0:00:12 > 0:00:15Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the House of Commons. In
0:00:15 > 0:00:18one hour, the Shadow Secretary at Emily Thornberry burlesque and
0:00:18 > 0:00:23urgent question of the British Iranian National Nazanin
0:00:23 > 0:00:30Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is in prison in Iran accused of -- trying to
0:00:30 > 0:00:34overthrow the regime. David Davis will update ministers on the latest
0:00:34 > 0:00:39round of talks in Brussels. Margaret Hodge will move a notion for a
0:00:39 > 0:00:43debate on tax avoidance and the main business is the Northern Ireland
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Bill which will pass a budget for Northern Ireland. Don't forget to
0:00:47 > 0:00:52join me, Mandy Baker, at 11pm for a round-up of the day from both Houses
0:00:52 > 0:00:57of Parliament. First, questions to the Work and Pensions Secretary and
0:00:57 > 0:01:09his team of ministers. The Department of Work and Pensions
0:01:09 > 0:01:11has regular discussions with colleagues across government about
0:01:11 > 0:01:16the treatment of Gurkhas and the benefits system and responsibilities
0:01:16 > 0:01:20under the Armed Forces government. Additional support is in play sport
0:01:20 > 0:01:22all members of the Armed Forces community to take account of their
0:01:22 > 0:01:28needs and circumstances. I thank the Minister for her
0:01:28 > 0:01:31response. Gurkhas have put themselves on the line or our
0:01:31 > 0:01:36country and I recently met members of the Gurkha community in Eastleigh
0:01:36 > 0:01:43who travel long distances from home. Having met these phenomenal
0:01:43 > 0:01:47soldiers, will my honourable friend continue to ensure that their very
0:01:47 > 0:01:52unique circumstances are recognised in our pensions and benefits system?
0:01:52 > 0:01:56As you will be aware, Mr Speaker, I am married to a former Gurkha so I
0:01:56 > 0:02:03fully understand and share my honourable friend's gratitude for
0:02:03 > 0:02:07their bravery and their service. No member of our Armed Forces should be
0:02:07 > 0:02:10disadvantaged by their service to our country. And I would like to
0:02:10 > 0:02:14reassure her that the Department of Work and Pensions takes very
0:02:14 > 0:02:17seriously our commitment to the Armed Forces government. And we will
0:02:17 > 0:02:20do everything we can and work as hard as we can tout them get the
0:02:20 > 0:02:31best possible support. Mr Speaker. Advances are interest
0:02:31 > 0:02:34free and repayable over six months for those making a new claim, or 12
0:02:34 > 0:02:37months for those on benefits before claiming the Universal Credit. Our
0:02:37 > 0:02:42objective is to strike the right balance between supporting claimants
0:02:42 > 0:02:46with living expenses and ensuring they have the ability to pay the
0:02:46 > 0:02:50advance.I think the Secretary of State for that answer and he will no
0:02:50 > 0:02:54guidance states that 40% of the standard allowance can be used in
0:02:54 > 0:03:02repaying an advance payment, and 40% can be deducted from the payments to
0:03:02 > 0:03:05pay back creditors. It is not clear from the guidance whether a claimant
0:03:05 > 0:03:10might end up paying both. Meaning they will have more than 40%
0:03:10 > 0:03:14deducted from their award. Could the Secretary of State clarified the
0:03:14 > 0:03:18maximum amount repayable and recognise this is a charter for loan
0:03:18 > 0:03:27sharks?The deduction in terms of subsequent payments to take into
0:03:27 > 0:03:34account of an advance, there is not -- this does not apply to the 40%.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38But we have to remember that this is an advance, this does give people
0:03:38 > 0:03:42greater flexibility to have access to their Universal Credit early so
0:03:42 > 0:03:47that they are able to cope with that initial first assessment period.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51We hear a lot from the other side about Universal Credit, but we do
0:03:51 > 0:03:54need to remember that this is a much more effective system of getting
0:03:54 > 0:03:59people into work and that nationally, 113 people move into
0:03:59 > 0:04:04work and Universal Credit ban for every 100 and the previous system.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07In my constituency, which was a pathfinder for Universal Credit, we
0:04:07 > 0:04:11are seeing very substantial drops and people claiming. Is this not a
0:04:11 > 0:04:16better system altogether? A my honourable friend is absolutely
0:04:16 > 0:04:23right. Universal Credit is helping people get into work, the progress
0:04:23 > 0:04:27in work, and it is also clear that people on Universal Credit are
0:04:27 > 0:04:31spending more time looking for work than on the legacy and effects. And
0:04:31 > 0:04:36I think it is really important that we all work to ensure that Universal
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Credit is a success. We believe it will result in 250,000 more jobs in
0:04:40 > 0:04:45this country as a consequence of its operation and that is something that
0:04:45 > 0:04:52is worth achieving. What the Secretary of State has
0:04:52 > 0:04:57repeated again this afternoon falls into the precise trap of treating
0:04:57 > 0:05:01everyone on Universal Credit as if they were out of work. Surely one of
0:05:01 > 0:05:07the big issues is the problem of applying conditionality to people
0:05:07 > 0:05:13who already have jobs. Well, the point about Universal
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Credit is that it operates when people are out of work and when they
0:05:17 > 0:05:20are in work. That means that what you will not get is what happens
0:05:20 > 0:05:23with the legacy system, that people are worried about doing extra hours
0:05:23 > 0:05:29because they find they have claims closed. That is holding people back
0:05:29 > 0:05:33from progressing. But I do believe that in work conditionality has a
0:05:33 > 0:05:37role to play within our system to ensure that people do progress. We
0:05:37 > 0:05:42have an issue in terms of people who are in work but still getting
0:05:42 > 0:05:46substantial support from the taxpayer. We want them to be able to
0:05:46 > 0:05:49progress to be less dependent upon the state and that is what Universal
0:05:49 > 0:05:53Credit will deliver. What steps has the Secretary of
0:05:53 > 0:05:59State taken to increase the awareness of advance payments?Well,
0:05:59 > 0:06:04we have changed the guidance that applies in Job Centres in respect of
0:06:04 > 0:06:07advance payments. There is also increased publicity within Job
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Centres. I saw myself visiting a Job Centre in Bedford last week the way
0:06:13 > 0:06:19in which the operation of advances is working. We did believe there
0:06:19 > 0:06:22would be increased to take up so people will get the support they
0:06:22 > 0:06:26need. And when it is suggested that people under Universal Credit would
0:06:26 > 0:06:32face weeks and weeks without any financial support whatsoever, I am
0:06:32 > 0:06:34afraid that is scaremongering because that is what is happening
0:06:34 > 0:06:41under the system as it is operating. Yesterday, the Scottish Finance
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Secretary Derek Mackay wrote to the Chancellor ahead of his budget
0:06:44 > 0:06:48appealing for Universal Credit is to be fixed. Today, 140 academics
0:06:48 > 0:06:51publish an open letter in the Telegraph which criticised the
0:06:51 > 0:06:57advance payment system and echoed the Derek Mackay's call to reduce
0:06:57 > 0:06:59the first payment waiting time and move the twice monthly payments and
0:06:59 > 0:07:04reverse cuts to allowances. Does the Secretary of State agree that the
0:07:04 > 0:07:10Chancellor should act?Can I does make a point about Universal Credit,
0:07:10 > 0:07:17and early payments within the system? There is flexibility for
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Scotland, the Scottish government has flexibility, which it is
0:07:19 > 0:07:25exercising. But it means that the second assessment period, people at
0:07:25 > 0:07:29the end of that will only get 50% of what they are entitled to and then
0:07:29 > 0:07:33the rest will be deferred and it will be paid in the third assessment
0:07:33 > 0:07:38period. That strikes me, it is. Scotland to decide, but it does
0:07:38 > 0:07:41strike me as making the situation more difficult for claimants, not
0:07:41 > 0:07:46easier. The Secretary of State is looking
0:07:46 > 0:07:49for the Scottish Government to show him how it is done committee should
0:07:49 > 0:07:54devolve Universal Credit in full and we will get on with it! I wonder if
0:07:54 > 0:07:58he has seen a report from the Child Poverty Action Group group and the
0:07:58 > 0:08:03IPPR and they say cuts to Universal Credit will leave an extra 1 million
0:08:03 > 0:08:07children in poverty. Is a million more children in poverty not
0:08:07 > 0:08:10evidence enough for the UK Government to reverse the cuts to
0:08:10 > 0:08:16work allowances and make work pay? Well, my point was that the Scottish
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Government deliver and Universal Credit in a different way, but a way
0:08:19 > 0:08:26I think is worse than the situation in England and Wales. But I have to
0:08:26 > 0:08:29say, the point about Universal Credit is that it will help people
0:08:29 > 0:08:35into work. Let me give one brief example. If I may, Mr Speaker. I
0:08:35 > 0:08:40heard of an account last week of someone, a single mother on income
0:08:40 > 0:08:47support not currently able, not previously able to claim the best
0:08:47 > 0:08:51childcare costs. Now under Universal Credit, they are able to do so,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55she's taking up a job working eight or nine hours a week where she was
0:08:55 > 0:08:58not previously able to do, a first step on the ladder. That is an
0:08:58 > 0:09:04example of what Universal is delivering.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09It with recent report by the Resolution Foundation using new data
0:09:09 > 0:09:13based on bank transactions shows 58%, so the majority of new
0:09:13 > 0:09:16claimants living and Universal Credit as a result of leaving
0:09:16 > 0:09:19employment in the last year were paid either fortnightly or weekly.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23In their previous job. A far higher percentage than the economy on
0:09:23 > 0:09:28average were around one in four paid fortnightly or weekly. The guy
0:09:28 > 0:09:32mentioning sure no claim and has to wait more than ten days so will they
0:09:32 > 0:09:37make sure it mirrors the end -- the world of work for those who claim
0:09:37 > 0:09:45it?Universal Credit is replacing tax credits, and tax credits, 57% of
0:09:45 > 0:09:53claimants are paid monthly and 12% get paid for weekly. That is nearly
0:09:53 > 0:09:5970% are paid over that period of time and if you are to have a system
0:09:59 > 0:10:06that works for everybody, then a monthly system is what it has to be.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15We are committed to ensuring claimants receive high-quality,
0:10:15 > 0:10:22fair, accurate assessments. DWP closely monitors assessments through
0:10:22 > 0:10:27independent audit and assessments deemed unacceptable returned. A
0:10:27 > 0:10:31range of measures including provider improvement plans address
0:10:31 > 0:10:34performance falling below expected standards and DWP continually looks
0:10:34 > 0:10:40to improve the assessment process.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42My office is inundated with people dissatisfied and distressed after
0:10:42 > 0:10:46their assessment. In light of statistics showing an almost
0:10:46 > 0:10:49ninefold increase in complaints to the department, what analysis has
0:10:49 > 0:10:57been made of the PIP assessment process?We are constantly striving
0:10:57 > 0:11:02to improve the assessment period. It is worth pointing out that the total
0:11:02 > 0:11:07number of complaints on PIP is about 1%. We are continuing to work
0:11:07 > 0:11:12closely with the assessors to ensure that this can be delivered as
0:11:12 > 0:11:17effectively as possible.Justin Tomlinson.The vast majority of
0:11:17 > 0:11:21successful appeals because of late additional evidence. What further
0:11:21 > 0:11:25consideration is being given to sharing data between the two
0:11:25 > 0:11:29different assessments and to automatically access health records
0:11:29 > 0:11:36where the claimant is welling in advance of an assessment?I think my
0:11:36 > 0:11:38honourable friend raises an important point. He is actually
0:11:38 > 0:11:43right and is the reason why the majority of overturned decisions are
0:11:43 > 0:11:47reached. We continue to look at ways in which the assessment process of
0:11:47 > 0:11:53PIP and ESA, to the extent they can be greater called nation between
0:11:53 > 0:11:58them, that is something we are considering.Mr Speaker, my
0:11:58 > 0:12:01constituent has a life limiting illness and her medical consultant
0:12:01 > 0:12:06has confirmed this affects even the most basic of daily activities.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Without a transplant, she has approximately two or three years
0:12:09 > 0:12:14left to live. She has just been turned down for PIP. Will the
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Secretary of State please give an undertaking he will look into this
0:12:17 > 0:12:20as a matter of urgency? Can he confirm that compassionate
0:12:20 > 0:12:28conservatism is officially dead?In terms of her first point, of course,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31I will happily look at that case if she wants to provide me with the
0:12:31 > 0:12:40details.For our constituents, a health assessment is an incredibly
0:12:40 > 0:12:44important moment and it can be very distressing. I have been calling for
0:12:44 > 0:12:49a routine recording of assessments, providing evidence of when they go
0:12:49 > 0:12:54wrong. A recording in itself could change behaviour for the better.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Could my honourable friend provide an update on the recording pilot?We
0:12:59 > 0:13:02are looking at that. I think my honourable friend makes an important
0:13:02 > 0:13:12point in terms of the need for independent audit of assessments to
0:13:12 > 0:13:15ensure the advice provided by decision-makers is of suitable
0:13:15 > 0:13:21quality, fully explained unjustified, and recording that is
0:13:21 > 0:13:23part of the various options that we have in terms of making those
0:13:23 > 0:13:31improvements.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I start by welcoming the
0:13:31 > 0:13:37honourable lady to her place? There has been a 900% increase in
0:13:37 > 0:13:41complaints about the personal independence payment assessment. Her
0:13:41 > 0:13:47Majesty's courts and tribunal statistics show that the number of
0:13:47 > 0:13:49appeals lodged and the proportion of DWP decisions overturned has
0:13:49 > 0:13:58increased. There has been a 67% increase in the first quarter of
0:13:58 > 0:14:04this year in appeals, in comparison with the same period last year. Just
0:14:04 > 0:14:07last week, Britain's Rosenior tribunal judge stated that most of
0:14:07 > 0:14:13the benefit cases that reach the court are based on bad decisions,
0:14:13 > 0:14:19where the DWP has no case at all. The quality of evidence...Order, we
0:14:19 > 0:14:28do need a? Very soon. -- we do need a question mark very soon. The text
0:14:28 > 0:14:32is extensive, I know she is new to the bench and I listened with
0:14:32 > 0:14:36interest and respect, but we need to proceed speedily. I know she is
0:14:36 > 0:14:41getting to a question in her next sentence.I certainly am getting to
0:14:41 > 0:14:45my question. What I will ask the Secretary of State is what action is
0:14:45 > 0:14:50he taking to improve the personal independence payment framework,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53improve the accuracy of decision-making and standards of
0:14:53 > 0:15:03mandatory reconciliation, and stop wasting taxpayer money on funds -- a
0:15:03 > 0:15:07necessary tribunal is and appeals. Let me put this in context. Since
0:15:07 > 0:15:12the personal independence framework was introduced in 2013, the DWP has
0:15:12 > 0:15:15carried over 2.6 million assessments. As I said earlier, the
0:15:15 > 0:15:19total number of complaints received equates to fewer than 1% of all
0:15:19 > 0:15:26assessments. Our latest research shows that 76% of PIP claimants are
0:15:26 > 0:15:31satisfied with the overall experience. In terms of the 2.6
0:15:31 > 0:15:34million decisions, 80% have been appealed, 4% have been successfully
0:15:34 > 0:15:42appealed. We constantly strive to improve the PIP system. But let's
0:15:42 > 0:15:51put this in some context.Last week I was able to spend the day in the
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Jobcentre in my constituency, seeing what is going well and what is not
0:15:54 > 0:15:57going so well with some welfare reforms, including Universal Credit
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and PIP. One issue that came up as the period of time that people are
0:16:00 > 0:16:04waiting for health and work capability assessments. Can I ask my
0:16:04 > 0:16:07honourable friend what penalties are being levied against some of the
0:16:07 > 0:16:09third-party companies involved with the assessments and what could be
0:16:09 > 0:16:19done to close the gap for constituents?When it comes to
0:16:19 > 0:16:23improving the timing, whether it be of ESA or PIP assessments, it is the
0:16:23 > 0:16:33case that they have that period of time reduced in recent months. That
0:16:33 > 0:16:37is something I welcome. We continue to work closely with the providers
0:16:37 > 0:16:41of the assessments to ensure that their performance is adequate.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46Question four, Mr Speaker.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51With permission, I will answer questions for Macron six together.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55In 2012, overall participation of female eligible employees in a
0:16:55 > 0:16:59workplace pension was 58%. Since the introduction of automatic enrolment,
0:16:59 > 0:17:06this has increased to 80% in 2016. For males this has increased from
0:17:06 > 0:17:1252% to 76% in the same period.Two former pensions ministers have
0:17:12 > 0:17:18criticised the Government for the policy. The opposition parties
0:17:18 > 0:17:21recognise the government matter is wrong. The growing number of
0:17:21 > 0:17:27cross-party MPs say it is wrong, and hundreds of thousands of
0:17:27 > 0:17:31disadvantaged 1950s women know it is wrong. When will the current
0:17:31 > 0:17:35pensions minister and the Government admit their mistake and take action
0:17:35 > 0:17:39to rectify this grave injustice?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43The Government will not be revisiting the state pension
0:17:43 > 0:17:46arrangements for women born in the 1950s that are affected by the
0:17:46 > 0:17:53pensions act of 1995, 2007 and 2011. This would require people of working
0:17:53 > 0:17:56age, more specifically younger people, to bear an even greater
0:17:56 > 0:18:03share of the cost of the pensions system.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The
0:18:03 > 0:18:07government matter's former pensions minister has said that she regrets
0:18:07 > 0:18:11the government's failure to properly communicate the state pension age
0:18:11 > 0:18:17equalisation and it is up to Macron approach she describes as a massive
0:18:17 > 0:18:21failure of public policy. Does the Minister appreciate how much this
0:18:21 > 0:18:27failure has affected 1950s women's ability to plan for a happy
0:18:27 > 0:18:33retirement? And the sense of outrage they feel about this issue?Since
0:18:33 > 0:18:361995, successive governments, including the Labour Party, have
0:18:36 > 0:18:41gone to significant lengths to communicate the changes, including
0:18:41 > 0:18:44targeted communications, hundreds of press reports, parliamentary
0:18:44 > 0:18:48debates, advertising and millions of letters. In the last 17 years, the
0:18:48 > 0:18:51department has also provided over 18 million personalised state pension
0:18:51 > 0:18:59estimates.Thank you, Mr Speaker. My honourable friend confirm that if
0:18:59 > 0:19:02changes or were changes to be made to the women's pensions
0:19:02 > 0:19:04arrangements, that this would actually create discrimination
0:19:04 > 0:19:13against men and that would be unfair?I am grateful to my
0:19:13 > 0:19:17honourable friend from Dorset's question. The proposal whereby women
0:19:17 > 0:19:21would receive early pensions would create a new inequality, Mr Speaker,
0:19:21 > 0:19:28between men and women, the legality of which is highly questionable.The
0:19:28 > 0:19:31government matter seem to be under the misapprehension that the
0:19:31 > 0:19:37campaign by the 1950s women will eventually go away if they keep
0:19:37 > 0:19:40ignoring it, even told the table office that they would not answer a
0:19:40 > 0:19:43question on a subject for my honourable friend the member. Tim
0:19:43 > 0:19:49Southee. It will not go away. So why doesn't the minister engage with the
0:19:49 > 0:19:53campaigners to find the solution and support our proposals to extend
0:19:53 > 0:19:56pension credit to the most financially vulnerable and give them
0:19:56 > 0:20:02all the opportunity to retire up to two years earlier?The honourable
0:20:02 > 0:20:05gentleman will be aware that the Government has already introduced
0:20:05 > 0:20:09transitional arrangements, costing £1.1 billion, in 2011, which mean
0:20:09 > 0:20:13that no woman will see her pension age change by more than 18 months,
0:20:13 > 0:20:22relative to the 1995 acts timetable. Question number five.The
0:20:22 > 0:20:25availability of advances at the start of a Universal Credit claim
0:20:25 > 0:20:28ensures that those that need money immediately can access it. Data
0:20:28 > 0:20:32shows that around half of claimants are receiving advances. We have
0:20:32 > 0:20:35recently undertaken an exercise to improve awareness and access to the
0:20:35 > 0:20:43support.The manager of a food bank in Lincoln has said that there is
0:20:43 > 0:20:47evidence of a clear correlation locally between the introduction of
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Universal Credit and, in Lincoln, we have only had a partially so far, a
0:20:51 > 0:20:55full roll-out in March. There is a clear correlation between that and
0:20:55 > 0:20:58an increase in the use of food banks. I would ask for your comments
0:20:58 > 0:21:00on that and also asked people on the benches opposite, including
0:21:00 > 0:21:08yourself, think it is acceptable that people in Lincoln would be
0:21:08 > 0:21:15starving, not for food banks, but because of waiting for Universal
0:21:15 > 0:21:19Credit payments.Presumably you say what is acceptable in Lincoln, way
0:21:19 > 0:21:25above my play the EU pay grade. The Secretary of State?I repeatedly
0:21:25 > 0:21:28make this point, that nobody needs to wait a long period of time for
0:21:28 > 0:21:36cash support under the Universal Credit system. To suggest otherwise
0:21:36 > 0:21:40is causing unnecessary anxiety for those that are not on the Universal
0:21:40 > 0:21:44Credit. I'm afraid that I think we should all discuss this in a
0:21:44 > 0:21:53slightly more responsible manner. When I visited the Newark Jobcentre
0:21:53 > 0:21:58a week or so ago, 80% of the jobs in the Jobcentre were paid either four
0:21:58 > 0:22:00weekly or monthly. With the Secretary of State agree that you
0:22:00 > 0:22:04have to be careful not to patronise working people, and not to stop them
0:22:04 > 0:22:09from entering the workplace with as much ease as possible? The vast
0:22:09 > 0:22:15majority of jobs in my constituency are paid monthly.My honourable
0:22:15 > 0:22:19friend is absolutely right. Part of the purpose of Universal Credit is
0:22:19 > 0:22:23to close the gap between being out of work and being in work. For most
0:22:23 > 0:22:28jobs in work, that is paid monthly, getting people used to the monthly
0:22:28 > 0:22:33system is a sensible approach. Can I also say that I very much welcome
0:22:33 > 0:22:38the fact that my honourable friend has visited a Jobcentre. I recommend
0:22:38 > 0:22:43honourable and right honourable members to do so to hear how it is
0:22:43 > 0:22:46operating on the ground, because the experience that I know many
0:22:46 > 0:22:54honourable members have is extremely positive.I won't ask the Government
0:22:54 > 0:23:00bench for the fifth time whether I should believe his statement, the
0:23:00 > 0:23:02roll-out of Universal Credit in Birkenhead will go hunky-dory, with
0:23:02 > 0:23:08a food bank, which says it will need ten tonnes more food to prevent a
0:23:08 > 0:23:14scenario of people being hungry, if you cannot abide the word starving.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18We have a debate on Thursday which is signed by members across the
0:23:18 > 0:23:25House of Commons. It will be the first time when members opposite can
0:23:25 > 0:23:31actually vote, one if they want to reform Universal Credit. Will he be
0:23:31 > 0:23:38opening a debate on taking the message back to Cabinet?Well, the
0:23:38 > 0:23:41position we have made very clear for a long time is that we want to
0:23:41 > 0:23:48ensure that Universal Credit works. This is a test and learn system and
0:23:48 > 0:23:50we are always looking at ways in which we can improve the system,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53particularly for that first period. What I would say to the right
0:23:53 > 0:23:59Honourable Member, and the house as a whole, is that Universal Credit is
0:23:59 > 0:24:04helping us address the best way of dealing with poverty, which is
0:24:04 > 0:24:08ensuring that people can get into work. That is the argument that I
0:24:08 > 0:24:11and my honourable and right honourable friends will continue to
0:24:11 > 0:24:12make.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have visited job centres and I know that
0:24:20 > 0:24:23in the Universal Credit system that work coaches are very much an
0:24:23 > 0:24:27important and integral part of the system. May I ask my honourable
0:24:27 > 0:24:34friend how the new word coaches will boost job assist job-seekers in my
0:24:34 > 0:24:41constituency, in their eager quest to find work and to find employment?
0:24:41 > 0:24:45My honourable friend is absolutely right. That is why we are recruiting
0:24:45 > 0:24:49work coaches up and down the United Kingdom, providing the personalised
0:24:49 > 0:24:53support that people need to help them get into work. Again, I come
0:24:53 > 0:24:56back to my experience of meeting with word coaches in job centres up
0:24:56 > 0:25:01and down the country. They believe they have a system in place that is
0:25:01 > 0:25:10helping them to do more to transform lives. That is hugely important.Mr
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Speaker, one of the original objectives of Universal Credit was
0:25:13 > 0:25:18to reduce child poverty. In 2010, the Government said Universal Credit
0:25:18 > 0:25:24would reduce child poverty by 350,000. This was revised to 150,020
0:25:24 > 0:25:2813. Last year, ministers failed to produce a figure in answer to my
0:25:28 > 0:25:32honourable friend, the member for West Ham. What are the government's
0:25:32 > 0:25:35current estimates of how many children would be lifted out of
0:25:35 > 0:25:43poverty as a result of UC?Universal Credit gives people a better
0:25:43 > 0:25:50opportunity to work. It gives single parents greater support. In fact, it
0:25:50 > 0:25:54gives parents greater support on childcare. I come back to the
0:25:54 > 0:26:00example that I just gave a moment or so ago. He was previously on income
0:26:00 > 0:26:04support, not able to get help with childcare, now able to get help with
0:26:04 > 0:26:09childcare and is getting on the employment ladder thanks to
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Universal Credit. That is what Universal Credit is delivering.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Well, that was a really disappointing answer. We have
0:26:18 > 0:26:20already heard that the Child poverty action group published data last
0:26:20 > 0:26:26week which is predicting that 1 million more children will be pushed
0:26:26 > 0:26:33into poverty as a result of UC cuts. 300,000 of those that are under
0:26:33 > 0:26:40five. Another objective was to make work pay. Given that four out of ten
0:26:40 > 0:26:46people on UC are in work and would be, on average, £2600 a year work in
0:26:46 > 0:26:51the worst off, when will the Government admit that UC is not fit
0:26:51 > 0:26:57for purpose and stop the roll-out of UC?
0:26:57 > 0:27:08Can I point out that child poverty is down since 2010? I think the
0:27:08 > 0:27:13Honourable Member has given the game away there. She doesn't want to
0:27:13 > 0:27:19pause and fix Universal Credit, Mr Speaker. She wants to scrap and
0:27:19 > 0:27:28rewind it. She wants to rewind to a system when claimants were forced to
0:27:28 > 0:27:32accept reduction rate of 90%, where they had to claim a multitude of
0:27:32 > 0:27:36benefits and where we have a benefit system that was not an aid to people
0:27:36 > 0:27:40working, but an impediment that trapped people in poverty and
0:27:40 > 0:27:52dependency. That is what Universal Credit will bring an end to.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56With permission, Mr Speaker, will answer questions seven and 12
0:27:56 > 0:28:04together. There are no financial losers on those on the seat of
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Employment Allowance and the universal Reddit equivalent prior to
0:28:08 > 0:28:14April 2017 including those who temporarily leave the essay to try
0:28:14 > 0:28:18out work and return. New claimants from April and are capable of
0:28:18 > 0:28:22preparing for work received a rate of benefits on a par with Job
0:28:22 > 0:28:28Seekers Allowance.I welcome the Minister to her place. Changes to
0:28:28 > 0:28:33benefit are actually resulting in huge cuts to the money people and
0:28:33 > 0:28:36disabilities have to live on. The ESA cut was touted by the government
0:28:36 > 0:28:40as a way to remove perverse incentives and encourage people into
0:28:40 > 0:28:45work. With the Minister agree starvation does not encourage anyone
0:28:45 > 0:28:49into work and cutting funding the people in need does not help and
0:28:49 > 0:28:54that need, and will she commit to reversing these invidious cuts?I
0:28:54 > 0:28:58think the honourable lady for her question. There are no cuts to
0:28:58 > 0:29:06people on those benefits, let's be absolutely clear about this. Since
0:29:06 > 0:29:09April 2017, people who are able to work are receiving a personal
0:29:09 > 0:29:15support package. We have already recruited 300 new disability claim
0:29:15 > 0:29:21advisers, we have a -- allocated 15 million to the flexible support
0:29:21 > 0:29:26funds, we are doing everything we can for people who are able to make
0:29:26 > 0:29:34the journey back to work to have the support that they need to do so.It
0:29:34 > 0:29:40may place more reliance on the Minister's comments, that there is
0:29:40 > 0:29:46an austerity. Is he aware that the Scottish Government estimate between
0:29:46 > 0:29:507-10,000 people in my constituency and in Scotland stands to lose the
0:29:50 > 0:29:55work-related component of their allowances and this is a cut they
0:29:55 > 0:29:58cannot afford, so will she undertake to speak as a matter of urgency to
0:29:58 > 0:30:02the Chancellor ahead of the budget to reverse the cuts and stop
0:30:02 > 0:30:05punishing the poor and disabled for the economic failures of this
0:30:05 > 0:30:09Government.I think the honourable gentleman. Let's be absolutely clear
0:30:09 > 0:30:13what we are trying to achieve here. There are many people in Scotland
0:30:13 > 0:30:19and across our country who are recovering from health conditions,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22who have disabilities, who really want to work. And we are doing
0:30:22 > 0:30:26everything that we can't to provide them with tailored support so that
0:30:26 > 0:30:31they can do that and they can play a full part in the society to enable
0:30:31 > 0:30:37them to do so.Despite record employment, only one in every 100
0:30:37 > 0:30:43people on ESA leaves the benefits system every month. Could the
0:30:43 > 0:30:48Minister tell us what more she and her department doing to help these
0:30:48 > 0:30:55people into work.He is quite right to point out this unfair
0:30:55 > 0:30:59discrimination for people with disabilities in our country who
0:30:59 > 0:31:04really want to make a contribution. And we are doing everything
0:31:04 > 0:31:10including working with employers as well as providing people seeking
0:31:10 > 0:31:13employment with a tailor-made support that they need to play their
0:31:13 > 0:31:26full part in society. The UK continues to be a global leader in
0:31:26 > 0:31:30disability rights. And we are committed to further improving and
0:31:30 > 0:31:35progressively implementing this convention. We are considering the
0:31:35 > 0:31:38committee's recommendations and we will provide an update on the
0:31:38 > 0:31:44progress we are making in the next year, as requested by the UN.Mr
0:31:44 > 0:31:49Speaker, the UN found that UK cuts disproportionately hit people with
0:31:49 > 0:31:54disabilities and fundamentally and systematically and gravely
0:31:54 > 0:32:01undermined their human rights. So will she ensure now, today, that
0:32:01 > 0:32:04PIP, ESN and Universal Credit brought into line with the
0:32:04 > 0:32:10fundamental conventions of the UN so the people are treated with dignity
0:32:10 > 0:32:15instead of with discrimination and cruelty?This country has a proud
0:32:15 > 0:32:20record of treating people fairly and we will continue to uphold those
0:32:20 > 0:32:24proud principles. Of course we are considering the report and as I
0:32:24 > 0:32:28said, we will be publishing our findings. But let's put this in
0:32:28 > 0:32:32context. Only Germany of the G7 presents more money supporting
0:32:32 > 0:32:37people with disabilities and long-term conditions. As a
0:32:37 > 0:32:44percentage of GDP, we present 2.5% and that is 6% of all government
0:32:44 > 0:32:51spending. That is £50 billion year. Can I just confirm any money
0:32:51 > 0:32:57received on disability benefits as PIP DLA is exempt under the benefits
0:32:57 > 0:33:02capital.Very grateful to my honourable friend for that question
0:33:02 > 0:33:13and I can give a very simple answer, yes.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19I thank the honourable gentleman for his question. Up to October 20 7%
0:33:19 > 0:33:25have been disallowed personal independence payment. 45% of
0:33:25 > 0:33:30claimants with Parkinson's disease receive a higher award and a PIP
0:33:30 > 0:33:36than they did previously.Would it not save a lot of time, money and
0:33:36 > 0:33:41distress if all those on the higher rate of disability allowance with
0:33:41 > 0:33:44degenerative diseases like Parkinson's were transferred
0:33:44 > 0:33:47automatically onto personal independence payments and how many
0:33:47 > 0:33:50people with Parkinson's are currently in the noble review
0:33:50 > 0:33:58category?It is absolutely right that we get PIP right for anybody
0:33:58 > 0:34:01with a disability, including those people with degenerative diseases
0:34:01 > 0:34:06like Parkinson's. At a big it is absolutely right to notice, as my
0:34:06 > 0:34:12honourable friend did earlier that considering how many PIP assessments
0:34:12 > 0:34:18have been made, over 2.6 million, there have been fewer than 1% of
0:34:18 > 0:34:23complaints. Most of the time, this benefit is got right the first time.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28But we worked tirelessly, including with our stakeholders in the
0:34:28 > 0:34:36voluntary sector organisations, to make improvements.Advances are
0:34:36 > 0:34:40available at the start of a Universal Credit claimed to ensure
0:34:40 > 0:34:45people have money to tide them over until the first payment. Around half
0:34:45 > 0:34:49of claimants receiving advances and we have undertaken an exercise to
0:34:49 > 0:34:55improve awareness and access to the support.I thank the Secretary of
0:34:55 > 0:34:58State for this answer. We are fortunate in Bernd Ritthammer low
0:34:58 > 0:35:02employment rates. Could you tell me what the likely impact on jobs of
0:35:02 > 0:35:08Universal Credit roll-out will be in my constituency?In total, it is
0:35:08 > 0:35:13estimated that Universal Credit will help around 250,000 people more into
0:35:13 > 0:35:18employment. On average, that works out at around 400 extra people in
0:35:18 > 0:35:22work, in each Parliamentary constituency. But Universal Credit
0:35:22 > 0:35:25will have large impacts in areas with a higher proportion of benefit
0:35:25 > 0:35:28claimants or a higher prevalence of single parents and out of work
0:35:28 > 0:35:34families. But Russell trust say that food bank
0:35:34 > 0:35:38use has increased in areas where Universal Credit has been rolled
0:35:38 > 0:35:42out, it has not been rolled out yet in my constituency, but this
0:35:42 > 0:35:46weekend, the Hayward food bank ran out of food. What safeguards will
0:35:46 > 0:35:50the Minister put in place to ensure Universal Credit claimants do not
0:35:50 > 0:35:53have to rely on a charity of their neighbours, a system that sometimes
0:35:53 > 0:35:57fails? We are improving the advances
0:35:57 > 0:36:03system, awareness of the advances system. This is a message we can all
0:36:03 > 0:36:07take to our constituents. There is support available, nobody needs to
0:36:07 > 0:36:13wait six weeks because advances are available within Job Centres and
0:36:13 > 0:36:15they are being taken up, the majority of new claimants are taking
0:36:15 > 0:36:21up those offences. Last week, I heard from one of my
0:36:21 > 0:36:24constituents who was having difficulty getting an advance
0:36:24 > 0:36:28payment and had to result to a food bank. When the error was corrected,
0:36:28 > 0:36:34he took that food back to the food bank when he got his advance
0:36:34 > 0:36:37payment. Does this not show that when mistakes are made, every effort
0:36:37 > 0:36:42is being made to correct them and secondly, the basic human decency of
0:36:42 > 0:36:48those claiming Universal Credit? I entirely agree with my honourable
0:36:48 > 0:36:53friend and the point he makes. It is worth pointing out that in the
0:36:53 > 0:36:57normal course of events, if somebody gets an advance, it usually takes
0:36:57 > 0:37:01around three days through the thanking system for the money to be
0:37:01 > 0:37:11paid. But if need be, people can get support on the same day.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Thank you, Mr Speaker. The comment's position will set out in
0:37:15 > 0:37:21Parliamentary debates in October 2016 and March 2015 by our Liberal
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Democrat colleague says Steve Webb and I have great sympathy for those
0:37:25 > 0:37:29affected but they are protected by the pension fund compensation
0:37:29 > 0:37:35scheme. In 1996, the Government actuaries Department in a note
0:37:35 > 0:37:39bailed to clearly outline the risks of transferring their pensions to
0:37:39 > 0:37:43the new private sector scheme. We regulate financial advice in this
0:37:43 > 0:37:47country yet when it is the Government giving the advice, not
0:37:47 > 0:37:51even the Parliamentary ombudsman can review it. Surely this is grossly
0:37:51 > 0:37:55unjust. Why does the Minister not pursue this mis-selling scandal is
0:37:55 > 0:38:00the FCA did with the PPI, is it because it would be the Government
0:38:00 > 0:38:06that is to blame this time?The honourable lady suggests one thing.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11I can only refer her to the two Parliamentary debates that dealt
0:38:11 > 0:38:15specifically with this matter, as set out by her own Liberal Democrat
0:38:15 > 0:38:18colleague when he was part of the Coalition, says Steve Webb, in March
0:38:18 > 0:38:252015.The pension protection fund is a vital lifeline for those who
0:38:25 > 0:38:31become insolvent, can Minister give an update on when the white paper
0:38:31 > 0:38:36looking at the affordability will be available?The Green paper as he
0:38:36 > 0:38:40knows was published in debris 2017 and there has been extensive
0:38:40 > 0:38:44consultation and much consideration of the matters but forward. We are
0:38:44 > 0:38:48analysing those responses and intend to publish a white paper in the New
0:38:48 > 0:38:56Year. Since 2010, over 3 million more
0:38:56 > 0:38:59people have found employment, the employment rate is close to the
0:38:59 > 0:39:04record high and the employment rate is the lowest it has been since
0:39:04 > 0:39:111985. 11% of people in Cheadle are
0:39:11 > 0:39:14self-employed, Mike constituent is self-employed and also a wheelchair
0:39:14 > 0:39:18user who finds valuable opportunities to attend networking
0:39:18 > 0:39:23opportunities are lost because they are not always accessible. Does the
0:39:23 > 0:39:27Minister agree to unlock the talent and energy of disabled
0:39:27 > 0:39:31entrepreneurs, event organisers must make provisions for successful
0:39:31 > 0:39:36people to attend them? I do agree with my honourable friend
0:39:36 > 0:39:43and I think service providers have a duty to anticipate and provide
0:39:43 > 0:39:46adjustments for disabled people and certainly in the case of my
0:39:46 > 0:39:51honourable friend's constituent, this may include arranging events at
0:39:51 > 0:39:54an accessible venue. Also worth pointing out that the new enterprise
0:39:54 > 0:40:01allowance which is designed to help people set up businesses, one in
0:40:01 > 0:40:04five of those taking up the new enterprise allowance have been
0:40:04 > 0:40:10disabled people. Whilst every new job is welcome, in
0:40:10 > 0:40:17a country where 55% of people knew in the work of receipt of benefits.
0:40:17 > 0:40:24Mark Webb and living in poverty.And the better off now disgustingly
0:40:24 > 0:40:30well-paid, what is the Government going to do about it.The highest
0:40:30 > 0:40:35earning 1% pay a bigger proportion of income tax than they ever have
0:40:35 > 0:40:42done before. I have also announced that as a government, we have
0:40:42 > 0:40:44substantially increased the Personal Allowance and introduce the national
0:40:44 > 0:40:48Living Wage and the support the Universal Credit is going to provide
0:40:48 > 0:40:55will help more and more people progress into work.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Around half and we are working to further improve awareness and access
0:40:58 > 0:41:04to the support. Mr Speaker, I am keen to ensure the
0:41:04 > 0:41:09advance payments are made to my constituents in need and I see the
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Job Centre and these systems advise Dutch Citizens Advice Bureau once a
0:41:11 > 0:41:18month. Would he agreed that the party opposite should start acting
0:41:18 > 0:41:20responsibly and encourage constituents to apply for this
0:41:20 > 0:41:24additional help and tone down the political rhetoric which can deter
0:41:24 > 0:41:29vulnerable people from applying in the first place?He knows and the
0:41:29 > 0:41:32party opposite should acknowledge that no one need go without money
0:41:32 > 0:41:35while waiting for their first regular payment and they should not
0:41:35 > 0:41:43try to put people off accessing the support that is there for them.
0:41:43 > 0:41:48Minister, today's exactly six weeks until Christmas Day. If anyone
0:41:48 > 0:41:53applies for Universal Credit today, they will have to make do and just
0:41:53 > 0:41:57two weeks of Universal Credit until after Christmas. What assessment has
0:41:57 > 0:42:01the Minister made of the impact on those families and their ability to
0:42:01 > 0:42:09let the children enjoy Christmas? Our record on timeliness of
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Universal Credit has improved markedly. Advances are always
0:42:13 > 0:42:17available. In the run-up to Christmas, when there are many
0:42:17 > 0:42:19temporary work opportunities available, Universal Credit works
0:42:19 > 0:42:22much better for people in being able to access those opportunities,
0:42:22 > 0:42:27particularly on the verge of the festive season.How much longer can
0:42:27 > 0:42:32a time and spend looking for a job on Universal Credit?Very well, I
0:42:32 > 0:42:36will take the Right Honourable Gentleman on question 14. Though he
0:42:36 > 0:42:40did not seek agreement to that proposition, simply blurting it out.
0:42:40 > 0:42:46We will accept it on that occasion. Mr Speaker, we do know that people
0:42:46 > 0:42:50spend a great deal more time on Universal Credit looking for work.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53They apply for a wider range of jobs and consider jobs they may not have
0:42:53 > 0:42:57considered before. This is all part of the reason why we know there is
0:42:57 > 0:42:59significantly better labour market outcomes for people more likely to
0:42:59 > 0:43:06be in work after six months than on the old benefits.Question 16, Mr
0:43:06 > 0:43:14Speaker.Universal Credit is transforming and modernising the
0:43:14 > 0:43:17welfare state, ending complicated rolls around employment hours and
0:43:17 > 0:43:20the cliff edges of the old system. Universal Credit has a clear system
0:43:20 > 0:43:24of allowances and tapers to ensure that claimants know that they are
0:43:24 > 0:43:29always better off in work.Will the Secretary of State agree with me
0:43:29 > 0:43:33that one of the fundamental flaws of the system we inherited from Labour
0:43:33 > 0:43:38is that people that want it to work more than 16 hours a week could lose
0:43:38 > 0:43:4290p of every pound that they earned? My right honourable friend is
0:43:42 > 0:43:47absolutely right. It wasn't just a very high marginal deduction rates,
0:43:47 > 0:43:50which obviously we don't see with Universal Credit, it was the fact
0:43:50 > 0:43:55that people moving in and out of work, or the hours fluctuating,
0:43:55 > 0:43:57could find themselves moving from one benefit system to another
0:43:57 > 0:44:03benefit system, creating additional hassle and uncertainty for
0:44:03 > 0:44:06claimants, and indeed discouraging people from taking on additional
0:44:06 > 0:44:16hours.Number 17, Mr Speaker.With permission, I would like to answer
0:44:16 > 0:44:19question 17 and 19 together. The Department for Work and Pensions are
0:44:19 > 0:44:22currently undertaking work to investigate the reality of rent
0:44:22 > 0:44:25arrears and Universal Credit. It aims to understand the true level of
0:44:25 > 0:44:29rent arrears for the tenants, what is causing them and any impact
0:44:29 > 0:44:35Universal Credit may be having. Thank you, Mr Speaker. New findings
0:44:35 > 0:44:40say 49% of landlords are less likely to rent to those in receipt of
0:44:40 > 0:44:45Universal Credit. In Kirklees there are only 121 social homes available
0:44:45 > 0:44:51for 9000 700 on the waiting list. Can the Minister tell us what steps
0:44:51 > 0:44:59she is going to take to prevent those on year. -- on Universal
0:44:59 > 0:45:04Credit being swim in it against?The honourable lady is right to raise
0:45:04 > 0:45:06the question, but there are alternative arrangements available.
0:45:06 > 0:45:11We have listened very carefully to housing providers. We are seeing
0:45:11 > 0:45:18improvements in this all the time.I listened very carefully to what the
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Minister said in answer to the question. I am wondering if it is
0:45:22 > 0:45:25any surprise to hear that the chief executive of a large housing
0:45:25 > 0:45:28association in the north-west of Raymond recently told me that there
0:45:28 > 0:45:32are arrears from Universal Credit alone was over £2 million. One
0:45:32 > 0:45:38authority in Yorkshire and Humber has an average per claimant of over
0:45:38 > 0:45:42£1100 per claimant. Why is that happening and what are you going to
0:45:42 > 0:45:47do about it?I think we have to be really careful not to scaremonger on
0:45:47 > 0:45:53this. The National Federation of arm's-length management
0:45:53 > 0:45:59organisations reports three quarters of tenants who started claiming
0:45:59 > 0:46:03Universal Credit were already in arrears. Research shows that after
0:46:03 > 0:46:08four months, the number of claimants in arrears has fallen by a third.
0:46:08 > 0:46:12The single biggest problem for recipients of welfare coming into
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Universal Credit, for some, is the high level of debt. Could my right
0:46:16 > 0:46:19honourable friend the employment Minister tell me what he can do to
0:46:19 > 0:46:22take forward his idea of an interest-free period to resolve
0:46:22 > 0:46:26outstanding debt, and secondly to promote the use of credit unions in
0:46:26 > 0:46:33advising strongly against loan sharks in the run-up to Christmas?
0:46:33 > 0:46:36Mr Speaker, and a half of my honourable friend the employment
0:46:36 > 0:46:39minister, he makes a very important point. We do want people to adjust
0:46:39 > 0:46:45their levels of debt. That is why we had a system of advanced payments
0:46:45 > 0:46:50which enables people to be able to budget properly and meet their
0:46:50 > 0:46:58debts.Question 18.Thank you, we are rolling out Universal Credit
0:46:58 > 0:47:02full-service in a very measured way. I am not aware of any recent cases
0:47:02 > 0:47:07of claims being lost. If the Right Honourable Gentleman does no such
0:47:07 > 0:47:12incidents, I very much welcome him bringing them to my attention.There
0:47:12 > 0:47:17are serious concerns about glitches with Universal Credit, apparently
0:47:17 > 0:47:21arising because the IT does not yet work properly in some areas. The
0:47:21 > 0:47:25Child poverty action group has reported instances of claims being
0:47:25 > 0:47:31made and then vanishing into the ether without trace. Will the
0:47:31 > 0:47:37Minister assure the house that glitches of this kind will be
0:47:37 > 0:47:42addressed and will be resolved, not simply denied?Mr Speaker, I think
0:47:42 > 0:47:48the report to which he refers says that many claims seem to have
0:47:48 > 0:47:52disappeared. In the texted says it is a small number, and goes on to
0:47:52 > 0:47:56mention just one case. That is not to say that I ignore that or
0:47:56 > 0:48:00belittle it in anyway. Of course I take what he says very seriously and
0:48:00 > 0:48:05he has my absolute assurance that I will pay attention to any glitches.
0:48:05 > 0:48:11Topical questions, Helena Smith. Number one, Mr Speaker.This
0:48:11 > 0:48:15department's mission is to support people through all stages of their
0:48:15 > 0:48:18lives. Universal Credit is being introduced slowly and steadily and
0:48:18 > 0:48:23positively transforming people's prospects by bringing satisfaction
0:48:23 > 0:48:26and security of entering work and increasing earnings. We are also
0:48:26 > 0:48:31helping citizens prepare for later life with workplace pensions and we
0:48:31 > 0:48:34are committed to helping people at all stages of their life, and will
0:48:34 > 0:48:40continue to build on this body of work to achieve our ends.
0:48:41 > 0:48:46How does the department plan to respond to their own research,
0:48:46 > 0:48:49showing that Universal Credit is a driver of rent arrears among
0:48:49 > 0:48:55families who rely on it to support them?As my honourable friend has
0:48:55 > 0:48:57addressed, we do need to recognise that a number of other statistics
0:48:57 > 0:49:06that have been quoted, that we have seen rent arrears rising before
0:49:06 > 0:49:09people went into Universal Credit, and after a period of time the
0:49:09 > 0:49:13numbers with rent arrears is falling. Of course, we continue to
0:49:13 > 0:49:17improve the system to ensure that, for example, payment timeliness is
0:49:17 > 0:49:24improved and that people are able to access advances when they need it.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28The Minister will know that motor neurone disease is a degenerative
0:49:28 > 0:49:33disease. Could I ask, therefore, what plans they have to insure that
0:49:33 > 0:49:37people who suffer from that terrible disease don't have to be reassessed
0:49:37 > 0:49:44for PIP?I thank my honourable friend for that question. The length
0:49:44 > 0:49:47of the award is based on individual circumstances and can vary from nine
0:49:47 > 0:49:52months to an ongoing ward with a very light touch review, at the
0:49:52 > 0:49:5710-year point. With somebody as my honourable friend describes, it is
0:49:57 > 0:50:01very unlikely they would have another face-to-face assessment with
0:50:01 > 0:50:06a health care professional.We all know that the Government is bogged
0:50:06 > 0:50:10down in all manner of ways and have been slow to develop secondary
0:50:10 > 0:50:13legislation for several new acts. Can the Minister tell the house when
0:50:13 > 0:50:18he will bring forward regulations to enact defined contribution and give
0:50:18 > 0:50:23pension savers the opportunity of a vastly increased benefits system,
0:50:23 > 0:50:28predicted by the pensions policy Institute and Schroders?These
0:50:28 > 0:50:33matters are being considered and will be addressed in the New Year.
0:50:33 > 0:50:38Can the Minister update the house with the pensions dashboard and
0:50:38 > 0:50:40confirm that all pension schemes will be required to release the
0:50:40 > 0:50:47conference of data required to make the system useful?I am very firmly
0:50:47 > 0:50:50committed to delivering the pensions dashboard. Its introduction will
0:50:50 > 0:50:54clearly transform the way people think about retirement. I will make
0:50:54 > 0:50:57a statement in the spring which will tackle some of the delivery
0:50:57 > 0:51:01challenges, including the point of the honourable gentleman raises.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04There is a feasibility study that is ongoing. There is a stakeholder
0:51:04 > 0:51:08meeting on December the 11th and I would urge him to come along to
0:51:08 > 0:51:14that, as will many interested stakeholders.How does the increased
0:51:14 > 0:51:16conditionality associated with Universal Credit, for example the
0:51:16 > 0:51:19requirement to attend or frequently at job centres, square with the DWP
0:51:19 > 0:51:23Estates reviewing the decision to close job centres, starting with
0:51:23 > 0:51:30Merry Hill in my constituency, which I have recently visited?Mr Speaker,
0:51:30 > 0:51:33we do have a comprehensive network of job centres across the United
0:51:33 > 0:51:36Kingdom, more in Scotland and England and more again in Glasgow
0:51:36 > 0:51:40than other cities. The Universal Credit is a system which works to
0:51:40 > 0:51:45help to support people to get into work and it is the right system.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Does my right honourable friend share my concern that the inaccurate
0:51:48 > 0:51:53use of Universal Credit statistics can cause huge distress and concern
0:51:53 > 0:51:56to vulnerable claimants? And that everyone has a duty to check their
0:51:56 > 0:52:02facts before using them in this house?I agree. Can I give one
0:52:02 > 0:52:05example? Speaking from that dispatch box, the Leader of the Opposition
0:52:05 > 0:52:11recently said that Gloucester city Holmes had evicted one in eight of
0:52:11 > 0:52:16Universal Credit tenants. If true, it would amount to 650 tenants being
0:52:16 > 0:52:20evicted. Gloucester city Holmes have themselves described it does not
0:52:20 > 0:52:27factually accurate. In fact, a total of eight credits have been evicted.
0:52:27 > 0:52:31All of them had considerable rent arrears well before moving on to
0:52:31 > 0:52:35Universal Credit. In one case, I understand they had not been
0:52:35 > 0:52:41resident in the property for 18 months.Mr Speaker, many veterans
0:52:41 > 0:52:44with psychological injuries carry out physical activity as part of
0:52:44 > 0:52:48their rehabilitation process. But some are reporting that they have
0:52:48 > 0:52:52been sanctioned because of this. Can the Secretary of State give his
0:52:52 > 0:52:55guarantee that his government will no longer sanction recovering
0:52:55 > 0:53:04veterans?I will, of course, look at the facts of the case. I cannot make
0:53:04 > 0:53:07a blank and commitment. Obviously one has to look at the particular
0:53:07 > 0:53:12circumstances. -- a blanket commitment. We do recognise and
0:53:12 > 0:53:18support our veterans at every opportunity.Mr Speaker, a
0:53:18 > 0:53:20constituency recently contacted me concerned about the amount of time
0:53:20 > 0:53:25they are having to wait for their tribunal hearing. Will my right
0:53:25 > 0:53:28honourable friend make representations to the Ministry of
0:53:28 > 0:53:34Justice about the efficiency of HM Courts and tribunals?I am happy to
0:53:34 > 0:53:43convey my honourable friend's concerns.Where is the fellow?
0:53:45 > 0:53:52I will take his place, thank you. My local authority is having to set
0:53:52 > 0:53:56aside £1 million to mitigate for the devastating impact of the role of
0:53:56 > 0:54:00Universal Credit, the impact it is having on families, including having
0:54:00 > 0:54:03to hire extra staff to deal with rent arrears, which they expect to
0:54:03 > 0:54:08increase by 5%. At all levels government in Scotland forced to
0:54:08 > 0:54:14pick up the government's slack, does he not have to pause the roll-out
0:54:14 > 0:54:21now?Universal Credit is going to help transform lives. It is already
0:54:21 > 0:54:26doing it. Transforming a positively by giving people the opportunity to
0:54:26 > 0:54:30work and to progress in work. I just have to say that the SNP can join
0:54:30 > 0:54:33the Labour Party in being on the wrong side of the adamant and
0:54:33 > 0:54:40history will not forgive them for it.-- of the argument. Since 2010,
0:54:40 > 0:54:43discover mug has overseen remarkable job creation. My predecessor,
0:54:43 > 0:54:48formerly of the SNP benches, has just secured a very well-paid media
0:54:48 > 0:54:53position with Yorkshire Today. Would the Minister agree with me that
0:54:53 > 0:54:59people must be flexible about career choices to get on?
0:55:02 > 0:55:14We sometimes hear enough fake news within this chamber. To see the
0:55:14 > 0:55:17former leader of the SNP find themselves employed by a purveyor of
0:55:17 > 0:55:19fake news is disappointing, even if we welcome employment opportunities
0:55:19 > 0:55:27in the round.Universal Credit is proving to be a real challenge for
0:55:27 > 0:55:32people who are self-employed as it fails to account for fluctuations in
0:55:32 > 0:55:36income from one month to another, meaning many are losing out on
0:55:36 > 0:55:40hundreds of pounds of lost benefits. This is totally counter to the
0:55:40 > 0:55:46aspirational vision of Universal Credit that the Government preaches.
0:55:46 > 0:55:51Will the Minister committed to immediately reviewing the benefits'
0:55:51 > 0:55:57suitability for the self-employed and fixing this anomaly?On the
0:55:57 > 0:55:59contrary, Universal Credit specifically responds each month to
0:55:59 > 0:56:02what earnings have been in that month. That is at the heart of its
0:56:02 > 0:56:05design. We do want to help people that are in self-employment to grow
0:56:05 > 0:56:08their earnings and dimension that they have sustainable remunerative
0:56:08 > 0:56:12work. That is why we haven't used a new programme within the new
0:56:12 > 0:56:17enterprise allowance to help you do just that.Great unhappiness
0:56:17 > 0:56:24continues surrounding the issues of pensions and the women who have come
0:56:24 > 0:56:28to see us in our constituencies. There is a plan to have a Private
0:56:28 > 0:56:30members Bill next year. Does my right honourable friend not agree
0:56:30 > 0:56:34that given the continuing accusations and counter accusations
0:56:34 > 0:56:37as to whether people were told not that it would be worthwhile to have
0:56:37 > 0:56:44the debate? Will he support such idea?I am grateful to my right
0:56:44 > 0:56:47honourable friend for his question and I have no doubt that there will
0:56:47 > 0:56:50continue to be debates on this matter. As my honourable friend the
0:56:50 > 0:56:56pensions minister has already declared, we are not going to be
0:56:56 > 0:57:05deviating from the policy we have set out.
0:57:05 > 0:57:1212% of council tenants in the Universal Credit pilot accumulated
0:57:12 > 0:57:17by .3 million pounds rent arrears. Given his astonishing refusal in the
0:57:17 > 0:57:22face of such evidence to halt the roll-out, can the Secretary of State
0:57:22 > 0:57:25to say precisely what he is doing to stop more on my constituents being
0:57:25 > 0:57:31made homeless as a consequence of this decision?Again, I come back to
0:57:31 > 0:57:37this throwing around of accusations. In terms of, we had the Leader of
0:57:37 > 0:57:43the Opposition claiming that 650 people were being evicted, had been
0:57:43 > 0:57:47evicted because of Universal Credit. We are not seeing convictions in the
0:57:47 > 0:57:50social rental sector and there are clear reasons why that does not
0:57:50 > 0:57:59happen. What we are getting from the party opposite is scaremongering for
0:57:59 > 0:58:01potential Universal Credit claimants, which is creating
0:58:01 > 0:58:08unnecessary anxiety.Would he agree with me and congratulate boxed OCA
0:58:08 > 0:58:14be? We have Universal Credit rolled out next year and they are putting
0:58:14 > 0:58:19together the relevant agencies to make some law we are ready for it.
0:58:19 > 0:58:24And what you look at whether or not for a very small amount of money my
0:58:24 > 0:58:28CAB could have one person to deal with all the cases, and we can make
0:58:28 > 0:58:35this work as we all know it should work?I will take that as a spending
0:58:35 > 0:58:40bid from my right honourable friend. But she is right to highlight the
0:58:40 > 0:58:46role of the Citizens Advice Bureau and I met with some in St Albans and
0:58:46 > 0:58:49Bedford last week and whether CAB works closely with the Job Centres,
0:58:49 > 0:58:55it helps deliver the support people need and I very much welcome that.
0:58:55 > 0:58:59My constituent was moved onto Universal Credit in January 2016 and
0:58:59 > 0:59:04has been given a 132 day sanction and treated by psychiatric services
0:59:04 > 0:59:11and will be back to look into her case because it is very sensitive.I
0:59:11 > 0:59:15am happy to receive representations from the honourable member on that
0:59:15 > 0:59:18case. I cannot talk about individuals matters but happy to
0:59:18 > 0:59:24look at that case. What is my right honourable friend
0:59:24 > 0:59:34doing to close loopholes designed to avoid child maintenance payments?
0:59:34 > 0:59:40Where a nonresident payment fails to pay on time or in full, we endeavour
0:59:40 > 0:59:42to immediately try and establish compliance before enforcement action
0:59:42 > 0:59:49is needed. We have a range of powers including the forced sale of
0:59:49 > 0:59:51property, disqualification from driving or commitments to prison.
0:59:51 > 0:59:58But we are exploring options to expand this to form part of the new
0:59:58 > 1:00:05compliance strategy shortly, Mr Speaker.Members of the British
1:00:05 > 1:00:09Steel pension scheme need to decide whether to go into the pension
1:00:09 > 1:00:14scheme or the PPF by December the 11 but there is a lack of clarity
1:00:14 > 1:00:20around high low pensioners in the PPF and whether that might change
1:00:20 > 1:00:23after that point. Can the Secretary of State look at this so the
1:00:23 > 1:00:28information is available for people make that decision?
1:00:28 > 1:00:31I acknowledge the issue the honourable gentleman is setting out.
1:00:31 > 1:00:35If he contacts me, I will sit down with him and go through it in more
1:00:35 > 1:00:37detail. It is a matter for the trustees