s. Will she agree to meet with me

and the Citizens Advice Bureau to discuss recommendations? I would be

very happy to meet the honourable lady to do that. PIP is a better

benefit than DLA, it serves a wider range of people with a wider range

of conditions better, but there are always improvements that we can make

to the system, I would be very happy to meet with him.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. In relation to PIP, can the minister assure me

that the DWP is engaging with those with experience of mental health

conditions to ensure the programmes and frontline staff have a proper

understanding of how a mental health condition can impact on someone's

life? I can give him the assurances and in addition to the user rep

panels we are introducing in April, we have also conducted a trial from

mid-March which will take about six weeks, looking at audio recordings,

involving about 400 claimants. I think that's not just a tool to

guarantee quality, but also provide reassurance to the claimant.

Some of those who are eligible for PIP may well be those who will lose

entitlement to RAG come April 1st. Can the minister provide continued

assurance that whether it be the through the hardship fund or third

party deals, there'll be full mitigation for the losses that some

will incur from April 1st? I thank the honourable gentleman for the

question. I can give those assurances. Those financial channels

that he mentioned are open to people to apply to if they need further

support. We've also been doing some work in the department on social

tariffs and budgeting and that will be rolled out across our Jobcentre

Plus network and all of the elements of the support offer for that

particular group are already in place.

Last week, I had to deal with a constituent whose benefits had been

stopped because she had missed an appointment to be assessed for PIP.

She missed that appointment because she was an in-patient in hospital in

Aberdeen. Even after evidence of that had been exhibited to the

minister's department, they twice refused to reinstate her benefits

because they said they had done nothing procedurally wrong. Is the

minister content that that is how the system is supposed to work?

Well, the honourable gentleman will know that's not how the system is

supposed to work. If there is a reasonable reason why someone has

not attended an appointment, then that should not count against them.

I would be quite happy to look at the honourable gentleman's case but

I would state that is not what should be happening.

Mr Speaker, the number of 16-24s in work is 3.94 million, up 28,000 on

the quarter and up 225,000 on 2010. At the last count, there were 145

JSA claimants 18-24 in Kingston, yet when I go to businesses like Genuine

Solutions and Meeting Point, they tell me they have jobs, particularly

for young people. What can my honourable friend do to ensure young

people are matched up with many opportunities, businesses in my

area, and other jobs that people have available for them? Yes, Mr

Speaker, the number of young people claiming out of the work benefits

has fallen by more than half in the last four years and he's right to

highlight the large number of vacancies, over 750,000 Countrywide.

The Government will soon roll out the youth obligation, for young

people. The minister can highlight what he likes but long-term youth

unemployment in Darlington and the Tees Valley is completely stagnant

and hasn't improved at all. What will he do to ensure that in six

months' time, the picture improved? Long-term youth unemployment overall

is down 111,000 since 2010, down 30,000 on the year and we put

particular resource and particular focus on those parts of the country,

on those individual areas that need additional support and I would

encourage more people to come forward and enjoy the work

experience programme for example because the experience is one of the

most fundamental things people can do to make a regular job move. Young

autistic people have a great contribution to make to our economy

and society, yet a recent survey by the NAS reckons only 16% are in

full-time work and that is a trend that hasn't changed over the past

ten years. In this world autism awareness week, could the minister

tell us how the Government could help because I think that not only

are employers missing out on the skills and potentials of this group

of people, but also we are wasting an awful lot of talent. How can the

minister help and highlight their plight? Well, thank you Mr Speaker.

May I first acknowledge and recognise my right honourable

friend's particular expertise in this area. I met the national autism

society at the Party Conference as I know a number of colleagues did.

Some of the statistics she mentioned are very striking. From the green

paper process, I know that th Minister for Disabled People is

bringing forward a particular focus on the talents, abilities and

potential of people with autism will be one key thing.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Research just published shows the forthcoming levy

on apprenticeships will make the north south divide worse because it

will focus investment on the south-east, not where it's needed in

the north. What is the minister going to do to address that?

Mr Speaker this is a generational shift in the skills base and this is

an important part of the connection that all fans of a certain size

aspire to take part in and also the new Institute of apprenticeships to

guarantee quality and I think this will benefit the entire country.

Finch we are making progress on the independent mental health and

employers review, led by Lord Stevenson and Paul Farmer. We are

also taking forward an internal review of discrimination law in

relation to mental health and work. We continue to look at how we can

improve employment support for people with mental health conditions

and this approach is reflected in the work and health Green paper.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I recently trained as a mental health first

aid. This training helps support others to look after their own

mental health, will my right honourable friend encourage more

employers to take part in initiatives like mental health first

aid to create a culture in which everyone seems able to seek mental

health support in the workplace. I congratulate my right honourable

friend on that training and she is right, more employers should act on

this. We are now providing a range of support to help employers recruit

and retain the people with mental health conditions, these include the

disability confident campaign and the mental health support service in

the access to work scheme which I know many firms and many of those

who suffer from mental health conditions find useful. I think the

Secretary of State should beware of being so enthusiastic that he

ignores the real needs of people who cannot go to work. I had an e-mail

this morning from one of my constituents saying that her husband

had taken his life on Friday. He first came to us in 2016 when his

award was under review, despite the protests of his doctor he was made

to have a face-to-face assessment. We sought an extension of the six

month award, this was reviewed, at that point he was so stressed, he

attempted suicide. The PIP award Dashti PIP award was then reviewed

this January. Could the Secretary of State please ensure that when

doctors say that people with mental health conditions should not have

face to face assessment, they do not have face-to-face assessment is!

Well, obviously, the case that the honourable lady brings up is

dreadful and I'm sure the whole House will wish send condolences to

the family and friends of the constituent, particularly his widow.

We are of course not just investing more in mental health than ever

before, a ?11 billion this year but specifically trying, and succeeding

in improving clinical assessments. We now have more clinical expertise

available to assessors who look at the individual cases and also as you

will know those who have conditions which can only stay the same or get

worse, we've now ended the assessments, so we are taking steps

to try to minimise those effects. Thank you Mr Speaker. Ensuring that

people with mental health conditions can remain in business as well as

starting businesses is very important. What is the minister

doing to encourage employers to make that a possibility? My honourable

friend is right and some of the actions that we are taking such as

Disability Confident, which I mentioned in my previous response,

but think this needs to be part of a wider programme of education,

specifically for employers. We have set up disability confident leaders

business group because I suspect more employers will listen to other

business people than necessarily to politicians! Is the issue not to

make sure that employers have good access to occupational health

services and particularly so that preventative action can be taken if

an individual feels that they are suffering from a mental health

problem but are able to get to an occupational health service quickly

and easily to get advice. Like completely agree with the right

honourable lady. She will have seen that in the work and health Green

paper. We laid great stress on occupational health services. We

have more than doubled the number of employment advisers in talking

therapies to make sure we help people get the support that will

help them stay in work. I think this is an important job that we need to

do. Question number seven, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the roll out of

universal credit continues its roll-out to plan, around 1 million

claims have been taken and the four universal credit service for all

claimant types is available in 53 job centres. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I won't respond to the ridicule of the Minister's answer but wanted to

ask about another point in relation to universal credit which is the

interaction between benefits and universal credit and what progress

the government is making with this. My constituents say that as they get

into work and move through universal credit and lose their free school

meals and bus passes for their children, they lose the free

entitlement to a uniform, they are worse off in work than if they were

to work. -- and if they were out of work. Mr Speaker we continue to work

closely to make sure the service is a success, with partners and

stakeholders. There are questions asked about passport and benefits

and we continue to work through them. Sir Julian Brazier. Mr

Speaker, may I thank the sexually estate the coming from Canterbury to

see the successful roll-out of universal credit in Canterbury where

nearly one third of the unemployed now enjoy universal credit. It is

not only pushed the level of unemployment down, it has also

resulted in remarkably few cases coming to my surgery. Thank you Mr

Speaker come universal credit is a transformational benefit, six

benefits into one means working with one organisation and not three and

it supports people into work and makes sure that work pays, which is

that it is indeed transformational in our system. In just a few days'

time further cuts come into operation that will cut the incomes

of millions of families including families of disabled children who

could lose thousands of pounds a year and single parents full-time in

work or could lose ?200 a month. Was the intention of universal credit to

drive up poverty among children and why will it not admit that the

system is failing those it was designed to help? Mr Speaker no such

cut is about to happen in universal credit. The change moves from 65% to

62% which will eventually benefit millions of households. Mr Speaker,

mounting evidence exposes that the universal care system is beset with

failures. It simply is not working. But arrears are soaring, claimants

are waiting up to three months to have their claims processed and some

people have already lost their homes. The government needs to take

its head out of the sand. Will ministers call a halt to the full

service role whether conduct an immediate review? We will not call a

halt to the roll-out because it would be unfair and wrong to people

in Scotland or elsewhere to deprive them of the advantages that the

universal credit system brings. We continue to work on improving

processes, accelerating delivery including with regards to housing, a

number of improvements have been made and more are coming. The

equality trust report published last week illustrates just how extreme

inequality is in the UK, with the pay to limit average pay of CEO 's

at over several million pounds a year, and families on universal tax

credit will not receive support for the third and subsequent children in

a family except for the child is disabled. Yet in that instance the

money will be withdrawn from one of the other children. Will the

government it withdraw this injustice and scrap the two child

limit? Mr Speaker, the limit on support through universal credit and

tax credits to the first two children is about making a reduction

in our spent on welfare and targeting it inevitable away.

Something like 85% of families with one or two children, and where

necessary reductions have to be made, this was the correct way to do

it. She talks about rising inequality. I would mention that

inequality is down and household incomes are at a record level. Meet

again? -- me again? Mr Speaker, the department has sought to maintain

the services it offers while minimising the impact on claimants

as far as possible. These proposals may mean slightly longer or shorter

journeys for some claimants and this is taken into account when setting

this criteria. May I congratulate my honourable friend the Member for

Sheffield Healy the campaign she has run for local residents to keep open

the Eastern Avenue job centre which serves both our constituencies. Mr

Speaker, is it that the only reason for closing this is to save money

and when it closes they will be a need for extra capacity at the job

centres and will he begins the figures to show that with this extra

capacity will there be any net savings from the closure of Eastern

Avenue? Mr Speaker, I hope that I can provide the honourable gentleman

some answers. Saving money is not in itself a bad thing. It is a good

thing. And this overall programme will save ?180 million Nationwide

which means we can reinvest in front-line staff which will have the

biggest effect on helping people back into work, specifically with

regard to Sheffield, these changes improve the utilisation of the

entire estate in Sheffield from 51% to 69% by having some other business

moving, as he rightly says, into the other two sites. Mr Speaker, I

congratulate the Minister for surviving a grilling from young

ambassadors and I welcome the news that there are too young people and

employed in the first place, at 554,000 is still too high. Will the

Minister look at the report to make sure there are fewer young claimants

in the first place? Mr Speaker, I look forward to reading the report

and we know that particularly at the start of your career any day is

spent unemployed can have a lasting effect so it is especially important

that we redouble our efforts. May I suggest that he does not know how

much the closure of Eastern Avenue will save, we don't now how much

rent is spent there, we don't know how much needs to be spent to

increase capacity for the additional claimants that will have to go to

the other job centres so Minister put those figures before the House

before making his final statement to the House of Commons and Mike will

he put those figures? Mr Speaker, all the staff and services from

Eastern Avenue will be moving to West Street or bank Street and I

want to reassure her that in our projections and modelling of course

we have taken into account the particular space that will be

required for those people and for the level of workload. Moving the

job centre to the periphery of London, high Barnet, will cause a 40

minute journey to my constituents. Would the Minister agree to revisit

these proposals? Mr Speaker, we have embarked upon a programme of change,

this comes at the end of the 20 year PFI contract and there is both an

opportunity and requirement to review what we need in terms of the

estate. It is the case that London and of course particularly high, and

can be particularly challenging in the commercial market. What we have

sought to do is minimise the effects on claimants, make sure there's a

good coverage of services within reach, and outside, where the new

job centre is beyond three miles by public transport, we run a

consultation. Question ten, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, throughout the

development of these proposals we've been mindful at every turn of the

impact on staff and customers. Other statistical analysis and local

knowledge have informed the proposals which are still subject to

consultation with staff and, where appropriate, the public. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. Almost one quarter of the job centres earmarked for

closure are in London. And the Minister will know that both the

disability unemployment rate and the B M E unemployment rate is higher in

London and elsewhere. Is the reason why the Equality Impact Assessment

has been delayed as the fact that it will show a disproportionate impact

on those groups that typically need the most support to access

employment? No, Mr Speaker, we have been mindful throughout our duties

under section 149 of the equality act 2010. The quality analysis will

inform the final decision making process and is an integral part of

the thinking process throughout. What work is the minister doing for

minority groups. Mr Speaker, there are a number of very good local

projects. I don't have a list in front of me, but there's good work

that carries on. It's best to see where best practice can be

replicated. Thank you Mr Speaker. With your permission, I'll answer

questions 11 and 20 together with the same answer that I gave the

honourable gentleman from Ross Skye and Lock harbour before. The

Government's been clear on the introduction of further transition

arrangements cannot be justified. There are no plans to go beyond the

billion concession which was introduced when Parliament

considered the changes. In response to the minister's answer, will he

respond to the comments made by his Government's former Pensions

Minister, Baroness Altman who said she regretted the Government's

failure to properly communicate the state pension age equalisation, an

approach she described as a massive failure of public policy and Steve

Webb, your former Pensions Minister who said the last Government made a

bad decision on changing the state pension age. Will he look at

rectifying that? Well, in the case of the latter case, the gentleman

mentioned, Steve Webb, was Pensions Minister at the time, so I don't

think there's much further I can say about that. As far as the

communications of the changes of 1995 were concerned, there were

extensive communications, millions of people checked their state

pension requirements and it was publicised, there were leaflets

produced and I feel this has been said many times on the floor of this

House and I can reiterate them. Not for the minister to say earlier

on that that's it for the was pill women - everything's been done that

was going to be done. Has he given any consideration to one of the

recommendations that came out of the DWP Select Committee which talked

about allowing the was pill women the chance to claim their pensions

at a reduced rate early which is cost neutral and fits in other areas

where the Government have allowed pensioners to take their pensions

early to reduce rate -- WASPI. The proposal is not cost neutral, it's

impractical and impossible to do in the time concerned. I've made it

very clear that the transitional arrangements that were made at the

time of the Pensions Bill going through Parliament, are all that

will be provided. What was the minimum notice received

by those facing the maximum increase in age? There were two acts of

Parliament that the changes took place, 1995 which was the main

change, and then the Pensions Bill after that. I would like to make it

clear that after the 1995 one, 18 months was the maximum time for

change since the that Bill. The John Gridland report indicated

that could be an increase. It's right and proper for any Government

to consider increasing the state pension aid. However will my right

honourable friend reassure the House if indeed there are any changes to

the state pension age, that it will be communicated at a timely and

inappropriate manner so those affected do actually know about it?

The Government will be making a full response to the report that my right

honourable friend mentions. The review's forward looking and I must

make clear, will not make recommendations for any changes to

happen before 2028. That was a commitment in the Autumn Statement

of 2013. The minister said in terms the

Government can't afford to fund transitional arrangements. Can I

suggest he looks again with the Chancellor of the Exchequer at

spending over ?30 billion on tax relief for pension contributions for

which there is no evidence it encourages savings on pensions.

Well, there's a lot happening in pensions at the moment. The answer

to his question is, the point that he mentions from the Chancellor of

the Exchequer is something completely different. But there'll

be no change to the transitional arrangements that were billion.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Labour will oppose the earlier increase from the

state pension age at the end of the triple lock as recommended in the

report. We also welcome the statement from John Cridland that

there should be at least ten years' notice given of any age increase, so

yet another chance for the minister this afternoon, does the Government

agree with Cridland and if so, will the minister now admit that they got

it badly wrong with the WASPI women and back Labour's proposals at least

for the pensions Tax Credit? As I said before, Mr Speaker, the

Government will be responding to the Cridland Review by the end of May.

With permission Mr Speaker, I'll answer questions 12, 18 and 23

together. Every Government department is preparing for a

smooth, orderly exit from the European Union, we are confident

we'll be able to secure a deal that works in the mutual interests of

both the UK and the rest of the EU. We are considering various policy

options. 472,000 people who've retired to the

EU currently get automatic annual increases in state pension. It's

unclear whether this Government could strike a deal after the

departure for the EU if it manages to do so. Can the minister guarantee

the elderly EU ex-pats will not join the 550,000 retirees whose payments

no longer increase under the triple lock? The Prime Minister's been

clear, she wants to protect the rights of British citizens currently

living in European member states in the same way that we want to protect

the status of EU nationals already living here. This will clearly be

one of the important matters for negotiations in the months ahead.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Does the Secretary of State agree with me

that his Government have form in failing to protect workers' rights.

How can we trust his department to guarantee work else' rights after

Article 50 is triggered? I'm glad the honourable gentleman's

brought that to the attention of the House. The Government has pledged to

maintain workers' rights during the course of the negotiations and I'm

glad that he gives me the chance to remind the House that the greatest

right is the right to a job. Employment is at its highest level

ever in this country. Reports over the weekend suggest the UK

Government intends EU migrants currently living here are able to

retain access to benefits, those who arrive after Article 50 is triggered

will be denied that access. Does the Secretary of State agree this is

dependent on the will of the EU member states and his Government

can't guarantee any of the rights as it presses ahead dragging us into

the unknown without any credible plan? I'm sure the honourable lady

lady will know that nobody from this despatch box will comment on

speculative leaks and she'll know that of course we are about to enter

a negotiation and we are confident that we'll get a good result for the

people of Britain and that's what we'll be doing.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The evaluation of the previous cap

speaks for itself. Capped households were 41% more likely to move into

work than similar uncapped households contributing to the

record levels of employment we see today. Over 26,000 households who'd

previously been capped are now in work since 2013.

Can my right honourable friend give me some examples of how the benefit

cap is working in my own constituency in Northampton?

I thank manufacture for that question. In Northampton South, 110

thousands holds have been capped since April 2013, of those, 90 are

no longer caps, of these around 48%, 40 households, have moved into work.

In Northampton South, they are outperforming the national average.

Topical questions. Number one, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of the House to the more

generous Universal Credit coming into effect on 10th April. This dem

strays our commitment to helping people gain independence over their

own lives by getting on and progressing in work. The new paper

rate of 63% will boost the incomes of three million families by ?700

million a year, a couple with two children benefits by as much as ?425

a year. When combined with the introduction of the national living

wage and increases in the personal tax allowance, the changes equate to

the biggest pay rise for the lowest earners in a generation. Newcastle's

paid a high price for being the first city to go full service

Universal Credit with claims routinely lost, delayed and

repeatedly deleted. But it's the sixth week wait period which is

doing the most to drive so many into destitution and losing their home.

80% of Newcastle's council house tenants on Universal Credit are now

in rent arrears. Will the minister end Thwaite period or explain how

you are supposed to keep a roof over your head with no money?

Two points for the honourable lady. The National Association of Almos

say under the legacy benefit, 75% of tenants by calculations are in

arrears, so she's not suggesting this has happened... This is what

has been happening for a very long time. The idea that Universal Credit

causes housing arrears is just nonsense. The second point is, she

will know there is a trail finder arrangement which she'll know that

my don't is working with Newcastle City Council on, precisely to

address the problems that may be here now, that have been there for

many, many years. I warmly welcome the latest fall in

unemployment, particularly the 52% reduction since 2010 in my

constituency, that is Cornwall. Will my right honourable friend please

endorse the work of Motivate South West which supports young people

into employment and training and continue to do all he can to help

those industrial struggling to find employment?

Well, Mr Speaker, I do welcome the news from my right honourable

friend's constituency which has seen such a strong fall in unemployment

and I acknowledge the key roll played by third sector

organisations. We continue to work with those programmes, work

academies, the new youth obligation and the roll-out of course of

Universal Credit. We heard earlier, Mr Speaker, about

the cuts in PIP support to people with mental health conditions

brought in ten days ago in which the Government estimate will affect

160,000 people. This time next week, half a million sick or disabled

people who've been found not fit for work and placed in the work related

activity group will start to see a cut in support of 1500 a year. Given

that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as

non-disabled people and the recent analysis which shows a significant

increase in this, how does the Secretary of State justify these

cumulative cuts to disabled people? Well, the first answer is that, when

she talks about cuts to 160,000 people, she is of course wrong.

Nobody is receiving a cut from the original award they were given by

the DWP. On the ESA changes she mentions, she says how do I justify

it. Disabled people and people with health conditions deserve better

than the current system where only one in 100 RAG claimants leave ESA

benefit each month. I hope the honourable gentleman who is cheering

from a sedentary position agrees that we need to change the system

that. Is why we are proposing a huge number of different types of help

including financial help, advice help, across-the-board which will

help them into work. Thank you Mr Speaker. Some of my constituents

have raised concerns about changes to their PIP payments. Will the

minister assure me that claimants will not see any reduction in their

PIP payments and that changes are to ensure help is targeted to those

most in need. I can give the honourable lady those reassurances.

There is no change to award amounts. The budget or the policy. This

benefit is not about a particular condition, it's about how that

condition impacts on your life. It's the social definition of disability

and I can assure her constituents it will continue to be the case.

Last week the Scottish Government wrote to the Government to voice

concerns about Universal Credits pushing more people into hardship

and debt. The SNP asked for a complete and immediate halt to the

roll-out of Universal Credit which is having an appalling impact on

people across my constituency and is having a further knock-on to council

resortses. When will the minister realise the changes are punishing

some of the most vulnerable in society -- resources. There are

warnings from the Scottish Government and others across

Scotland to stop this process now. Mr Speaker, universe Al credit is a

massive reform. I know of no other country where there is a comparable

system that stays with people when they are out of work to go into

work. Are there challenges, yes, but the transformational benefits in

sight are immense. Can I put it to the honourable

member for east Hampshire that whilst no MP wants a DWP office

closure, nevertheless there may be significant advantages to the King's

Lynn DWP office to collocate with a Borough Council where the Synergies

are there for for example Housing Benefit. CCG, DWP and others.

We are embarking on a number of colocations, which can be good for

claimants and the taxpayer. More services claimants need to access

because they're in one place and making good use of public estate.

My constituent has obtained a court order obtaining custody to his two

scans, yet has denied tax credits because a letter had been sent to

his former wife and she had not responded, during this time tax

credits were paid to her and it took four months and my intervention to

make sure he received the tax credits that he and his sons were

entitled to, will Minister review this process to ensure there is no

longer happens, so few people do not have to depend on food banks and the

kindness of relatives. The honourable lady will of course note

that these cases for within the remit of the Treasury. I see what

the Secretary of State was hinting, no doubt an answer will be finished

in due course. As the team seen the news today about the one hour per

month zero contract with Santander back. Could they guarantee that in

no circumstances will the job ever be advertised like that in a job

centre in this country? Mr Speaker I can't comment on an individual case

but we know that something less than 3% of people report that they rely

on zero hours contract. One of those people on average they get 25 hours

a week and they have above average levels of job satisfaction. Zero our

contracts are not for everyone that they do work for some people. 17% of

the working age population suffers from the disability. With Labour

shortage and issue in my constituency I am committed to

signing up 30 employees to be disability confident organisations.

Given that I am meeting my chamber of commerce this week with the

minister have a message for those members? I thank the gentleman for

signing up to be a member of this challenge. As many members

cross-party have done. If every member of this House to the

challenge we'd sign up enough employers to reach a quarter of the

working population of the UK. And I thank him for his leadership in that

and wish him well on his visit to the chamber. Mr Speaker the

Secretary of State earlier talked about workers' rights. Surely

workers' rights should also include the right to some certainty? Will he

talked to his fellow ministers and the Home Office about the fact that

many officers in this country who are European nationals and have

lived here figures and have children who are British are told they must

have comprehensive health insurance to stay here? The honourable

gentleman has made his point forcefully. I am in constant

discussion with colleagues in the Home Office about a wide range of

issues involving the Labour market. Thank you, Mr Speaker, what steps is

my right honourable friend taking to help more women in other parts of

the country return to employment for example like my constituents? Mr

Speaker we have female employment at a near record rate and we've seen

the gender pay gap come-down that there's more to do. One of the key

thing is happening this year is of course the extension of childcare

with 30 hours and tax-free child killers well. Thank you, Mr Speaker,

it was signed last year that of all women over 3024% have saved nothing

for retirement compared to 15% of men. What does the Secretary of

State Phil is responsible for this and what is he doing to challenge

it? This has been designed specifically to help those

underrepresented in pension schemes especially women and with the

current rate, in 2017-2018 70% of the people coming into the new

system is winning. People surveyed by epilepsy action saw the benefit

removed and reduced. Our ministers confident that decision-makers

properly understand the fluctuating sporadic and life limiting condition

of epilepsy to make the right decisions? We are aware of that, one

of the reasons why we increased the clinical support available to

assessors, they are all on hand in the assessment centres, something we

have brought in recently. Has the Secretary of State watched an appeal

hearing from PIP applicants? I have been receiving information and

representation from a number of constituencies feel intimidated by

the process. What steps are being taken to make sure that the people

involved in this process are dealt with with respect and dignity and

the compassion which they deserve? I thank the honourable lady for her

comments, we take this seriously, we haven't got it right earlier in the

process. I have mentioned some of the things that we are doing to

build that trust, confidence and support but we are also introducing

a video relay service this may as well at will particularly help those

who are deaf and hard of hearing. There are a number of small changes

like that and we can make to make sure we get a good result earlier in

the process. My 20-year-old constituent injured in the line of

duty in 2010 was awarded the pension reserved for the most severely

injured. He is due to lose his notability vehicle, a decision

upheld on reconsideration. Is this the type of person that the

government wishes to leave house band? Two things in response to

that. Firstly, the particular issues around our Armed Forces are

something that we have been particularly considering in the

green paper, which gives opportunities not just for ESA but

also PIP. And we are looking to passport information concerning

medical history into our benefit system. I would be happy to look at

the honourable lady's case with regards to notability. Melanie on.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. One private landlord came to see me with his

tenant with concerns about future eviction rate if there is no option

and universal credit friend to be paid directly to landlords in

future? -- no option under universal credit for rent to be paid directly?

This option exists when necessary and we are streamlining the process

of doing that. We do think the general principle is right, people

should know their housing liabilities and pay their rent when

they are out of work and in work. I am reminded that new unemployed

claimants get a lower rate of benefit starting in about ten days.

Some of those people will find themselves in difficulties, do

ministers have new proposals for help? We do, in addition to the

support of all the elements of which are in place, we have been doing a

number of things in the department, one of which is a big piece of work

looking at social tariffs and enabling people to have the right

tools and information to reduce household outgoings and give them

budgeting support. Mr Speaker coming in November last year my motion

calling upon the government to at least pause ESA until green paper

proposals were brought in was unanimously carried by the House. It

was the last parliamentary week before the cuts happen before so can

she confirmed that the mitigations she promised will be set before this

House for scrutiny? They are already in place. I think this is a

misunderstanding that the honourable gentleman card. The elements

outlined in the Green paper will not speculative, there were not things

we would consult on, they were things we were going to do. And all

those elements including all of the recruitment for all community

partners around the country are in place now. Thank you, Mr Speaker,

turning back to travel times, given that different results have been

presented by Google maps which has been shown to be inaccurate as some

bus services are no longer in operation, can the Minister say

which tests have been brought in to check the accuracy of the

information and if there is a possibility of the rooms being

breached, is there going to be further public consultation. Mr

Speaker, the honourable gentleman and I and number of colleagues had

several opportunities to debate these matters with opportunities to

go to individual locations one by one. We used a variety of sources in

order to determine travel times and reasonableness of travel, and the

ministerial criteria say that if some places within three miles, or

20 minutes by public transport is reasonable, we can ask someone to

make that Jenny, otherwise there will be a consultation. Tracey

Braeburn. Thank you, Mr Speaker, a constituent of mine lost a job on

Christmas eve. She's denied universal credit because she is aged

over 60 and is denied jobseeker's allowance because her husband has a

small private pension. The life of this couple has been thrown into

financial turmoil. With the Minister agree that it is time the government

paid some compensation to this constituent as she has paid in all

her life? Mr Speaker, jobseeker's allowance should be available to

people of working age. I will have to look at the details of this case

if she will be in contact with me. Urgent question, Rebecca Long

Bailey. Thank you Mr Speaker. I want to ask the Secretary of State for

business, energy and industrial strategy if he will make a statement

on the nuclear decommissioning authority's early contract

terminations on one estate. The Secretary of State for business

energy and industrial strategy, Secretary Doctor Greg Clark. This

morning I informed the House that the nuclear decommissioning

authority had terminated its contracts, a tender process resulted

in 40 new contract being awarded in September 2014. A joint-venture

between one British firm. Work began on September one, 2014 and then they

started