:00:09. > :00:18.Order, order! Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and
:00:19. > :00:22.Pensions. Number one. Thank you Mr Speaker and with your permission I
:00:23. > :00:27.would like to answer questions one, two, seven, 11 and 15 together.
:00:28. > :00:34.Working age benefits are available for those not yet sure beach
:00:35. > :00:38.statement eight. 81% of those affected would see a delay of one
:00:39. > :00:42.year or last and for the rest the delay would be no more than 18
:00:43. > :00:50.months. There are no plans for further transitional arrangements.
:00:51. > :00:55.It is with ten and 14 rather than a 11 and 15, probably the result of
:00:56. > :01:03.withdrawals of his officials rather than he, they did not take notes.
:01:04. > :01:09.And 20 05, the commission say that the policy of significant notice of
:01:10. > :01:13.any increase, of at least 15 years to be possible, to mitigate the
:01:14. > :01:17.impact of sex changes I would argue the start of the 15 year process
:01:18. > :01:23.should be the the beginning of the changes in 2010. That would mean
:01:24. > :01:28.that we are effectively going to have a retirement age of 63 for
:01:29. > :01:35.women of April this year and his department will therefore begin
:01:36. > :01:43.smoothing that the increase of 63 and 66 22025. The equalization
:01:44. > :01:46.measures of 2011 were introduced in the matter with expert guided to
:01:47. > :01:52.ensure that we covered for the fact that there had to be a sustainable
:01:53. > :01:55.pensions budget. Also it is important to remember that people
:01:56. > :02:00.are living longer and would have to take that into account and that is
:02:01. > :02:06.why we have to accelerate the issue. Thank you Mr Speaker the Minister
:02:07. > :02:10.speaks often of equality when his department's policies have a
:02:11. > :02:19.disproportionate impact of so many women in this country. Women born in
:02:20. > :02:25.the 19 1950s will lose out under the single tier pension rules, should
:02:26. > :02:29.the government not act now to opt as having a qualifying year if by
:02:30. > :02:32.including the income of 200 or more jobs that that person's earnings are
:02:33. > :02:40.equal to the earnings factor for that year? May I just remind
:02:41. > :02:46.Honorable Lady of the record issues that we have achieved for female
:02:47. > :02:52.employers. Employees. We now have record of female employment at the
:02:53. > :02:55.rate of 69 Qiang 1%, there are 1 million more women and works as 2010
:02:56. > :03:00.and a number of older women and work is that a record high level over
:03:01. > :03:06.100,000 more older women and worked in was the case last year. The
:03:07. > :03:12.people she refers to are all benefiting from measures I have just
:03:13. > :03:17.sad. Thank you Mr Speaker and I hope the Minister will answer my
:03:18. > :03:22.questions as he ignored my colleague. Would heap apologise
:03:23. > :03:27.formally the utter shambles that his department has made of communicating
:03:28. > :03:33.the changes and for the and accurate communication of branches the Mike
:03:34. > :03:37.pensions. We learned over the weekend of the governing day when
:03:38. > :03:43.A's still showing the women's pension age as 60. How does he
:03:44. > :03:47.expect the public to have confidence in the ability since they have
:03:48. > :03:56.failed so spectacularly Ely in communicating. The issue he refers
:03:57. > :04:00.to is isolated and should be regarded as such. The matter has
:04:01. > :04:05.been corrected and it is about time that he took on board all the other
:04:06. > :04:10.arguments that have been raging about this particular issue rather
:04:11. > :04:17.than one solitary individual mistake on a website that has been
:04:18. > :04:22.corrected. Following these issues sums of money that we were talking
:04:23. > :04:26.about when I was here in 1995 when we first announce these changes but
:04:27. > :04:30.what my Honorable friend consider whether the government has taken
:04:31. > :04:34.appropriate action in communicating these significant changes to women
:04:35. > :04:39.so that they can make preparation for their retirement? And has been
:04:40. > :04:43.clearly advertised on the website? May I just say to the honourable
:04:44. > :04:49.gentleman that the initial changes were made in 1995 and until 2010,
:04:50. > :04:53.when the Coalition government into place, there were at least ten
:04:54. > :04:58.Labour pensions ministers. In one case he came back twice and amino
:04:59. > :05:03.effort in terms of communication I want to put it on the record that as
:05:04. > :05:06.far as the pensions act of 2011 is concerned, over 5 million people
:05:07. > :05:11.were written to, women who would have been affected with the
:05:12. > :05:14.addresses we had from HMRC. And information is available on the
:05:15. > :05:20.government website for those who want to seek more information. Thank
:05:21. > :05:24.you Mr Speaker. Many of the who we are talking about are caring for
:05:25. > :05:29.elderly parents or grandchildren. Many have been working since they
:05:30. > :05:34.were 15 years old and very few of them have significant pension
:05:35. > :05:38.saving. Will the Minister give these women some help and look at
:05:39. > :05:45.transitional arrangements. So that they can drop pension credit early
:05:46. > :05:51.to help into this time. A concession was made in 2011 and at sacred
:05:52. > :05:55.reading, the secretary of state said he would go away and think about
:05:56. > :06:00.matters and he did and made a concession worth ?1.1 billion and
:06:01. > :06:05.ensure that the two-year extension was reduced to 18 months. In the
:06:06. > :06:13.case of 18 months, 81% of women affected will have to work no more
:06:14. > :06:18.than 12 months. Thank you Mr Speaker. Over two points 6 million
:06:19. > :06:24.woman will be hit by this change. More than 5000 in the Minister's own
:06:25. > :06:30.constituency. Mr Speaker, the least they deserve is the fax to allow an
:06:31. > :06:35.honest debate. We also know the government considered ?3 billion
:06:36. > :06:39.worth of transitional protection but only allocated 1 billion as the
:06:40. > :06:45.Minister outlined earlier. In a spirit of the open honesty debate,
:06:46. > :06:48.will the Minister and now released details all options of transitional
:06:49. > :06:54.protection to the government as the government has considered? Grabs the
:06:55. > :06:57.apology should come from the honourable lady that there is no
:06:58. > :07:02.element of communication when her people were in power for 13 years.
:07:03. > :07:07.And let us not forget, precisely the honourable lady says 1995 and if she
:07:08. > :07:11.recalled within two years it was a Labour government and they were
:07:12. > :07:14.around for 13 years and as I said earlier on, ten pensions ministers
:07:15. > :07:19.and there was no element. As far as the transitional arrangement is
:07:20. > :07:22.concerned I responded to the lady earlier on when I responded that the
:07:23. > :07:27.concession was made and it was worth over ?1 billion in the time period
:07:28. > :07:34.was reduced. I'm not sure it really helps these ladies, some of whom
:07:35. > :07:40.are... For both front benches to trade in. He the fact is that
:07:41. > :07:44.everybody except there should be equalization. A widow came to see me
:07:45. > :07:50.and she has worked hard all her life and she has no occupational pension,
:07:51. > :07:55.she was going to lose up to ?55,000 and I deserve real blow for her, she
:07:56. > :07:59.has very little saving. Is there way that we could look for more
:08:00. > :08:05.transitional concessions to help some of these this advantage ladies?
:08:06. > :08:09.My Honorable friend is absolutely right that we need to discuss this
:08:10. > :08:13.in a measured way. But that means we need to look at things in a broad
:08:14. > :08:18.context. There are a whole lot of other benefits that are available to
:08:19. > :08:22.the women who may be affected. Jobseeker's allowance, implement and
:08:23. > :08:27.support allowance, carers allowance, personal independence payments him
:08:28. > :08:32.and let us not forget that there is a triple lock. There is the simple
:08:33. > :08:35.by new State Pension coming in April, pension freedom which allows
:08:36. > :08:40.those who have a penchant able to have some flexibility, and cold
:08:41. > :08:44.weather payments, there is a permanent increase there. Over 12
:08:45. > :08:48.million pensioners benefited from that last year and as far as being
:08:49. > :08:51.mullah employment is concerned, I mentioned a number of benefits that
:08:52. > :08:55.we brought in for them. So it is important Mr Speaker that we look at
:08:56. > :08:59.things in a broad context rather than simply looking at people in a
:09:00. > :09:04.narrow confines that people prefer to debate in this chamber at the
:09:05. > :09:08.moment. The Minister excluding from his answer any matter which might in
:09:09. > :09:14.any way or at anytime to any degree be judged to be material. We are
:09:15. > :09:18.grateful them. The Minister talks about life expectancy but he is not
:09:19. > :09:27.giving us up the full picture because life expectancy for women
:09:28. > :09:31.fell in 2013 and female life expectancy in my constituency is
:09:32. > :09:37.only 72 and healthy life expectancy is only 54. Can the Minister tell me
:09:38. > :09:41.why shouldn't 1950s born women carry the burden of the equalization of
:09:42. > :09:46.the state pension age when working till 66 will clearly be so difficult
:09:47. > :09:55.for them? They need transitional arrangements. The general trend for
:09:56. > :09:58.longevity is increasing. And as far as women are concerned, the new
:09:59. > :10:05.State Pension will ensure that 650,000 women will be receiving more
:10:06. > :10:10.excerpt or week and a live longer and over the longer run they will be
:10:11. > :10:16.able to benefit a lot more. While I appreciate the motions are Hal --
:10:17. > :10:20.while I appreciate the emotions are high on both sides of the House. The
:10:21. > :10:24.Labour government did nothing to address this issue especially
:10:25. > :10:29.knowing that they knew women were living a longer age. Will he agree
:10:30. > :10:34.with me a triple lock, single rate flat rate pension will be better in
:10:35. > :10:38.a long-running? It would be most fair and it will be worth
:10:39. > :10:41.remembering that while we have such passionate comments coming up with
:10:42. > :10:47.oral questions in the various debates we have on this issue, but
:10:48. > :10:51.not one party, the SNP or the Labour Party but this measure in their
:10:52. > :10:58.manifesto because that would cost just to reinstate the 1911 measure
:10:59. > :11:05.-- 2011 measures, simply to reverse those would cost over ?30 billion.
:11:06. > :11:08.And countless more billions if we went back to reversing 1995. It was
:11:09. > :11:26.not in either manifesto and that is where they should be mine. He --
:11:27. > :11:32.mine. He -- mindful. Over half a million in the past year and by two
:11:33. > :11:38.points 7 million since 2010. Thank you Mr Speaker, the secretary of
:11:39. > :11:43.state join me in welcoming the unemployment rate has fallen by 48%
:11:44. > :11:48.since 2010. Would you further agree that the roll-out of universal
:11:49. > :11:51.credit that came to me on the 25th of January is a part of our wealth
:11:52. > :11:57.were reformed to make sure everybody can benefit from work. I say to my
:11:58. > :12:00.Honorable friend that it provides important incentives people need to
:12:01. > :12:07.get back into work. Evidence shows the least few weeks ago, universal
:12:08. > :12:13.claimants would spend longer time in appointment and it will earn more
:12:14. > :12:25.then in the jobseeker's allowance. Universal credit has been ruled out
:12:26. > :12:28.across the whole County of Kent. Used Bell long-term unemployment is
:12:29. > :12:31.down by over a third, but does my right honourable friend agree with
:12:32. > :12:38.me that we cannot be complacent and there is important community
:12:39. > :12:44.initiatives such as into, back to, install. That takes local small
:12:45. > :12:50.business to help even more young people and an implied back into
:12:51. > :12:54.work? I commend to my Honorable friend for working with those
:12:55. > :12:57.organizations and he is looking with me about that in the past and we
:12:58. > :13:03.have had a huge amount of progress take place in this area as worth
:13:04. > :13:07.noting. What we were doing with reforms and organizations like his,
:13:08. > :13:12.that used the claimant has been the lowest level since the mid-19 70s
:13:13. > :13:16.and doesn't unemployment are down. Most important lead those who are
:13:17. > :13:19.not in full-time education, the unemployment rate for them as
:13:20. > :13:27.5-point a present which is pretty near the lowest it has ever been. We
:13:28. > :13:34.will continue on, but this is good evidence of welfare reform working.
:13:35. > :13:39.2011, the Secretary of State did a press release that said the
:13:40. > :13:45.universal credit is progressing well with 30% of the new technology
:13:46. > :13:53.required to deliver it now complete. Will the Secretary of State state
:13:54. > :14:00.what is now the portion of IT that is completed? It will nearly be
:14:01. > :14:03.complete and it will be complete in the roll-out nationally before April
:14:04. > :14:10.as I said the last time he asked the same question. But it is always good
:14:11. > :14:24.to the old ones, it is always best. It is progressing well and he is
:14:25. > :14:30.welcome to visit. In Worchester, unemployment is down since it peaked
:14:31. > :14:36.under the last Labour government, but how can we go further to
:14:37. > :14:40.illuminate youth unemployment and I will youth apprenticeships play
:14:41. > :14:44.goal? I say to my Honorable friend that there are two elements to the.
:14:45. > :14:48.We introduced, the work experience programme which has been hugely
:14:49. > :14:51.successful in getting young people back into work, before when you came
:14:52. > :14:56.and you could only take work expands in the job centre for two weeks but
:14:57. > :15:00.now we increase it to two months and three months if you get a chance at
:15:01. > :15:04.an apprenticeship Those with orcas grants have gone back to work in the
:15:05. > :15:08.huge increase that we are now planning for apprenticeships that
:15:09. > :15:14.will be scale our young people and sure that the work they do is high
:15:15. > :15:26.skilled, high valued and well-paid. Number four Sir. With respect to Mr
:15:27. > :15:29.Speaker four and 11. This strategy marks our commitment to transforming
:15:30. > :15:35.children's lives by tackling the root call causes and educational
:15:36. > :15:43.attainment and family breakdown and addiction. Am grateful for the reply
:15:44. > :15:45.in my constituency it is very important the high levels of
:15:46. > :15:57.deprivation often leads to the House. What more can -- will help.
:15:58. > :16:08.I commend him because his huge work that he does tightly in his consist
:16:09. > :16:15.to the mic and ... I commend him for it. He knows that we introduced a
:16:16. > :16:18.new programme called that for work which is to help employees facing
:16:19. > :16:22.long-term sickness get back into work sooner and help employers
:16:23. > :16:25.rather than just allowing people to follow away having difficulties to
:16:26. > :16:31.actually get them properly assessed so occupational health can look at
:16:32. > :16:35.them. That will help introduce a new way of looking at people to keep
:16:36. > :16:39.them in work because the health department now agrees that it is
:16:40. > :16:42.part of the help treatment and that is what the white paper will be
:16:43. > :16:47.talked about when I bring it forward shortly. Will my Honorable friend
:16:48. > :16:50.agree that family stability is hugely important to life chances and
:16:51. > :16:56.will the update bows on what his department is doing to strengthen
:16:57. > :17:01.family support services? I agree with my friend and it has our he
:17:02. > :17:06.done a huge amount to try to get better advice and support for those
:17:07. > :17:10.who are thinking about breaking up. We invested over 30 million into
:17:11. > :17:14.relationship support over last parliament and that meant 160,000
:17:15. > :17:18.people had access to preventive support. As the prime minister
:17:19. > :17:22.announced recently, we are doubling that funding to 78 million and the
:17:23. > :17:32.light chancellor strategy includes the whole really important part of
:17:33. > :17:37.strengthening and stabilising. As he has taught the House the
:17:38. > :17:40.fundamentally important of life chances for children being
:17:41. > :17:43.determined before they are five, might I ask him if he brings word
:17:44. > :17:51.and debate in Government time, so we can look at how this policy of it is
:17:52. > :17:57.developing so views of the House might be taken into account before
:17:58. > :18:03.the government publishes its white paper in spring and summer? Am happy
:18:04. > :18:06.the door is open the chairman of the select committee. He has had a huge
:18:07. > :18:15.part to blame the. I know one recommendation he made is legitimate
:18:16. > :18:19.is Dunn we are looking about that the moment I will be happy to
:18:20. > :18:24.discuss it further with you. There is increasing inequality across
:18:25. > :18:28.society if you are disabled and need access to aid and adaptation. If you
:18:29. > :18:35.can afford to buy them, you are fine but there is a real postcode lottery
:18:36. > :18:40.to aid in adaptation. Is it not unfair to look at AIDS and
:18:41. > :18:48.adaptations and assessments for pets. Will the Secretary of State
:18:49. > :18:56.withdraw adaptations and eight as part of the pit assessment? I have
:18:57. > :19:00.to say to the Honorable lady that we are consulting what necessary
:19:01. > :19:04.changes to aides and adaptations to make sure the support as necessary
:19:05. > :19:07.and always bound into the personal independence behind gives to those
:19:08. > :19:10.who need it most. That is the critical bit, all of us sure want to
:19:11. > :19:13.make sure that people get the support they need for the things
:19:14. > :19:18.that they need most to help them get by. I am very happy to talk further
:19:19. > :19:22.to her if she wishes, the door is always of inter and always has been.
:19:23. > :19:29.If you want to see me then I would like to discuss with her. The right
:19:30. > :19:34.honourable gentleman would be aware that the index published over the
:19:35. > :19:40.weekend, and he will share my concern of children growing up in
:19:41. > :19:45.the Orange city area will have the lowest chances in life. Our ambition
:19:46. > :19:51.for the children of nor age should be the highest possible and what
:19:52. > :19:54.can't we do locally to combat the. There is a huge amount that can be
:19:55. > :20:00.done locally, one thing that universal credit has is universal
:20:01. > :20:04.support. This is now being trialed with a lot of councils and we are
:20:05. > :20:07.doing there is try to look at families with greatest difficulty
:20:08. > :20:12.and involve the councils and looking to get financial support to them in
:20:13. > :20:16.areas where they might have drug or alcohol abuse to help them sort that
:20:17. > :20:19.out so that as they get special pavements, at the same time we are
:20:20. > :20:23.expressing the mind expecting councils to work with as subproblems
:20:24. > :20:34.are put right and said being ignored and looked aside. In terms of life
:20:35. > :20:43.chances, ... Can the Minister provide an update of removing the 28
:20:44. > :20:47.day waiting room that are transferring from DLA to the IP?
:20:48. > :20:56.We're actually looking at that and I will give him a full answer to that
:20:57. > :21:05.in full course. Thank you Mr Speaker and my Honorable friend is
:21:06. > :21:10.absolutely right, poverty affects life chances. And disabled people
:21:11. > :21:13.are twice as likely to be living in poverty than the non-disabled
:21:14. > :21:23.population. We also know from the own figures that disabled people on
:21:24. > :21:27.IAB are more likely to die than the population as a whole. Is my
:21:28. > :21:31.Honorable friend mentioned, the recent consultation reviewing
:21:32. > :21:37.eligibility for independence payment is two years after it was
:21:38. > :21:43.introduced, we there are more cuts to disabled people on top of the
:21:44. > :21:51.proposed cut in ?23.8 billion that has been taken from disabled people
:21:52. > :21:55.as part of the 2012 welfare act. With 5.1 million disabled people
:21:56. > :21:59.living in poverty, Mr Speaker, what is the government's estimate of how
:22:00. > :22:05.many more disabled people will be living in poverty as a result of
:22:06. > :22:08.these measures? I would say to the honourable lady that even though you
:22:09. > :22:12.create a new benefit and I believe it is a better benefit the
:22:13. > :22:19.disability living allowance and it is far better than for mental health
:22:20. > :22:23.problems, you have to keep a benefit like that under review to make sure
:22:24. > :22:27.the money you allocate goes to those who most need it. She knows there
:22:28. > :22:32.was a recent court case that widened the whole element of Dunn and ensure
:22:33. > :22:39.that fewer people got the kind of money they needed it. They answer is
:22:40. > :22:43.very simple. The Independence plan is far better and deliver exactly
:22:44. > :22:49.what we expected those who need it most and our job here is to support
:22:50. > :22:53.those who need it. And honestly, the government she was part of, and
:22:54. > :22:56.power, did absolutely nothing to sort out the mess of disability
:22:57. > :23:04.living allowance in the whole time they were there. Number five Mr
:23:05. > :23:13.Speaker. Providing people have at least ten national... And then they
:23:14. > :23:22.would have already built up under the current system. The truth is
:23:23. > :23:25.under the government new pension system pensioners will lose money.
:23:26. > :23:43.Why did they turn its face against its own solution which is -- simpler
:23:44. > :23:48.solution. I think it is important... That many people have contracted
:23:49. > :23:52.out. And a small portion of the National Insurance has actually gone
:23:53. > :23:57.towards a work pension or a private pension and if they add up the new
:23:58. > :24:02.State Pension with their other pension, which was paid for by
:24:03. > :24:05.national contribution. They would actually be better off than the
:24:06. > :24:16.amount the new State Pension would be at ?155. Is it not the case that
:24:17. > :24:24.the new State Pension will remove ... One of the other things to note
:24:25. > :24:28.is that as of April of this year a new State Pension and the triple
:24:29. > :24:32.lock him up he will be ?1000 better off than they would have been under
:24:33. > :24:36.the old system whereby the pensions were operated. The triple lock is
:24:37. > :24:45.going to benefit people by ?1000 by April of this year. Number six are.
:24:46. > :24:50.To a reduction to occupancy is reduced by 18% since the
:24:51. > :24:54.introduction of this policy. It has already saved the taxpayer 1
:24:55. > :25:02.billion. We would ever be maintaining this policy and continue
:25:03. > :25:06.take. But that is by no means the worst affected region as a ripple
:25:07. > :25:10.the back of result. My constituency just one of four and those affected
:25:11. > :25:15.have been able to downsize says that three years that the policy came in.
:25:16. > :25:19.The government's on research that three quarters of people hit by the
:25:20. > :25:25.bedroom tax have had to cut back on food and 46% have had to cut back on
:25:26. > :25:28.eating. What steps will be minister Tate would make sure that those
:25:29. > :25:36.people who are unable to downsize their homes are not left cold and
:25:37. > :25:41.hungry? The 800 and ?700 million of discretionary housing payments that
:25:42. > :25:50.have been set aside the one and for who. 1.7 million on the housing
:25:51. > :25:54.waiting list. What guidance has been made available to local authorities
:25:55. > :26:00.on the use of discretionary housing payments so that we can make sure
:26:01. > :26:05.that exceptional cases such as warehouses have been adapted for
:26:06. > :26:08.disability can benefit from the additional money? I think my
:26:09. > :26:13.Honorable friend for raising that point. It provides the flexibility
:26:14. > :26:19.to allow local authorities to work with organizations like the police,
:26:20. > :26:21.social services, medical professionals, and so the council
:26:22. > :26:24.scampering local services together and maybe that's central government
:26:25. > :26:32.would not be able to do to ensure that no one falls through the
:26:33. > :26:35.cracks. Last week ruling that the bedroom tax discriminate against
:26:36. > :26:40.disabled people falls hard on the heels of a ruling in November that
:26:41. > :26:45.the inclusion of allowance and the benefits cap also discriminates
:26:46. > :26:49.against disabled people. Why want the government just do the same on
:26:50. > :26:54.the bedroom tax and end discrimination against disabled
:26:55. > :26:59.pupils? It was about whether it is possible to find exceptions where
:27:00. > :27:03.were the discretionary housing payments give the right flexibility.
:27:04. > :27:06.We don't want to create an artificial mind that some people
:27:07. > :27:13.will just fall underneath and not be able to get his support. The fund is
:27:14. > :27:17.giving that flexibility to work with different agencies. With 1.7 million
:27:18. > :27:29.people on the housing waiting list, 241,000 families will be able to
:27:30. > :27:37.free up arms. That is. The is currently investigating the UK for
:27:38. > :27:40.systematic. Minister should be a shame that the UK is the first
:27:41. > :27:43.countries to face such an investigation. Does the Minister
:27:44. > :27:46.agree that scrapping the bedroom tax is the best thing that the
:27:47. > :27:50.government could do to bring its policy into line with articles nine
:27:51. > :27:55.and 20 of the convention, which insured accessibility for disabled
:27:56. > :28:01.people and adequate standard of living and social protection. We are
:28:02. > :28:08.proud of our record. We refute the allegations of that investigation. I
:28:09. > :28:11.will not abandon those 241,000 families and 1.7 million on the
:28:12. > :28:18.housing waiting list. They want us to do this and we will carry on
:28:19. > :28:28.doing it. Does my Honorable friend agree that what affects of this
:28:29. > :28:34.policy is that it serves taxpayers. Is it incumbent to explain where
:28:35. > :28:38.they would find money from. Over the course of this Parliament that would
:28:39. > :28:41.deliver a saving of ?2.5 billion. I suspect they will be waiting a long
:28:42. > :28:47.time to get an alternative from the benches opposite. Thank you Mr
:28:48. > :28:51.Speaker. And the light of lax week court of appeal ruling. Could the
:28:52. > :28:55.Minister tell us how many victims of domestic violence the bedroom tax
:28:56. > :29:06.currently discriminate against and what it would cost to exempt them? I
:29:07. > :29:13.don't believe it discriminates. . As a government we have tripled the
:29:14. > :29:20.amount of support for those victims, and I think that all the people
:29:21. > :29:24.across this house but agreed. The court of appeals said that he do
:29:25. > :29:28.discriminate. It also said that the government admitted that it
:29:29. > :29:33.discriminated against those victims. I am sure the Minister knows the
:29:34. > :29:37.answer to my question. It is 280 victims of domestic violence. It
:29:38. > :29:43.would cost around ?200,000 to exempt them. Would he tell me how much it
:29:44. > :29:47.is going to cost them instead to try and defeat those victims in the
:29:48. > :29:56.Supreme Court? Is it more or less than the cost of accepting them? --
:29:57. > :29:59.exempting them. Some people don't fall for anything artificial mind.
:30:00. > :30:04.But this is so wrong then why did the benches opposite it not
:30:05. > :30:08.introduced as? At his right to make sure that nobody needs the support
:30:09. > :30:18.that a vulnerable side is given the right support. Question eight please
:30:19. > :30:24.Mr Speaker. This government will triple lock the basic and new state
:30:25. > :30:29.pension top of income to a guarantee minimum level for the poorest
:30:30. > :30:33.pensioners, and protect benefits for older people including free eye
:30:34. > :30:37.tests, NHS prescriptions, bus passes, television licenses for
:30:38. > :30:45.those aged 75 and over, and winter fuel payments. I think the Minister
:30:46. > :30:51.for his response. My constituents being over age of 65, this compares
:30:52. > :30:57.to a national average of 70%, this is welcome indeed. What step is the
:30:58. > :31:00.government taking to ensure the pensioners claim all of the state
:31:01. > :31:05.entitlements? I could assure him that this government uses a wide
:31:06. > :31:08.range of channels for pension credit, we believe what are the best
:31:09. > :31:14.ways to reach people is through community partners and we provide a
:31:15. > :31:21.web based pension played Democrats credit to. Information and leaflets
:31:22. > :31:24.and other benefits are also available from the Department's
:31:25. > :31:29.offices, advise agencies, local authorities, as well as post offices
:31:30. > :31:33.and doctors surgeries. Information about all of these benefits and how
:31:34. > :31:38.they may be claimed is on the F .uk website.
:31:39. > :31:50.We have got to the women who have been served a real injustice by this
:31:51. > :31:55.conservative government. We also know there is a group of women from
:31:56. > :32:00.1856 who will miss out on the new state pension benefits also. What
:32:01. > :32:08.has this minister brought against women from the 1950s? Mr Speaker,
:32:09. > :32:12.the Honorable gentleman has a problem in understanding things. I'm
:32:13. > :32:17.going to do this very subject. As a consequence of the triple lock which
:32:18. > :32:21.means that pensioners out there well get the higher of inflation or
:32:22. > :32:26.earnings were the 2.5%, they will have an increased which will ensure
:32:27. > :32:32.that when the new state pension comes into play in April as a
:32:33. > :32:39.consequence of that they will have 1000 more pounds per year then under
:32:40. > :32:48.the old system. He should remember that Gordon Brown who insulted
:32:49. > :32:51.pensioners but a 75 pence rise. We are not taking any lectures from
:32:52. > :32:59.outside of the House as to who really cares about pensioners.
:33:00. > :33:08.Number nine Mr Speaker. The effect of the work allowance is a part of a
:33:09. > :33:12.broader package. It increases a tax allowance, and allows childcare
:33:13. > :33:18.support. The single table rate of 65% ensures the benefits are clear
:33:19. > :33:23.and that support is withdrawn at a predictable and consistent rate I
:33:24. > :33:28.might as it exists at the moment under tax credit. The government was
:33:29. > :33:33.forced into a climb-down over tax credit cut, but it was only a
:33:34. > :33:40.temporary reprieve because cuts to the working allowance meant the 2.5
:33:41. > :33:47.million families will be ?1600 per year worse off by 2020. How can he
:33:48. > :33:51.say that he is making work pay when it is Lope, working families who are
:33:52. > :33:56.paying the price of his guards? I disagree with the Honorable Lady.
:33:57. > :34:00.The universal credit already do that independent studies of the people
:34:01. > :34:03.who are going to work faster, and sing and work longer, and end at the
:34:04. > :34:09.micro progress faster and earnings. He cannot take this in isolation.
:34:10. > :34:15.The national minimum wage is raising some ?9. Under universal credit, is
:34:16. > :34:21.that of 17% of childcare costs, women will get 85% of childcare
:34:22. > :34:24.costs, free child care for two-year-old, and childcare support
:34:25. > :34:27.free for three and four-year-olds. The total package it's usually been
:34:28. > :34:32.officials for people who want to work, and that is why it our record
:34:33. > :34:35.will only improve as we get more people back to work rather than the
:34:36. > :34:45.last government record he was shocking. One in five households had
:34:46. > :34:49.nobody and work. It is good to see the secretary of state here to
:34:50. > :34:56.answer questions. According to the government's own advisers, some
:34:57. > :35:03.working families and those countries will be ?210 per week worse off as a
:35:04. > :35:08.vehicle of cuts to universal credit. Someone on the minimum wage working
:35:09. > :35:14.full-time. It's to work an extra 30 hours a week to make up the
:35:15. > :35:18.difference. We know the -- they are claiming that the conservative
:35:19. > :35:24.parting as the party of work, did he mention that it is 70 hours a week
:35:25. > :35:28.for the love of space? It takes no care was to sit there with a leader
:35:29. > :35:33.who talks about getting into bed with all sorts of exhibits. I find
:35:34. > :35:39.that takes no courage whatsoever. Let me say to him about universal
:35:40. > :35:40.credit, while we are at it, Guy I see my opposite number SHOUTING
:35:41. > :35:53.On the benches opposite that he has under tax credit right now which is
:35:54. > :36:00.why his figures don't add up when circumstances change people actually
:36:01. > :36:06.have lower payments. The difference between us and the Labour Party is
:36:07. > :36:11.that we have cash protected through transitional protection when people
:36:12. > :36:21.move off tax credits universal credit, they will suffer no loss.
:36:22. > :36:24.Number 13 Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. Supported by this
:36:25. > :36:27.government perform to welfare and equalization of the state pension
:36:28. > :36:37.age, the earn out more women and work than ever before. It is for
:36:38. > :36:41.vital that women have had children have the option to go back and they
:36:42. > :36:45.want to. What steps is the Minister taking to make sure that her
:36:46. > :36:49.department encourages that? My Honorable friend is absolutely
:36:50. > :36:52.right. And encouraging more women back into work, this government is
:36:53. > :37:05.committed to increasing and providing more childcare. I am going
:37:06. > :37:08.out to speak with and... Increasing the national living wage. The
:37:09. > :37:15.increasing and national allowance that is more support from woman to
:37:16. > :37:20.get back into work longer hours. This is a special category of women,
:37:21. > :37:24.women on the autistic spectrum, who find it very difficult to get into
:37:25. > :37:28.employment. With the right kind of support they can make a very
:37:29. > :37:37.valuable contribution to our economy. Could she look at people
:37:38. > :37:43.who were trying to be employed with autism quiz we all of we are working
:37:44. > :37:46.with that organisation. I have seen the national autistic Society as
:37:47. > :37:51.Ball to discuss what more we can do to work with employers and find
:37:52. > :37:54.employment engagement for people on the stretcher. He is absolutely
:37:55. > :37:57.right to highlight the need for more support for women with autism. That
:37:58. > :38:03.is exactly what this government is committed to do. Increasing the
:38:04. > :38:06.number of women employment is a key goal for this government. Lots of
:38:07. > :38:11.good things are happening. One area and my constituency that needs more
:38:12. > :38:16.work is helping people who aren't on ESA backed into employment. In this
:38:17. > :38:21.context, would she join me in getting things to a part of SIDS led
:38:22. > :38:25.by the county Council was together with organizations is making a huge
:38:26. > :38:30.difference to the last of individuals who are covered to work
:38:31. > :38:36.for the first time. I think my idol fans are making that point. He is
:38:37. > :38:39.right to say that there is more support that can be provided for
:38:40. > :38:43.women on ESA. Also for people who are on ESA in general as well. That
:38:44. > :38:47.is why this government is committed to these reforms that we have
:38:48. > :38:50.outlined. In terms of working in partnership with other
:38:51. > :38:56.organizations, charitable organizations as well as local
:38:57. > :39:05.parties. What is the Minister doing to help women on zero hours context
:39:06. > :39:08.to get tax credits? I would say to the honourable gentleman that the
:39:09. > :39:12.most important thing that we have done as a government is to abolish
:39:13. > :39:20.the exclusivity clauses which his party did nothing about. More and
:39:21. > :39:24.more people are taking on caring responsibilities. Can I think the
:39:25. > :39:27.Minister for meeting with me and care as a resource for my
:39:28. > :39:31.constituency about this particular issue. Does she agree with me that
:39:32. > :39:37.it is important that more employers have more carer friendly employment
:39:38. > :39:41.practices if we need to do more to encourage that to happen so that we
:39:42. > :39:45.get the best that affect people. Will the government do something
:39:46. > :39:50.ensure that she recognises the success of those employers that are
:39:51. > :39:54.carer friendly? I think my Honorable friend. He is absolutely right. It
:39:55. > :40:02.is with great pleasure that I met carriers resource on the Cinemas
:40:03. > :40:06.constituency. To support more women with caring responsibilities to get
:40:07. > :40:11.employment. But also to work with employers to do more to support
:40:12. > :40:14.getting people into work, carers and particular. I look forward to
:40:15. > :40:18.working with the honourable gentleman and carriers to in his
:40:19. > :40:24.constituency to look at what they can do locally. Number 15 Mr
:40:25. > :40:29.Speaker. The commission I will answer questions 15 and 21. Fergus
:40:30. > :40:39.households are at their lowest level. -- work less households.
:40:40. > :40:45.Fewer children are going up in hostels were that her work is. Every
:40:46. > :40:50.family has someone who is in work. The best way out of poverty offers a
:40:51. > :40:53.great role model for any children out of. Giving children stability
:40:54. > :40:59.and security they need, have the best legends as possible. I agree
:41:00. > :41:03.with my Honorable friend. We know that unemployment is a cause of
:41:04. > :41:07.family breakdown. Having a family member and work poster make a strong
:41:08. > :41:11.and stable family which is crucial for providing children with the best
:41:12. > :41:16.art and life. It is most welcome at the number of work less households
:41:17. > :41:20.in the East Midlands, which he hugely represents, has fallen by
:41:21. > :41:26.68,006 he came into power. I remind him and the House that despite all
:41:27. > :41:30.the nonsense on the other side, when they left office some 2.5 million
:41:31. > :41:37.children grew up in work less households. That is not a record.
:41:38. > :41:41.Will my right honourable friend went with me in welcoming the wood touch
:41:42. > :41:47.it and work less households by over 50,000 since 2010 in the South East.
:41:48. > :41:53.Does he share by dismaying that in party opposite still set against
:41:54. > :42:01.welfare reform and want a high tax and high spending economy to take us
:42:02. > :42:07.back to the pre--2010 days. It is a strong endorsement of the reforms
:42:08. > :42:14.that the number of workers households is down by such a large
:42:15. > :42:21.number and the South East. Since 2010, the claimant count has fallen
:42:22. > :42:24.60%,. I must say to him that he should not be too unkind to the
:42:25. > :42:29.opposition, because I know that many of them who are not now on the front
:42:30. > :42:31.bench actually think they should be engaging and welfare reform, but
:42:32. > :42:41.their new leadership does not bleed and that. Many thanks Mr Speaker.
:42:42. > :42:45.What assessment has the department made for lower the barriers faced by
:42:46. > :42:51.household with disability and accessing work and what does what he
:42:52. > :42:55.put in place to address these? We are increasing the number of
:42:56. > :42:59.advisors and job centres to help and we are also training advisers far
:43:00. > :43:02.better. There is a huge amount of money coming into helping train
:43:03. > :43:05.advises to be able to look at the wider perspective. The picture for
:43:06. > :43:10.those who have difficulties to get into work and support them and work.
:43:11. > :43:13.It is important to note that the universal credit opens a door to a
:43:14. > :43:17.much better package of support and care, because the advises don't need
:43:18. > :43:20.them. Instead of getting a tax credit where they don't see anybody,
:43:21. > :43:24.when the go into what they will be able to go back and see the same
:43:25. > :43:26.advisor and talk to them if they have a problem. This is a huge
:43:27. > :43:34.positive step, and I congratulate her for asking that question topical
:43:35. > :43:40.questions. Doctor Rupe a hawk. Thank you Mr Speaker. Topical number one.
:43:41. > :43:46.I can announce to the House that we are. We will be testing the use of
:43:47. > :43:55.personal budgets. These will allow disabled people who shoot old -- who
:43:56. > :44:00.receive grants. Stay in work and to help them start work, or even start
:44:01. > :44:05.a business. Thank you Mr Speaker. Last week the bedroom tax was
:44:06. > :44:09.declared unlawful in the court of appeals for discriminating against
:44:10. > :44:15.domestic violence victims and disabled children, yet the
:44:16. > :44:19.government said to spend more on the -- appealing the decision. Surely
:44:20. > :44:26.the Minister must agree that that is poor value to the taxpayer and this
:44:27. > :44:30.policy needs to go. I have to say that the Honorable lady needs to
:44:31. > :44:33.check her lines before she makes a statement like that. The truth is
:44:34. > :44:38.that that was not what the court of appeals of last week. The debate is
:44:39. > :44:42.whether or not we should isolate individual groups and throw them out
:44:43. > :44:46.of a benefit system, or the bit to local authorities with extra monies.
:44:47. > :44:50.We absolutely believe that the local authority is quite capable with
:44:51. > :44:56.extra money that we are giving them the discretionary housing payments
:44:57. > :44:58.to allow people to be able to stay there where they think that is
:44:59. > :45:04.necessary without limitation. The thing I really wonder about is that
:45:05. > :45:09.they never talk about those who they left and overcrowded homes on
:45:10. > :45:12.waiting lists, and unable to get a decent home. They were the ones that
:45:13. > :45:22.introduces policy and because follow through. Can the secretary of State
:45:23. > :45:26.give some indication of when he will publish the draft regulations for 18
:45:27. > :45:31.to 21-year-olds. Did he give an indication of whether she will look
:45:32. > :45:34.sympathetically at exempting from those regulations those who cannot
:45:35. > :45:41.live safely in their neighbourhoods because of sexual abuse, overcrowded
:45:42. > :45:47.housing, or gang-related activity. We will be publishing of those
:45:48. > :45:50.shortly. I am happy to discuss those elements because there always are
:45:51. > :45:58.exemptions for those most in need, and I am happy to discuss those --
:45:59. > :46:01.that would have. Last week the government was significantly
:46:02. > :46:05.defeated in the House of Lords over their plans to cut the benefits of
:46:06. > :46:09.sick and disabled people. More than half the people in the group have a
:46:10. > :46:14.mental health condition. They face barriers getting into work as a
:46:15. > :46:18.result of their condition and often stigma from employers. Pull the
:46:19. > :46:25.Secretary of states now accept how unfair and ineffective this proposed
:46:26. > :46:29.cut is in Debian and abandon it? All I would say to the honourable lady
:46:30. > :46:35.is when it comes to ESA and the changes that we are making, no one
:46:36. > :46:41.will lose out as of this change. There will be no cash losers. This
:46:42. > :46:45.work is reflected on the point that the secretary of state made that
:46:46. > :46:49.this government is focused on the supporting those on ESA in a way
:46:50. > :46:53.that the previous Labor government did not win the introduced the work
:46:54. > :46:59.and ability assessment. That is why be kept that to review and also the
:47:00. > :47:03.publication of a white paper in the spring was to look at the further
:47:04. > :47:08.reforms that will come. Thank you very much Mr Speaker. As chairman of
:47:09. > :47:13.the all party group, will my right honourable friend join me and the
:47:14. > :47:25.work with. How is are they supporting those
:47:26. > :47:29.with MS. I thank my Honorable friend for that. I would like to join him
:47:30. > :47:36.in pain should be for the fantastic work of the MS Society. Only two
:47:37. > :47:39.weeks ago I was at the branches 50th anniversary. A huge number of
:47:40. > :47:46.volunteers across the country are making. For employers and fleas. A
:47:47. > :47:50.Yankee for this to be highlighted and that best practices be shared
:47:51. > :47:58.with other organizations. Thank you Mr Speaker. The Minister's latest
:47:59. > :48:02.proposal is a further blow to disabled people who have been
:48:03. > :48:04.amongst the hardest hit by the UK government austerity measure. I know
:48:05. > :48:09.from my constituents who are experienced delays that the
:48:10. > :48:13.assessment process is not yet working. Will the Minister abandon
:48:14. > :48:17.these latest proposals that will narrow the eligibility of benefits
:48:18. > :48:21.for disabled people, and instead focus on getting this part of the
:48:22. > :48:23.process right rather than having complex changes which reduce the
:48:24. > :48:33.support available to disabled people? We have ongoing groups
:48:34. > :48:40.following the review. We urge determined to get a consistent
:48:41. > :48:43.policy. The length of time for an assessment has fallen by three
:48:44. > :48:47.quarters since June 14. It is now down to five weeks for assessments.
:48:48. > :48:54.That has been a settled position for quite some time now. Job fairs are
:48:55. > :48:58.an effective way for local employers to promote their partnerships. A key
:48:59. > :49:05.element of this governments economic plan. Will my minister join me in
:49:06. > :49:13.supporting -- making the point of the great work
:49:14. > :49:19.that is taking place and his own constituency. I endorsed the amount
:49:20. > :49:23.of commitment that he has for having apprenticeships and job fairs,
:49:24. > :49:26.because they are the gateway to getting new jobs and employment
:49:27. > :49:31.opportunities for many young people. I commend them for the work that he
:49:32. > :49:37.is doing in his own exigency. Can I ask the Minister if people speed of
:49:38. > :49:44.the review process for benefit claimants whose claims have been
:49:45. > :49:46.investigated. I have had a number of constituencies -- constituents of
:49:47. > :49:54.over the Chris's period that have ended up having to borrow money.
:49:55. > :50:00.After the Chris's period as well. And that it actually happened. There
:50:01. > :50:04.are now both available immediately. If somebody has been sanctioned they
:50:05. > :50:07.are immediately told about hardship loans. That is advertised and said
:50:08. > :50:13.the job centre. The delay times have fallen to the lowest level. If he
:50:14. > :50:17.has individual cases where that has happened, write to us immediately or
:50:18. > :50:24.give us a call and we will help solve that immediately. Will my
:50:25. > :50:26.right honourable friend congratulate team plastics and other
:50:27. > :50:36.manufacturing firms which are creating new jobs and
:50:37. > :50:40.apprenticeships. Can he help to turn job centres into recruitment
:50:41. > :50:44.agencies for better skilled roles. There is no doubt working the job
:50:45. > :50:48.centre plus that there is a great deal of work that has taken place to
:50:49. > :50:52.support local farms like a team plastics when it comes to recruiting
:50:53. > :51:01.new employees, but also supporting a skills bus but -- base. Last week
:51:02. > :51:05.the government suffered another embarrassing defeat in the House of
:51:06. > :51:11.Lords on the proposal to cut ESA back support. This believe many
:51:12. > :51:16.disabled people and a difficult financial position. Despite what has
:51:17. > :51:24.been said, will the secretary of state re-examine the argument and
:51:25. > :51:28.commit that's no one will lose out on this critical financial support?
:51:29. > :51:36.That we remind the honourable lady that's no one currently on ESA will
:51:37. > :51:39.lose out on the changes. Importantly, we are a government
:51:40. > :51:44.focused on supporting individuals that have held conditions and are on
:51:45. > :51:50.ESA. That is why those who are a need will automatically go to a
:51:51. > :51:54.support group. Job centres is especially important for those who
:51:55. > :51:57.do not have the necessary support at home. Does my right honourable
:51:58. > :52:01.friend agree that in addition to the youth obligation there should be an
:52:02. > :52:06.obligation of job centres to offer more special support? My Honorable
:52:07. > :52:11.friend raises an important point that job centres have a very
:52:12. > :52:15.important role to play here. In terms of providing support for young
:52:16. > :52:20.people, which is why we have just starting a pilot taking job centre
:52:21. > :52:23.plus with employers into schools to act as a gateway to provide new
:52:24. > :52:27.employment opportunities in markets with opportunities, and work
:52:28. > :52:31.placement opportunities as well. He has also made the point that the new
:52:32. > :52:34.youth obligation focuses on making sure that young people are either
:52:35. > :52:38.earning or learning, and that they don't end up trapped in the benefits
:52:39. > :52:46.system which is what happened to the Labor government. We have already
:52:47. > :52:51.heard that DWP have changes afoot in relation to benefits for people with
:52:52. > :52:55.disabilities, not least the narrow ring of EAP. Isn't the case that
:52:56. > :53:02.ministers are hoping to extend that Northern Ireland as well using the
:53:03. > :53:05.direct route as has the same -- which is until the end of the
:53:06. > :53:13.calendar year? We have no place to do that. Mr Speaker. Following on
:53:14. > :53:18.from the comments around the changes to ESA a rag and the ball having
:53:19. > :53:23.dashboards having past that. I am excited to see the context of the
:53:24. > :53:27.white paper. Kenny minister give us any deal at all for what any cost
:53:28. > :53:35.recognition there may be for claimant in the future. I think my
:53:36. > :53:39.Honorable friend for her point and question. I come back Mr Speaker to
:53:40. > :53:45.the comments I made earlier on. The changes that we are making
:53:46. > :53:48.particularly to the welfare reform and workflow, shows that we are
:53:49. > :53:53.committed to changing peoples lives by supporting more people with
:53:54. > :53:56.disabilities and barriers to work. This means increased funding support
:53:57. > :54:00.as well for those with help conditions and disabilities by 50%.
:54:01. > :54:04.We will be bringing the sport and any work and health programme. With
:54:05. > :54:09.the Minister agreed to work in the case of my constituents who has home
:54:10. > :54:14.dialysis three times a week, but is also trying hard to keep his job to
:54:15. > :54:18.support his family. He has been turned down twice, and I wondered if
:54:19. > :54:22.the Minister feels like I do that if a person has been receiving dialysis
:54:23. > :54:27.it seems to be that he is able to receive the payment. I would be
:54:28. > :54:31.happy to look at this case with the honourable lady and see what support
:54:32. > :54:34.we can provide her constituents. She makes an important point that he
:54:35. > :54:40.wants to work and a should be supported just day and employment as
:54:41. > :54:44.well. Thank you Mr Speaker. Next month I look forward to welcoming my
:54:45. > :54:50.friend the Minister for disabled people to North Devon for an event.
:54:51. > :54:52.Would he agree with me that these are really important events not only
:54:53. > :54:56.for people with disabilities to bring them closer to the world of
:54:57. > :55:00.work, but for the employers as well who don't realise what an untapped
:55:01. > :55:05.talent there is. I think my Honorable friend. I am excited about
:55:06. > :55:09.going to visit his constituency to support his events, and I would like
:55:10. > :55:13.to pay tribute to the other 48 MPs who came to our event last week to
:55:14. > :55:29.have committed to hold their own and their own constituencies.
:55:30. > :55:36.Proposals that we will bring forward a make absolute certain that all of
:55:37. > :55:43.those who suffer rape will not buy themselves put upon themselves by
:55:44. > :55:50.the proposal. To support steps the government taking it all employees
:55:51. > :55:55.are fully informed our of the new pensions. I can assure my noble
:55:56. > :55:59.friend of the government is working closely with the pension regulator
:56:00. > :56:03.to assure small employees of informed of the changes coming on.
:56:04. > :56:08.On the facilities of the regular has are easy and simple to use for a lot
:56:09. > :56:13.of people and also off-line leaflets and so on, I made as easy as
:56:14. > :56:16.possible. The government has agreed to remove the 20 day waiting rule
:56:17. > :56:23.for terminally ill people transferring to pick for those
:56:24. > :56:26.unable to afford to travel to love once in a word about bills in the
:56:27. > :56:30.final mix it cannot come soon enough. Can you update us on
:56:31. > :56:36.progress? I like to pay tribute to the Honorable member for Sheffield
:56:37. > :56:40.that I remember from other places for contract work in this area,
:56:41. > :56:46.something I'm delighted to fully support. In parliament we intend
:56:47. > :56:52.make regulations and we will write shortly to update the timetable.
:56:53. > :56:59.Will DWP ministers hold a discussion quite urgently with other ministers
:57:00. > :57:04.about the conservative manifests cap a very large redundancy payments.
:57:05. > :57:10.Are you aware of serious concerns that by including early retirement
:57:11. > :57:15.and the capping scheme we may penalise long serving but low paid
:57:16. > :57:24.public employees by a measure rightly intended to limit undeserved
:57:25. > :57:28.golden goodbyes to very highly paid? This is a matter of the tragedy. I'm
:57:29. > :57:34.very happy to undertake such discussions. If you would like to
:57:35. > :57:42.add this extra information to this I would be glad to take it. Half of
:57:43. > :57:49.those receiving employments from Scotland qualified from a mental
:57:50. > :57:56.health problem. Database might constituency. It finds to blend with
:57:57. > :58:00.the work activity group report inappropriate expectations put upon
:58:01. > :58:05.them make their mental unless worse. Does the Minister agree that this
:58:06. > :58:10.would be exacerbated by government's changes? I think the Honorable Lady
:58:11. > :58:15.that she is wrong. This government has invested more than ever before
:58:16. > :58:18.than other previous governments to provide financial support and pilot
:58:19. > :58:21.new projects as well, to make sure that those who have mental health
:58:22. > :58:25.challenges and problems are given the right kind of support. I think
:58:26. > :58:29.we should make the distinction here Mr Speaker that this is not about
:58:30. > :58:32.the financial support, it is about the about the wider support of they
:58:33. > :58:40.get their DWP through the networks in the community to help them get
:58:41. > :58:45.work. I welcome the news that nine of ten businesses started with new
:58:46. > :58:51.enterprise allowance support from five to 12 months. Can is to update
:58:52. > :58:57.us on further progress for job seekers looking to start their own
:58:58. > :59:02.business? I think my friend for how to integrate work of the results of
:59:03. > :59:05.the NEA in particular what is been outstanding and supporting more and
:59:06. > :59:12.more people for people starting businesses. There's support going to
:59:13. > :59:15.mental help to engage those individuals who want to start up
:59:16. > :59:20.their businesses and have more reviews coming, but I think whole
:59:21. > :59:23.house can join me in committing the success of this particular programme
:59:24. > :59:28.and how it has enabled people to get on the life and set up their own
:59:29. > :59:41.businesses and become successful. Urgent question. To ask his
:59:42. > :59:45.Secretary of State for house if you'll make a statement on what
:59:46. > :59:54.steps are being taken to improve the financial situation of NHS trusts.
:59:55. > :00:00.They you Mr Speaker, the house and know that the NHS as that of its
:00:01. > :00:04.plans for the next five years. Because of our strong economy, this
:00:05. > :00:05.government has built to honour that request and will be fun to get in