:00:00. > :00:18.order, order! I beg to move that Mr Speaker to issue his warrant to the
:00:19. > :00:21.clerk of the ground to make out a new rate for the electing of a
:00:22. > :00:28.member to serve in this present Parliament for the borough
:00:29. > :00:36.constituency of old West and Loyden in the move of the right honourable
:00:37. > :00:40.Michael Hulme each are deceased. The question is that I do issue my
:00:41. > :00:44.warrant to the clerk of the crown to make out a new rent for the electing
:00:45. > :00:48.of a member to serve in the present Parliament for the constituency of
:00:49. > :00:57.Golden West and right and in the room of the right honourable Michael
:00:58. > :01:06.Q Meijer, deceased. I think the eyes have it.
:01:07. > :01:15.Questions to be Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mr John Mann.
:01:16. > :01:19.Question number one Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the department itself does
:01:20. > :01:24.not give advice regulated for national advice can only be given
:01:25. > :01:28.high and financial conduct authority authorised advisor. Pension wise,
:01:29. > :01:34.set up by the government, offers free impartial governance to people
:01:35. > :01:38.aged over 50 with defined contribution pensions. So far over
:01:39. > :01:44.20,000 people have received a guidance appointment since April
:01:45. > :01:50.2015. One 2000, Mr Speaker is a drop in the ocean considering the
:01:51. > :01:57.enormity of of the changes. How is the government going to ensure that
:01:58. > :02:03.pensioners are getting good sound advice and quantify that they are in
:02:04. > :02:05.order they do not get ripped off by people advising them badly and
:02:06. > :02:12.therefore losing out in future years. May I bring the honourable
:02:13. > :02:16.gentleman into the 21st Century by saying that as far as the pension
:02:17. > :02:22.wise website is concerned, there have been over 1.5 million visits to
:02:23. > :02:26.that. We are confident that we will continue to make sure the public are
:02:27. > :02:29.aware of what pension wise have to say and people can access the
:02:30. > :02:34.website or have face to face telephone or online interviews.
:02:35. > :02:38.There has a growing number of inquiries from women in their early
:02:39. > :02:44.60s who seem to be unaware of the changes to the retirement age. I am
:02:45. > :02:48.worried that these ladies have not been contacted by the relevant
:02:49. > :02:51.department and seem to be unaware that their retirement date is going
:02:52. > :02:55.to be rather later than they have imagined. What can be done to help
:02:56. > :03:00.them? My honourable friend raises a very good point. Can I put on the
:03:01. > :03:05.record the facts and circumstances business bigger between April 2009
:03:06. > :03:11.and March 2011. The department mailed all women born between April
:03:12. > :03:16.1950 in April 1953 informing them of their state pension age under the
:03:17. > :03:20.1995 pensions act. Following the 2011 changes the department road to
:03:21. > :03:24.all individuals directly affected to inform them of the change to their
:03:25. > :03:30.state pension age. Many of these individuals do to reach this age
:03:31. > :03:38.were completed between January 20 12th and November 2013. Thank you
:03:39. > :03:42.very much Mr Speaker. Ministers opposite will be aware of the recent
:03:43. > :03:48.DWP select committee report which contains stark warnings of pension
:03:49. > :03:52.scams since the advent of pensions freedom. The risk of people being
:03:53. > :03:56.conned out of their life savings as well. I am sure the ministers
:03:57. > :04:03.opposite wall so be aware of the recent survey showing one 7/55,
:04:04. > :04:06.around 1 million people, have been targeted by pensions gams since
:04:07. > :04:12.April when the pensions freedoms were introduced. Cammy Minister
:04:13. > :04:16.reassure the House the takes of the DWP report and finding of the survey
:04:17. > :04:21.very seriously and I would like to know what the government intends to
:04:22. > :04:24.do to tax people from fraudsters. Can I answer the honourable
:04:25. > :04:30.gentleman that we do take this issue very seriously. That is why we set
:04:31. > :04:34.up pension wise and we also, let you put it absolutely clear, there is no
:04:35. > :04:37.complacency on the side as far as scams are concerned. We are in the
:04:38. > :04:41.process of making sure the public are aware of when to detect this
:04:42. > :04:46.damn, how to deal with it and also how to report it. To regulators are
:04:47. > :04:50.also working with us and indeed in pension wise you will find that the
:04:51. > :04:58.website and the guider is to advise people how to deal with scams. Mr
:04:59. > :05:02.Speaker I was about to ask the same question. I will take the
:05:03. > :05:06.opportunity to say that I do think the large amount of my constituents
:05:07. > :05:10.affected by scam over the Internet and it is a matter of very great
:05:11. > :05:15.concern. I am delighted by the fact that the government is taking steps
:05:16. > :05:28.to deal with it. I have also had cause to... Mr Speaker I referred to
:05:29. > :05:32.my previous answer. As one of the best places to retire in the UK, we
:05:33. > :05:38.welcome the freedoms being created but need to be redacted from scams.
:05:39. > :05:40.What steps is the Minister taking to make sure pensioners can access
:05:41. > :05:46.advice they need before making crucial decisions about their
:05:47. > :05:52.future? Pension wise is there to give him partial and free advise and
:05:53. > :05:55.when necessary they will direct people towards professional advisor.
:05:56. > :06:00.As far as professional advisors are concerned, the money advice service
:06:01. > :06:04.has on its books a directory which has some 2300 firms throughout the
:06:05. > :06:06.country and near Scotland where there are a directory which has some
:06:07. > :06:11.2300 firms throughout the country and near Scotland where there think
:06:12. > :06:20.that we are trying to make sure the public tap hopper accessed whenever
:06:21. > :06:24.advice is required. With permission Mr Speaker I would answer this
:06:25. > :06:28.question with questions seven and 13. There are many factors affecting
:06:29. > :06:33.the new individuals mental health to SX effective isolation of all other
:06:34. > :06:36.factors would be misleading and there are a number of checks built
:06:37. > :06:42.into the system to support those with mental health concerned. As it
:06:43. > :06:49.happens number 13 I think has been withdrawn anyway. There we go. They
:06:50. > :06:53.give very much Mr Speaker. I think that is disappointing and we all on
:06:54. > :06:57.the site at the chamber are concerned about the terrible damage
:06:58. > :06:59.of ideological cuts being made to this government are doing to the
:07:00. > :07:02.most probable on our society. The last two weeks of prime minister
:07:03. > :07:05.questions, my right on our society. The last two weeks of prime minister
:07:06. > :07:07.questions, my right, friend asked the prime minister about suicides
:07:08. > :07:11.following on from benefit reductions. Will the Minister
:07:12. > :07:18.published the details of these investigations? The department
:07:19. > :07:21.carries out from views to identify whether any lessons can be learned
:07:22. > :07:23.but I should emphasise Mr Speaker that the information the
:07:24. > :07:28.Commissioner has considered this very issue and upheld the
:07:29. > :07:31.department's decision not to publish these because of the level of
:07:32. > :07:38.personal information and Saint and it will be unlawful to unleash this
:07:39. > :07:43.information. In 2014, the Scottish Association for mental health which
:07:44. > :07:47.is common's leading mental health charity published research which
:07:48. > :07:50.found that 98% of their service users said their mental health had
:07:51. > :07:55.deteriorated as a direct result of welfare reform. Further research
:07:56. > :08:01.this year by the same charity in the facility running in my constituency
:08:02. > :08:04.at red talk wild card and confirmed that benefit sanctions have been
:08:05. > :08:08.detrimental to the mental health of service users there. What steps will
:08:09. > :08:11.her government take to address the adverse effects of benefit sanctions
:08:12. > :08:18.on those with mental health problems? First of all let me start
:08:19. > :08:22.by saying that sanctions play an important part in the labour market
:08:23. > :08:26.and encourage people and support them to go back to work.
:08:27. > :08:33.Specifically with regards to support for events with mental conditions,
:08:34. > :08:36.our staff, are trained to support individuals with conditions during
:08:37. > :08:48.their job search and they also have access to more expert advice should
:08:49. > :08:50.it be needed. As a minister of... Impacting their well-being and
:08:51. > :08:54.mental-health but it is also having a devastating impact on the families
:08:55. > :08:58.involved with a recent survey highlighting that children are
:08:59. > :09:02.indirectly punished by thing since. In light of the alarming findings
:09:03. > :09:10.will be Minister reassessed these on the family and family test. At me
:09:11. > :09:14.say to the honourable gentleman that our sanctions system is robust and
:09:15. > :09:18.there is clear evidence that it does work and he specifically mentioned
:09:19. > :09:20.support for the family. Let me say to the honourable gentleman that it
:09:21. > :09:23.is this government that is supporting the family throwing light
:09:24. > :09:29.chance is measured and importantly ensuring the work pays which is
:09:30. > :09:34.exactly how families get out of poverty and the life chances of
:09:35. > :09:40.children's and families improve. Could the Minister confirmed that
:09:41. > :09:43.the number of cases that result in sanctions is falling and doesn't
:09:44. > :09:48.that show that job centre staff are working with claimant to help them
:09:49. > :09:53.with their search for employment and most employee do actually want to
:09:54. > :09:56.work -- most not employed. I think the noble lady for a question
:09:57. > :10:01.because she is right as we have seen to as a sanctions have decreased by
:10:02. > :10:04.over 40% over the last year but also importantly this is about begun to
:10:05. > :10:09.pull of the sanctions system. It actually helps and supports
:10:10. > :10:14.individual job seekers to comply with the reasonable requirements
:10:15. > :10:18.discussed with them with their work coaches and developed and agreed to
:10:19. > :10:22.help them move and prepared to work. People with mental health problems
:10:23. > :10:27.to have particular barriers to get them back into the labour market and
:10:28. > :10:32.reductive work. With the Minister agree with me that the government
:10:33. > :10:36.should be as taking all steps to make sure that people with mental
:10:37. > :10:38.health problems are not things and unnecessarily and that we should
:10:39. > :10:42.show flexibility around making sure that they get back into the labour
:10:43. > :10:46.market? My honourable friend raises some very fundamental point here
:10:47. > :10:50.which is of course as I have stated Mr Speaker, our staff are trained to
:10:51. > :10:55.support claimants of mental health conditions during their job search,
:10:56. > :10:58.but importantly to provide more expert advice and support should
:10:59. > :11:02.they need it. I come back to my earlier point as well that claimants
:11:03. > :11:06.are asked to meet reasonable requirements taken into account
:11:07. > :11:11.their circumstances, their capability and of course their
:11:12. > :11:16.mental health conditions as well. I welcome recent decision by the
:11:17. > :11:20.department to trial a process of the yellow card system for 14 days in
:11:21. > :11:24.various places for those being sanctioned. I also welcome the
:11:25. > :11:28.decision to have advisors at several food banks to trial whether that
:11:29. > :11:32.will also help some of the benefits transition problems that have been
:11:33. > :11:34.noticed. With my right on both rent face when she expect there'll be
:11:35. > :11:42.enough evidence for the department to share with us the outcomes of
:11:43. > :11:46.those trial trials? Is right these trials are important and they are
:11:47. > :11:49.bringing together more support and advice for individual claimants.
:11:50. > :11:52.With regards to when we can expect to see more information and details
:11:53. > :11:57.of the style I will look forward early in the new year. But I also
:11:58. > :12:02.think the government for their acceptance of the Britain report
:12:03. > :12:07.calling for a yellow card system. Before the government is able to
:12:08. > :12:10.report to the House on the impact of a good warning system to people that
:12:11. > :12:14.maybe sanctions are coming down the road that they will need to begin
:12:15. > :12:18.the trials. Is there any chance of the Minister today telling as when
:12:19. > :12:26.the trials will begin and when they will be completed as white? I thank
:12:27. > :12:29.the honourable determined for his question and we are working out
:12:30. > :12:32.details now and I would be happy to discuss further details as to when
:12:33. > :12:41.we'll be rolling them out with him quite shortly. Mr Speaker, the
:12:42. > :12:44.so-called yellow card pilot scheme is actually an omission by the
:12:45. > :12:47.government that the thing since regime is not working at the present
:12:48. > :12:50.time and is particularly badly failing people with serious mental
:12:51. > :12:53.illnesses. Why is the government waiting until next year to bring out
:12:54. > :12:56.those pilot schemes and in the meantime will be pleased to stop
:12:57. > :13:00.thinking people were seriously ill as white what I would say to the
:13:01. > :13:05.honourable Lady is that I would respectfully disagree with her. On
:13:06. > :13:10.the point she is making. Payments are only asked to make reasonable
:13:11. > :13:13.requirements taken into account the Li account their circumstances and I
:13:14. > :13:18.think she will find with the pilots as they are under way that this is
:13:19. > :13:21.about how we can integrate support for claimants and importantly
:13:22. > :13:28.provide them with the support and guidance to help them get back to
:13:29. > :13:32.work. I was not listening to the response but the reality is people
:13:33. > :13:34.with mental problems are being disproportionately sanctioned and
:13:35. > :13:38.that has been evident for some time now. Why won't the government listen
:13:39. > :13:42.to voices across the House including the working pensions direct
:13:43. > :13:48.committee and subject the things is moving to full independent review? I
:13:49. > :13:51.have made just a few points to the honourable Lady. For a start the
:13:52. > :13:55.government has been listening and we have responded to the work and
:13:56. > :13:58.pensions select committee hence the reasons why we will be travelling
:13:59. > :14:03.and highlighting the new scheme. I reiterate my comment earlier on that
:14:04. > :14:05.our staff are trained to support claimant of mental health conditions
:14:06. > :14:09.and there is no evidence to suggest that mental health claimant are
:14:10. > :14:14.being sanctioned more than anybody else. We provide support for our job
:14:15. > :14:21.centres on our claimants are only asked to make reasonable
:14:22. > :14:25.requirements. Mr Speaker the Minister may have inadvertently
:14:26. > :14:31.slipped up there. There is clear evidence from last year that 58% of
:14:32. > :14:34.people with mental health conditions on the implement support allowance
:14:35. > :14:39.work-related activity group were sanctioned. Obviously that is over
:14:40. > :14:46.half and that is equivalent to people. 83% in a mind survey said
:14:47. > :14:51.they had worse or health conditions because of the. The government's on
:14:52. > :14:54.evaluations and not only shows how ineffective this is with 8% of
:14:55. > :15:02.people with mental health conditions getting into sustained work, but on
:15:03. > :15:04.top of that it also shows that punitive sanctions regime introduced
:15:05. > :15:11.by this government does not work. Why will the government not omit to
:15:12. > :15:21.undertaking an independent review on sanctions? Clearly, I think the
:15:22. > :15:24.Labour Party have not changed their policies on sanctions which of
:15:25. > :15:27.course is one they used to support. What I would say to the honourable
:15:28. > :15:31.ladies that these things and system is kept under constant review while
:15:32. > :15:34.travelling new early warning system recommended by the work and pensions
:15:35. > :15:37.select committee and I would have thought she would welcome that. I
:15:38. > :15:42.would also make the point as well that sanctions play in in the part
:15:43. > :15:46.in the labour market system I supporting people to get into work
:15:47. > :15:52.and in particular with people with health conditions, ESA sanctions was
:15:53. > :15:57.a system put into place by the Labour government which is the party
:15:58. > :16:00.opposite conveniently have forgotten about as well. We are very clear
:16:01. > :16:05.with the sanctioned system it is clear it is fair and this is
:16:06. > :16:12.effective and the most positive of behaviours to help women get back
:16:13. > :16:17.into work. With permission Mr Speaker I would like to answer
:16:18. > :16:20.questions three and 18 together. Since the graduate introduction of
:16:21. > :16:24.automatic enrollment began in 2012, participation and break placed
:16:25. > :16:30.pension saving in the private sector has increased to 21 percentage
:16:31. > :16:39.points from 42%, or 5.9 million workers in 2012 to 63% or 9.2
:16:40. > :16:43.million workers in 2014. And were able to my horrible friend for that
:16:44. > :16:48.answer. Will you join with me in congratulating BNC Ibe people's
:16:49. > :16:53.pension based in my constituency for so accurately rolling out this
:16:54. > :17:01.important provision for workers across the country. I am very happy
:17:02. > :17:05.to congratulate the people's pension for the work that they do. It is
:17:06. > :17:08.important that the well out of automatic enrollment receives as
:17:09. > :17:13.much support as possible so that people can make choices that are
:17:14. > :17:16.right for them. Mr Speaker, may I also commend my honourable friend
:17:17. > :17:21.for the excellent work he does which was so evident when I visited his
:17:22. > :17:28.constituency. Thank you Mr Speaker. On the fourth of the summer... Does
:17:29. > :17:31.my right honourable friend agree that small businesses need to advise
:17:32. > :17:38.their employees about the pension changes and what steps and efforts
:17:39. > :17:41.are his department doing to ensure this? Mr Speaker I congratulate my
:17:42. > :17:47.honourable friend for her efforts in helping to spread the message, the
:17:48. > :17:50.important message about this ground-breaking reform. I agree with
:17:51. > :17:54.her that small businesses need to advise the police of the changes and
:17:55. > :17:58.that is why the government has launched a new national
:17:59. > :18:03.communications campaign were small employers as well as individuals.
:18:04. > :18:10.Would it not be much more sensible, financially securing for pensioners
:18:11. > :18:13.to establish a compulsory state convention scampered all with
:18:14. > :18:20.benefits in place of the government's support and enrollment
:18:21. > :18:23.team? The point is it is important that we get people in the country to
:18:24. > :18:27.recognise that they need to think about the future. What we are doing
:18:28. > :18:31.with the auto enrollment programme is that there are 10 million
:18:32. > :18:35.eligible people who will qualify and amongst that 9 million will be
:18:36. > :18:40.people who will be saving more or saving for the first time. I am
:18:41. > :18:47.happy to say, Mr Speaker, that among those 10 million three to 4 million
:18:48. > :18:50.are women. Leon these benches are very happy to support what the
:18:51. > :18:54.government is doing with auto enrollment. We begin to work people
:18:55. > :18:57.save for the longer time. Cannot point out that last week Oesterle
:18:58. > :19:00.announced they will be stepping out with what they're doing the pensions
:19:01. > :19:04.freedom on White of experience where a large number of over 70 have run
:19:05. > :19:11.out of quiet. With the government reconsider it should be giving
:19:12. > :19:14.guidance adventures should be looking to save for retirement? We
:19:15. > :19:19.are giving guidance as much as we are able to do so pension wise is
:19:20. > :19:23.there and I mentioned the Money advice service that has the advisory
:19:24. > :19:27.burns there. We also have the Internet and where people want
:19:28. > :19:36.further advised they will be guided to that advice by pension wise. With
:19:37. > :19:40.permission Mr Speaker I will answer questions for with question six and
:19:41. > :19:44.14. As the honourable members will be aware the administration of
:19:45. > :19:47.temporary accommodation is a matter for local authorities, but now they
:19:48. > :19:50.will agree with me that the best idea is the board people in
:19:51. > :19:54.employment and I am proud we have achieved an employment rate of
:19:55. > :20:01.73.6%, the highest since records began in 1971. Official figures
:20:02. > :20:04.showed that in England the total number of homeless household and
:20:05. > :20:09.temporary accommodation has risen by an alarming 26% over the last five
:20:10. > :20:14.years. And might only go area has risen by 55% in the last 18 months.
:20:15. > :20:17.The Minister will know that being in place of temporary accommodation is
:20:18. > :20:22.not only contacting for families but incredibly costly. Can I ask, as is
:20:23. > :20:26.Apartment is a key driver in this inquest, a policy they have
:20:27. > :20:33.undertaken undertaken, what's he doing to come with an urgent
:20:34. > :20:39.solution to this problem? Today's numbers are 66,890 which is still
:20:40. > :20:44.the all-time high from September 2000 450% higher than today. The
:20:45. > :20:50.average time that household spent in temporary accommodations is seven
:20:51. > :20:53.last then 2010. Working with the theology we are putting measures to
:20:54. > :21:02.build more houses and we expect over this permits a further 200 thousand,
:21:03. > :21:05.the fastest rate in 20 years. Discretionary housing payments were
:21:06. > :21:08.intended to mitigate some of the effects of welfare cuts, housing and
:21:09. > :21:12.benefit caps and also to prevent homelessness, yet in my local
:21:13. > :21:18.authority hath of expenditure at the moment is now growing on households
:21:19. > :21:21.already homeless and already in temporary accommodation. Could the
:21:22. > :21:26.Minister tell us what proportion of expenditure nationally is going on
:21:27. > :21:29.paying for existing temporary accommodations and whether he thinks
:21:30. > :21:34.that it's actually the point of discretionary housing payments?
:21:35. > :21:37.We're making available 800 million over this Parliament and the
:21:38. > :21:41.discretionary housing payments which is an increase of 40%. The key is it
:21:42. > :21:46.is discretionary for East local authority. In addition recognising
:21:47. > :21:53.additional cost within London, ?60 per household is provided for week
:21:54. > :21:55.to that local authority. Homeless charity and Rochdale have told me
:21:56. > :21:59.there has been a significant increase in the amount of people
:22:00. > :22:03.requiring temporary accommodation. Figures show it has nearly doubled
:22:04. > :22:09.over the last five years of this government. They blame result of
:22:10. > :22:12.this on the ESA claim is being wrongly declared fit for work. What
:22:13. > :22:18.is the government going to do about the situation? The key is providing
:22:19. > :22:22.more houses. We have seen a further 800,000 new homes built since 2009.
:22:23. > :22:26.How starts are at the highest level since 2007, a further 275,000
:22:27. > :22:31.affordable houses will be bit delete at during this moment and we're
:22:32. > :22:39.hoping for additional incentives to build further numbers of affordable
:22:40. > :22:45.housing. Infield is significantly impacted by child poverty, but does
:22:46. > :22:48.the Minister agreed me that family breakdown is a key factor that does
:22:49. > :22:54.need to be taken account of when assessing and tackling the root of
:22:55. > :22:59.child poverty? I think that My Noble friend for that very powerful point.
:23:00. > :23:07.One of the key measures of recognising what that can make. The
:23:08. > :23:09.question to ask in relation to those living in February accommodation and
:23:10. > :23:13.more broadly does the Minister agreed me that it is not just family
:23:14. > :23:16.breakdown which is important but also work with households that must
:23:17. > :23:24.be tackled to get to the root causes of poverty was? That is why we
:23:25. > :23:29.rightly celebrate the 2 million private-sector jobs created since we
:23:30. > :23:32.came into office. We will continue to deliver a stronger economy which
:23:33. > :23:39.will create jobs which is the best route out of poverty. The Tory
:23:40. > :23:42.Liberal Democrat government tried to cut housing benefit nine times and
:23:43. > :23:46.since maybe you're trying again. All that this has achieved is a massive
:23:47. > :23:50.increase in the number of homeless families in temporary accommodation.
:23:51. > :23:54.The largest housing benefit do we have ever seen and huge
:23:55. > :23:57.discretionary housing payments being given to local authority. I'm sure
:23:58. > :24:00.it has occurred to the Minister that the answer is to build real more
:24:01. > :24:04.about the Leigh affordable housing. Would you like to have a word with
:24:05. > :24:08.the department who are promoting the housing bill and ask them to bullet
:24:09. > :24:14.because all it is going to do is result in the sell-off of more and
:24:15. > :24:17.more affordable social housing? The policy is a deal we secured with
:24:18. > :24:22.housing associations to give tenant the right to buy and the phones will
:24:23. > :24:25.be sold once that creates more modern stock. It also creates
:24:26. > :24:29.additional jobs. People work hard should not be blocked from a chance
:24:30. > :24:38.to own their own home, something I very much support. Tackling youth
:24:39. > :24:41.unemployment is a priority for this government and we're determined that
:24:42. > :24:44.young people should not slip into a life on benefits which is why our
:24:45. > :24:47.department provides a broad range of support for young people in addition
:24:48. > :24:54.to the standard job centre offering. I am grateful from that
:24:55. > :24:58.answer having experienced periods of unemployment myself in my youth I am
:24:59. > :25:03.barely aware of how hard it can be on individuals. Does my honourable
:25:04. > :25:08.friend welcome the fact that you youth unemployment has fallen by 49%
:25:09. > :25:11.and it does not prove that the economic plan is delivering jobs and
:25:12. > :25:17.apprenticeships needed to get job security for young people? By all
:25:18. > :25:21.the friend is absolutely right. It is down to the fact that the current
:25:22. > :25:25.plan is working, the economy is growing but also we should recognise
:25:26. > :25:29.that young people need tailored support for them in terms of
:25:30. > :25:32.securing employment opportunities. Advisor time in our job centres,
:25:33. > :25:36.work experience placements, work programme helped to work the
:25:37. > :25:42.animation form, these are all measures we have to help young
:25:43. > :25:45.people get employment. The tax credit system has undoubtedly played
:25:46. > :25:50.a major role in encouraging people to take up employment by making work
:25:51. > :25:53.pay and a massive contribution to the appointment figures that
:25:54. > :25:56.ministers frequently cite. Are the government aware that if they follow
:25:57. > :25:59.through on a tax credit cuts there will be a huge effective tax rate
:26:00. > :26:04.for somebody of perhaps as high as 92% having a massive disincentive of
:26:05. > :26:08.people who do want to work. I would say to the horrible gentleman he is
:26:09. > :26:12.wrong. With the changes we have been bringing to the welfare system and
:26:13. > :26:15.the tax system we are ensuring that work pays and the honourable
:26:16. > :26:19.gentleman will be fully aware that as of April next year will be an
:26:20. > :26:24.introduction of a new national living wage which will be a pay
:26:25. > :26:28.boost for people with low pay, but supplemented by that of course will
:26:29. > :26:31.be supportively child care measures, all the incentives that would
:26:32. > :26:36.support them with pure incentives to support them into work. The
:26:37. > :26:39.honourable lady said give us the evidence. Where is the evidence and
:26:40. > :26:48.the facts she and he lead her team are providing? Mr Speaker, I say to
:26:49. > :26:52.the horrible lady if she has data to prove her case and she is welcome to
:26:53. > :26:56.share that with me. We know for a fact that the government no that
:26:57. > :27:01.more people will be better off in the new national living wage with
:27:02. > :27:06.free child care, but also for the fact that it will paid to be in work
:27:07. > :27:07.rather than being dependent on welfare which is exactly the
:27:08. > :27:16.policies of the party opposite. Will my right honourable friend join
:27:17. > :27:25.me in thanking the national friendship service, staff rich
:27:26. > :27:29.University cool I'll be joining me for in the apprenticeship some...
:27:30. > :27:36.Siimar. That is helping to create new career opportunities for people
:27:37. > :27:39.seeking work. My honourable friend is absolutely right, the spares and
:27:40. > :27:43.engagements with employers are absolutely the right way forward
:27:44. > :27:49.when it comes forward to encouraging young people, not just to train up
:27:50. > :27:51.and get skills but secure new look opportunities through
:27:52. > :27:56.apprenticeships. I commend her for the work she's doing and wish her
:27:57. > :27:59.with that. A minister seems to forgotten that young people under
:28:00. > :28:03.the age of 25 not only are they losing their tax credits, but the
:28:04. > :28:09.are also not getting the higher minimum wage when that increases
:28:10. > :28:13.next year. Is to say that the tax credit cut means that the Tories are
:28:14. > :28:21.not the party of workers. For young people are too people that is double
:28:22. > :28:27.the case. Let me remind him that the last government introduced a new
:28:28. > :28:31.rate. I should also emphasise that when it comes to supporting young
:28:32. > :28:35.people, this is a government that focuses on developing the skills and
:28:36. > :28:40.working experience of our young people. Something his party
:28:41. > :28:47.completely neglected when they were in government.
:28:48. > :28:58.Mr Speaker, since the start of last year we have been taking action to
:28:59. > :29:01.asked for a range of ways stopping this will ensure we have a welfare
:29:02. > :29:06.system that is not taking advantage of. It is also fair for those paying
:29:07. > :29:16.into it. Changes made by my department estimated to say half ?1
:29:17. > :29:21.billion will be saved. Will he agree that it will be easier and more
:29:22. > :29:29.efficient, if we treated EU citizens all the same, by only allowing EU
:29:30. > :29:35.citizens into this country. Ending the free movement will make his life
:29:36. > :29:44.much easier. He started so well Mr Speaker. LAUGHTER
:29:45. > :29:48.I will rather avoid the idea to take myself even further. I would say to
:29:49. > :29:54.him who is being much more polite, I say to him under universal credit is
:29:55. > :29:59.worth reminding him that no one who was unemployed and not a British
:30:00. > :30:06.students and not a British citizen will be able to deceive universal
:30:07. > :30:12.credit at all. I commend him for all of the efforts he has made a. And he
:30:13. > :30:16.keeps European citizens within the framework of the law. We agree that
:30:17. > :30:25.the only way the country will get complete control as by leaving the
:30:26. > :30:30.European Union? Can I say my honourable friend that the Prime
:30:31. > :30:35.Minister has given the country a referendum on that matter. Which is
:30:36. > :30:40.a huge step forward, for the honourable gentleman opposite in
:30:41. > :30:42.everyone forward. I suggest that the moment when he votes he will be able
:30:43. > :30:58.to make that decision. Mr Speaker, work, is the best route
:30:59. > :31:00.out of poverty which is why we are focused on getting people into
:31:01. > :31:03.employment. We have made significant progress and have made significant
:31:04. > :31:08.progress rate on record. With over 2 million people in work since 2010,
:31:09. > :31:22.the number of people in poverty is 200,000 lower than its peak under
:31:23. > :31:28.Labour and 2008 and 2009. I do not think...
:31:29. > :31:35.Analysis suggest that eight point for million working households
:31:36. > :31:47.currently eligible for benefits and tax credits in the tax cuts will
:31:48. > :31:52.only offset it by 20%. What is the Secretary of State going to do about
:31:53. > :31:58.that? Let me thank the honourable member on a couple of points. The
:31:59. > :32:03.number of people and working families and not in poverty is up by
:32:04. > :32:09.around 1.7 million compared to 2009-2010. The latest figures show
:32:10. > :32:16.that the number of people and work have peaked. The ... I will remind
:32:17. > :32:22.him that in a recent interview the director did say this about tax
:32:23. > :32:25.credits. He said "that the Chancellor has taken the decisions
:32:26. > :32:26.to protect some of the poorest people at the same time, which is
:32:27. > :32:52.where we are. Close Mac clerk. These are his ideas of realistic
:32:53. > :32:56.cost. To the Secretary of State tell us why he and his government
:32:57. > :33:10.continue to describe their new rate, the minimum rate for the over
:33:11. > :33:16.20 57 7.20 as the new wage. I made the decision earlier, and everyone
:33:17. > :33:22.that works subcontracted as well. The Chancellor came forward they
:33:23. > :33:28.buried generous ideas. You will be raising the national wage to ?9 by
:33:29. > :33:32.2020, that is a huge increase. I would like to say to him throughout
:33:33. > :33:37.the whole time of the 13 years of the last Labour government, maybe
:33:38. > :33:50.gives only why they never engaged in raising it? Mr Speaker we introduced
:33:51. > :33:55.the minimum wage, I welcome the fact that he talks about the London
:33:56. > :34:00.living wage. Continuing to describe the national living wage as that,
:34:01. > :34:06.undermines both the campaign and the concept for a rail living wage that
:34:07. > :34:10.people can genuinely a Ford to live on. Can I put it to him that the
:34:11. > :34:15.under 25, as we have already heard when I benefit from this. Is the
:34:16. > :34:18.reason for that, as the Business Minister has told us that young
:34:19. > :34:25.people are viewed as his government as unproductive and therefore worth
:34:26. > :34:28.less money? I forgot myself. I did not welcome the honourable gentleman
:34:29. > :34:33.to this place and I welcome him without reservation. I am sure will
:34:34. > :34:40.have other increases. That is not what he said at a time of the second
:34:41. > :34:53.meeting. He now says he's opposed to it, but never mind. The road to
:34:54. > :34:58.Damascus may have a new Route. It is this government that has increased
:34:59. > :35:05.the living wage, the living wage by ?9 to 2020, universal and credit
:35:06. > :35:11.support childcare. To the lowest paid and poorest that will be best
:35:12. > :35:18.report too detected by what we are proposing -- best protected.
:35:19. > :35:27.Mr Speaker, the benefit cap is having long-term and positive affect
:35:28. > :35:31.on those who are trying to find work. Over 60,000 households have
:35:32. > :35:36.been capped since April 20 13th, as of May 2015 over 40,000 households
:35:37. > :35:38.were no longer subject to the benefit cap. Of those 16,300
:35:39. > :38:59.households have moved into work. As the Secretary of State, has he
:39:00. > :39:02.read the report on poverty and social exclusion within Wells. It
:39:03. > :39:07.points out that working families and young people in Wales are at greater
:39:08. > :39:12.risk of poverty now than a decade ago. 45% hold part-time jobs that
:39:13. > :39:18.classified as low pay and the number of part-time, self-employed families
:39:19. > :39:22.living in poverty increased by 100,000 in the last decade. They
:39:23. > :39:28.say, that changes to the welfare bill are going to be damaging for
:39:29. > :39:35.families in Wales. Does he acknowledged that? I know they were
:39:36. > :39:39.the report. There are things they said in the past that show that what
:39:40. > :39:45.we have been doing, as I said the number of families that have risen
:39:46. > :39:48.out of poverty directly of our changes is quite dramatic. Asset be
:39:49. > :39:55.the horrible lady, she knows that Wells had a difficult time during
:39:56. > :39:56.the recession. What we are seeing now is unemployment falling
:39:57. > :40:02.dramatically indwells. Employment rising. The best way to get people
:40:03. > :40:05.out of poverty is to get them in to work and eventually grew into
:40:06. > :40:12.full-time work. That is happening right now.
:40:13. > :40:17.The government recognises the need to protect the most honourable and
:40:18. > :40:22.society including pensioners, those with disabilities and their carers.
:40:23. > :40:26.It has been introduced to the care act and since 2010, the allows for
:40:27. > :40:47.carers have increased to 62 point than a week. -- 62.10. ... Those
:40:48. > :40:51.working or going to be headed by these proposed tax rate cuts, the
:40:52. > :40:55.numbers we do not know exactly, but is a lot of the group. Most carers
:40:56. > :40:59.are going to increase their working hours because they have a big tool
:41:00. > :41:06.bar promotes. They deserve to be exempt from the governments tax
:41:07. > :41:10.credit cut. What are they doing now for this group of carers to be
:41:11. > :41:13.protected from those cuts? The Chancellor said he will set out in
:41:14. > :41:19.the Autumn Statement will he will do to address the concerns from some.
:41:20. > :41:26.From a high welfare, lower welfare economy. As we stand today, we have
:41:27. > :41:30.?2 billion in supporting the work that they do. That is a record
:41:31. > :41:34.amount. On this Thursday we had the inter ministerial meeting to look at
:41:35. > :41:42.further ways to get support carers and I will be actively participating
:41:43. > :41:45.in that meeting. Long-term unemployment has continued to fall
:41:46. > :41:52.and is down by well over a quarter of a million since 2010, falling to
:41:53. > :41:55.its lowest levels in over six years. May I apply the governments
:41:56. > :41:59.current work in reducing the number of people in long-term
:42:00. > :42:02.unemployment? It is really impressive. Can I particularly
:42:03. > :42:08.welcome the commitment to heart... Having the disability employment
:42:09. > :42:14.gap. Does the Minister realise however, that only 50% -- 15% of
:42:15. > :42:18.autistic adults are in full-time paid employment. Can we ask her what
:42:19. > :42:22.progress she is going to make towards addressing this gap in this
:42:23. > :42:30.specific his ability unemployment and to provide autistic people with
:42:31. > :42:34.the opportunities they deserve? The honourable Lady is absolutely right.
:42:35. > :42:39.There is more to do in this space. So far we have over 200,000 more
:42:40. > :42:44.people in disabilities than this time last year. We will build upon
:42:45. > :42:49.that and in regards to autistic adults, continue to secure
:42:50. > :42:54.opportunities for them so that they can get a job and remain in
:42:55. > :43:01.employment. Is my honourable friend that be dramatic fall in love on a
:43:02. > :43:05.climate in South and West... Is 49%. Will she reassured me that the
:43:06. > :43:09.government will continue to pursue the economic policies that has made
:43:10. > :43:12.this happen so that we reach the happy decision where there is a job
:43:13. > :43:18.available for everyone who wishes to work? My honourable friend is
:43:19. > :43:21.absolutely right in terms of the record levels of employment in his
:43:22. > :43:32.own constituencies. May I say just across assets as well -- as six. We
:43:33. > :43:35.can never be complacent. It is encouraging to see a long-term
:43:36. > :43:49.economic plan, more people in private section employment. Mr
:43:50. > :43:57.Speaker the index raises because his ranks countries on a number of Ings.
:43:58. > :43:59.The UK is rising nine places in the economic index. The latest evidence
:44:00. > :44:04.shows the positive impact of our reforms. As today's report shows how
:44:05. > :44:09.to fix our welfare and economic reforms. More people have the
:44:10. > :44:13.opportunity to then affect and have the sense of purpose that comes with
:44:14. > :44:22.having a job. I have been noted by a number of my constituents... They
:44:23. > :44:31.told me that while they are waiting for it, you can be a matter of
:44:32. > :44:39.months. I wonder if the Minister can tell us what steps he can take to
:44:40. > :44:44.ensure that those retain what they get. We are working closely with
:44:45. > :44:49.notability to put in place a package for those who lose their as two
:44:50. > :44:56.eligibility. They'll be able to keep their cars for at least two months.
:44:57. > :45:02.In addition we have affirmed the DWP appeals process with the
:45:03. > :45:09.introduction of the reconsideration. This allows disputes to be addressed
:45:10. > :45:13.more quickly. I'll be happy to work with my honourable friend further to
:45:14. > :45:25.see what progress can be made. Thank you very much. Giving the... 20 of
:45:26. > :45:28.his own MPs said that the government was in danger of cutting a lifeline
:45:29. > :45:34.to working families. Business that the various state now regret
:45:35. > :45:37.describing tax credit as a bribe? Can I just say to the horrible lady
:45:38. > :45:45.that she should remember exactly how the money was spent -- honourable.
:45:46. > :45:47.And she looks back she will find that the 2005 general election be
:45:48. > :45:53.Chancellor raises pending on tax credits by 71%. After that they stay
:45:54. > :46:00.pretty flat and before 2010 election, suddenly he raised them by
:46:01. > :46:11.23%. I said to the horrible lady if she does the math she may wonder why
:46:12. > :46:17.they lost the election. Will the introduction of universal credits,
:46:18. > :46:20.with all the associated data that entails, enable the government and
:46:21. > :46:25.the department to actually help young people, people in low income
:46:26. > :46:31.stuck find new opportunities to progress their opportunities and
:46:32. > :46:35.find higher paid jobs? The key change, what is different now, some
:46:36. > :46:38.jobseeker's allowance gets a job and they disappear and no one sees them.
:46:39. > :46:42.Under universal credits they will stay with the work advisor and the
:46:43. > :46:47.advisor will help them with any subsidiary training, help them to
:46:48. > :46:50.find extra hours and help them to sort out problems and work. Does a
:46:51. > :46:57.remarkable change gives us the opportunity to help people progress
:46:58. > :47:04.and work. The Office of National Statistics says nearly one in lob
:47:05. > :47:11.jobs pay less than the railway to. It has been increased to 8.25 an
:47:12. > :47:17.hour. Will he congratulate them on the work and I love what he will do
:47:18. > :47:24.to make sure that more people are paid they're really living wage? The
:47:25. > :47:28.government is clear that it is to our welfare policies we are ensuring
:47:29. > :47:33.that work pays. At the heard music earlier on, we are choosing a
:47:34. > :47:34.national living wage next April... And that people in the country are
:47:35. > :47:42.given a pay rise. Will he inform the House what action
:47:43. > :47:49.his department is taken to support small businesses and one third which
:47:50. > :47:53.seeks to provide support and training to adults so they can
:47:54. > :47:57.develop skills for successful employment -- Romford. I know in my
:47:58. > :47:59.honourable friend constituents and more businesses are flourishing and
:48:00. > :48:09.expanding at a very impressive rate. In regards to the specialist
:48:10. > :48:14.courses available. Back cover ITC, many of the construction courses, in
:48:15. > :48:19.particular we are working with the business is to ensure that the local
:48:20. > :48:23.market is growing in the right way and are getting access to the skills
:48:24. > :48:30.they need. Mr Speaker. On in four workers earning less than the living
:48:31. > :48:34.wage, 82% of children in hurting ten are being brought up in families
:48:35. > :48:39.dependent on tax credits. Does the Secretary of State accept this is
:48:40. > :48:44.the worst possible time to cut tax credits and that those families
:48:45. > :48:48.would not be compensated by his phony living wage. Will he join with
:48:49. > :48:54.me in welcoming the initiative taken today by Labour, Birmingham City
:48:55. > :49:03.Council to declare we are determined in the city, no one earns less than
:49:04. > :49:06.the gorilla living wage -- rail. Despite all the other arguments,
:49:07. > :49:11.they have 13 years in power. They left the national living wage fall
:49:12. > :49:14.words and further behind than ever before. At his eyes who has
:49:15. > :49:20.increased the minimum wage and it is us who now proposes the living wage
:49:21. > :49:26.of ?9 by the end of this Parliament. I do welcome his commitment to
:49:27. > :49:30.introducing a yellow card system. Is the Minister agree that we need to
:49:31. > :49:36.ensure payments -- claimants are placed in the right group in the
:49:37. > :49:40.first place. Will he reaffirm the commitment to improvement of health
:49:41. > :49:45.training for decision-makers and assessors? I think my honourable
:49:46. > :49:49.friend for this question. This is a very important one. The government
:49:50. > :49:56.rightly invested an extra 1.2 million pounds stopping we rode out
:49:57. > :50:01.?40 million to provide face-to-face and telephone support. We have
:50:02. > :50:07.mental health and well-being partnership managers and advisers.
:50:08. > :50:14.We will continue to push further training. This is an important
:50:15. > :50:19.issue. The last Parliament, the number of working families increased
:50:20. > :50:30.by 84%. Over the last three years, leading counsel -- leading counsel
:50:31. > :50:35.is only able to replace one in seven. Does he see the connection in
:50:36. > :50:39.those figures. What he felt to her mind is is that under the last
:50:40. > :50:42.government those claiming housing benefits out of work rose to
:50:43. > :50:45.magically and in word rose to magically. Under this government
:50:46. > :50:55.those claiming housing benefits out of work has fallen dramatically. I
:50:56. > :50:58.welcome your reforms to welfare widgets help 609 people in my
:50:59. > :51:04.constituency back into work since 2010. Moving from benefits into
:51:05. > :51:12.working cause difficulty. Therefore additionally I I welcome... What
:51:13. > :51:17.progress are remaking to make sure we speed of benefit claims to make
:51:18. > :51:21.sure this situation does not occur? Can I say to my honourable friend,
:51:22. > :51:26.what we want to do is ensure that anyone who does go to the location
:51:27. > :51:30.like a food bank has the ability to check to see if there is a problem.
:51:31. > :51:35.There is let's do with it there. We also advertise, that they can give
:51:36. > :51:40.benefit advances and hardship loans there as well. Now, we are beginning
:51:41. > :51:45.to find is that when they go to the food banks they are helping them get
:51:46. > :51:53.back into work as well, and added bonus. In terms of the
:51:54. > :51:56.administration of the benefits regime, yesterday the news have
:51:57. > :52:02.reported new figures which show that nearly 300,000 cases benefit
:52:03. > :52:05.claimants have been penalised the sanctions without being officially
:52:06. > :52:18.notified. This visit estimated 20,000 cases in Scotland. Will he
:52:19. > :52:25.give an independent review of this poorly administered system? I will
:52:26. > :52:31.say to the honourable lady that back in 2001, the last Labour that went
:52:32. > :52:35.decided to move to a clerical. She asked the question, she does not
:52:36. > :52:38.want to answer that is fine. They moved to a clerical system, we
:52:39. > :52:42.reviewed that over the last year and decided that under the changes we
:52:43. > :52:45.want, going back to an automatic system is much better. It turns out,
:52:46. > :52:49.under the recent release of statistics that went out last week,
:52:50. > :52:54.it shows that those who did not receive the initial letter uphill
:52:55. > :52:59.the higher rate than those who did receive the initial letter. We will
:53:00. > :53:08.be ready to people that they still have rights to appeal if they wish.
:53:09. > :53:11.A substantial benefit of the issues with tax credits is by encouraging
:53:12. > :53:17.more companies to pay the national living wage, ?9 now. What
:53:18. > :53:20.conversations has my routable friend had with the Chancellor for
:53:21. > :53:31.incentives that can be provided for kind, companies for providing ?9 in
:53:32. > :53:37.their have. Companies with believing the economy is well run will enforce
:53:38. > :53:40.that. The problem was that the last Labour government set up a system
:53:41. > :53:45.that encouraged companies to pay low wages and leave them. The changes
:53:46. > :53:50.now, Universal credit making them move on, higher salaries, a better
:53:51. > :53:58.wage packet in many companies are ready paying the higher level. I
:53:59. > :54:02.like to meet with the Minster to talk about the children with the
:54:03. > :54:06.indices were having to re-apply for DLA. We were disappointed that we
:54:07. > :54:12.were told we were not going to get a full response. Can he ensure that
:54:13. > :54:19.they get a full response about how they will take the recommendations
:54:20. > :54:22.forward? I am disappointed to hear that is the case. I will absolutely
:54:23. > :54:27.make sure that a full response is that. I was grateful from the
:54:28. > :54:30.support from the honourable member, taking the time to proactively help
:54:31. > :54:39.support the changes we needed to make. Does the Minister show my view
:54:40. > :54:42.that a huge part of tackling youth unemployment is showing that they
:54:43. > :54:51.need education system work readies. What is been done to help achieve
:54:52. > :54:55.that. In her constituency and she's doing a great deal to support it but
:54:56. > :55:09.only to get into but develop long-term careers. According to the
:55:10. > :55:15.Department of working figures, what is the Secretary of State going to
:55:16. > :55:21.do to reverse that trend. We are making sure there are individuals on
:55:22. > :55:23.stability as well. People look at the statements and with the
:55:24. > :55:27.contributions they are making it to think I had. Also encouraging
:55:28. > :55:31.companies to be proactive in making sure the people who work for them
:55:32. > :55:38.take part in the auto enrollment process to make sure they are
:55:39. > :55:41.protected. Building a broad skill set is crucial. Is the department
:55:42. > :55:46.actively voting schemes such as the national citizen service provides a
:55:47. > :55:51.unique opportunity to do just that? I think the honourable friend. We
:55:52. > :55:53.have Artie had a cross department meeting to look at how we can
:55:54. > :55:57.further promote the national citizens and. It is one of the
:55:58. > :56:07.proudest thing I have an MP that introduced. It transforms children
:56:08. > :56:16.into young gully into brilliant adults. The. Can you tell what
:56:17. > :56:20.discussions he has had in relations to the people who received
:56:21. > :56:24.contaminated blood and contracted HIV and hepatitis C. In terms of
:56:25. > :56:28.supporting them onto the new disability benefits without further
:56:29. > :56:35.assessments, which has cost so much concern to those affected? .
:56:36. > :56:41.Wade will the government commission that all benefit claims and should
:56:42. > :56:45.be online by the end of this Parliament, but the Minister update
:56:46. > :56:47.the House as to what discussions he has had with Internet service
:56:48. > :56:53.providers to ensure those with low incomes can't get online? Can I say
:56:54. > :56:57.to my honourable friend that the ambition is to get as many as we
:56:58. > :57:00.can, those who there are some who and will be some who cannot. Under
:57:01. > :57:04.universal credit we are very paid to ensure that they if necessary can
:57:05. > :57:09.continue to make paper submissions and will be treated inside the job
:57:10. > :57:11.centre. As many as we can will. We have been talking constantly to be
:57:12. > :57:15.providers all the way through about how best to do this including
:57:16. > :57:21.security as well. Or clarification, is the Secretary of State least that
:57:22. > :57:25.as a result of sustained parliamentary and public pressure,
:57:26. > :57:30.the Chancellor has been forced to reconsider the proposals on tax
:57:31. > :57:37.credits? Is that a matter which fits with his approval? Everything the
:57:38. > :57:44.Chancellor proposes meets with my approval. The Minister, the member
:57:45. > :57:50.for Northwest and brochures that earlier that letters were sent to
:57:51. > :57:56.all women born in the 1950s to inform them of the state pension
:57:57. > :57:59.age. I have to say many disagree with him. I have constituents that
:58:00. > :58:04.were not informed of these changes and discovered they were not going
:58:05. > :58:07.to retire soon and had many years until retirement. Will ministers be
:58:08. > :58:10.looking again at this issue and reconsider whether that group of
:58:11. > :58:17.women affected have transitional protection? I'm surprised he or was
:58:18. > :58:19.she says but I am happy to look into it further because the information I
:58:20. > :58:26.have is that there was communication with those people. I'm happy to
:58:27. > :58:33.correspond with the lady. A point of order. Mr Speaker I note on the
:58:34. > :58:38.order paper today we have the first instance of certification from you.
:58:39. > :58:44.I also note that on the notes to the bill, it states specifically on page
:58:45. > :58:49.60 that half of 108-110 relate to Scotland. Last in your certification
:58:50. > :58:56.as it correlates to England only. Can I request clarification of this
:58:57. > :59:00.apparent anomaly? Whatever is stated in the notes, and I commend the
:59:01. > :59:01.honourable