0:00:00 > 0:00:01of Parliament at 11pm. First its questions to the Work and Pensions
0:00:01 > 0:00:09Secretary Esther McVey and her ministerial team.Question number
0:00:09 > 0:00:22one.Secretary Esther McVey.Thank you Mr Speaker. Where all the
0:00:22 > 0:00:25sponsored employers have entered insolvency they will enter an
0:00:25 > 0:00:27assessment period. The pension protection fund will actively work
0:00:27 > 0:00:32with the scheme to assess whether they are able to buy out their
0:00:32 > 0:00:38pensions at a higher level than the benefits. Where a scheme cannot do
0:00:38 > 0:00:43this, PFF will provide compensation. Contribution schemes do not need PFF
0:00:43 > 0:00:53help because they do not promise the level of pension.The government has
0:00:53 > 0:00:57presided over a regulatory scheme where a deficit of about £1 billion
0:00:57 > 0:01:03has been allowed to build up in the pension fund. At the same time as
0:01:03 > 0:01:06shareholders were receiving dividends. Can the Secretary of
0:01:06 > 0:01:11State guarantee that all former Carillion employees will receive
0:01:11 > 0:01:19their due pension in full?Is what the government has done and done
0:01:19 > 0:01:25successfully back in 2004 was set up the pension protection fund, which
0:01:25 > 0:01:29is there to compensate people should their businesses become insolvent.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35This is what the fund will be doing. It will be affording protection at
0:01:35 > 0:01:40100% for those who have got a pension and for those who are not a
0:01:40 > 0:01:45pension yet, they will be getting 90% of the fund. What this
0:01:45 > 0:01:50government is doing is ensuring that businesses that should be held
0:01:50 > 0:01:54responsible to their employees and for their pensions, we will be
0:01:54 > 0:01:57bringing in stronger corporate governance rules to make sure that
0:01:57 > 0:02:01the boards, the trustees, the shareholders and the stakeholders
0:02:01 > 0:02:08are holding those company executives to account.Financial directors must
0:02:08 > 0:02:12not cause detriment to any private sector pension scheme. Right
0:02:12 > 0:02:16honourable friend ensure that the rules and regulations regarding the
0:02:16 > 0:02:20investigation of this sort of practice are toughened up? We can't
0:02:20 > 0:02:26allow this to happen in the future. Absolutely right, and that is what
0:02:26 > 0:02:31this government is seeking to do, is ensuring that the regulator will, as
0:02:31 > 0:02:37our new Bill comes out later in the year, have more rights to find, to
0:02:37 > 0:02:40follow criminal procedures, and also looking to mandate to read
0:02:40 > 0:02:46clearance. Any of us who have studied corporate governance
0:02:46 > 0:02:55realised rules changed back in 1991. The rules were strengthened in 2002,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and I believe now under this Conservative government will be
0:02:58 > 0:03:03strengthening those corporate governance rules again.My
0:03:03 > 0:03:07constituents who have paid into pension funds deserve to have those
0:03:07 > 0:03:11money is protected. Can the Secretary of State be a bit more
0:03:11 > 0:03:14specific? What changes does she want to see the corporate governance to
0:03:14 > 0:03:17ensure that high risk behaviour towards pension funds doesn't happen
0:03:17 > 0:03:25again?We are getting feedback from various businesses, how they think
0:03:25 > 0:03:30we would be best to enable and support businesses. We can't go off
0:03:30 > 0:03:35on a knee jerk reaction because we might actually have unintended
0:03:35 > 0:03:39consequences. Where we shine a spotlight on one area we could close
0:03:39 > 0:03:42down loopholes but actually an array of other ones open up. It's got to
0:03:42 > 0:03:47be looked at in the round but like I said, stakeholders, shareholders,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51the executive team should be held to account and that is what we'll be
0:03:51 > 0:03:55making sure happens.Can my right honourable friend reassure my
0:03:55 > 0:04:00constituents that the UK's pension protection system has responded
0:04:00 > 0:04:06effectively to the Carillion situation?I can indeed reassure my
0:04:06 > 0:04:10honourable friend that what they are doing and the avenues they are
0:04:10 > 0:04:15pursuing are correct and thorough. I met with the regulator last week,
0:04:15 > 0:04:20and they are making sure that they investigate these key matters and
0:04:20 > 0:04:25provide the pensions support that is needed. Where we need to strengthen
0:04:25 > 0:04:31this up in the future, we will do so. Equally make to wake aware of
0:04:31 > 0:04:35what the pension regulator has done the past with the British home
0:04:35 > 0:04:40stores fiasco, totally different to this. They did an anti-avoidance
0:04:40 > 0:04:45measure, got Philip Green to pay 363 million to his pensioners and also
0:04:45 > 0:04:53that the prosecution schemes coming forward for Chapell who bought that
0:04:53 > 0:04:59company for £1.The government has responsibility for the pensions
0:04:59 > 0:05:03regulatory framework. How would the Secretary of State describe a
0:05:03 > 0:05:06regulatory framework that allows the administrator of a pension scheme to
0:05:06 > 0:05:11help bring about the downfall of the company and the employees they
0:05:11 > 0:05:20represent, and to profit from that downfall?If you will, Mr Speaker,
0:05:20 > 0:05:25and if you'd allow me to do that. When I hear some of the things that
0:05:25 > 0:05:28the honourable lady on the opposite bench has said and particularly when
0:05:28 > 0:05:33she puts them out of context, she will have received a letter from the
0:05:33 > 0:05:36UK Statistics Authority in the last two days saying many of the things
0:05:36 > 0:05:41that she's said do not have accuracy. So whether that was about
0:05:41 > 0:05:49children waking up in poverty, at Christmas, or whether that was
0:05:49 > 0:05:52linking UC with poverty, actually said they weren't supported, they
0:05:52 > 0:05:57weren't true statistics, and the sources could not be relied upon.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Could I ask the honourable lady to make a statement about this letter
0:06:01 > 0:06:07from the UK stats authority straightaway.I understand the
0:06:07 > 0:06:10rhetorical significance of the point the Secretary of State has made, but
0:06:10 > 0:06:15I must exhort the honourable lady to stick to her last. That is to say,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19this is not the occasion on which she is invited to speak on that
0:06:19 > 0:06:22matter. She may find other opportunities but she should stick
0:06:22 > 0:06:26to the line of questioning that is relevant to questioning a government
0:06:26 > 0:06:34Minister.Thank you Mr Speaker. In respect that there was absolutely no
0:06:34 > 0:06:41answer to my original question, hundreds of thousands of ordinary
0:06:41 > 0:06:45working people including my constituent Philip wild have lost
0:06:45 > 0:06:49half of their retirement income because of the government's failure
0:06:49 > 0:06:58to tackle pensions governance. From Carillion to NPower, BHS -- from
0:06:58 > 0:07:06Carillion to Capita.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12Obviously in light of how the chair of the stats authority has written
0:07:12 > 0:07:19to the honourable member about how we allude to how questions and
0:07:19 > 0:07:24answers, what I will say is, and I think it needs to be put on the
0:07:24 > 0:07:31record, the vast majority of defined benefit pension schemes are working
0:07:31 > 0:07:41very well indeed. When we do see instances of either abuse or illegal
0:07:41 > 0:07:45goings-on, they are investigated. Those people who have done that
0:07:45 > 0:07:51brought to account and what we have got is strong Pension Protection
0:07:51 > 0:07:56Fund supported by other businesses which are looking after pensioners
0:07:56 > 0:08:10across the country.We are committed to ensuring consumers across the UK
0:08:10 > 0:08:14have access to high-quality impartial and free pensions and
0:08:14 > 0:08:17money guidance services, that is why we are setting up the new single
0:08:17 > 0:08:22financial guidance body which is presently in Bill committee in the
0:08:22 > 0:08:24House of Commons. My honourable friend will be aware the
0:08:24 > 0:08:33Conservative government's commitment is specifically to address debt.In
0:08:33 > 0:08:38a recent poll in the Guardian, 32% of British workers were found to
0:08:38 > 0:08:43have less than £500 in savings. What is the government doing to promote
0:08:43 > 0:08:48long-term savings and support employers such as the 1340 in
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Chichester who have auto enrolled their employees currently benefiting
0:08:51 > 0:08:5813,000 people?My honourable friend will be aware that when the debt
0:08:58 > 0:09:00respite scheme and the breathing space goes into law, we believe that
0:09:00 > 0:09:05will make eight manifest difference to how people are dealt with in
0:09:05 > 0:09:09respect of debt, as will be single financial guidance body. I would be
0:09:09 > 0:09:14failing in my duty not to pay tribute to the employers in her
0:09:14 > 0:09:18constituency of Chichester who are doing a brilliant job ensuring that
0:09:18 > 0:09:22we have more people in auto-enrolment, adding to the 9.1
0:09:22 > 0:09:25million people across the country who are now auto enrolled in a
0:09:25 > 0:09:32private pension, something we should be very proud of.11p per year -- 11
0:09:32 > 0:09:38million people per year use price comparison sites. The FSA in 2014
0:09:38 > 0:09:42found they were not delivering fair and consistent practices. The CMA
0:09:42 > 0:09:48says they should be using easy-to-use systems. What can the
0:09:48 > 0:09:52government do to ensure the sites are easy and straightforward to use?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55The simple answer is I will take that matter up with my colleagues at
0:09:55 > 0:10:01the Treasury who are particularly handling that point. He will be
0:10:01 > 0:10:05aware I'm in a Bill committee at the moment with the exact same Minister
0:10:05 > 0:10:09and probably will have an opportunity tomorrow to have a
0:10:09 > 0:10:20discussion about that point.A portal that shift supervisor, badly
0:10:20 > 0:10:23advised by a pensions predator preying upon him, made him take the
0:10:23 > 0:10:30wrong choice. I will never forgive myself, he said, because all 20 on
0:10:30 > 0:10:36my shift followed my lead. In an otherwise welcome Bill in the words
0:10:36 > 0:10:40of baroness Altman, the government seems to have bowed to industry
0:10:40 > 0:10:45pressure and proposes to weaken consumer protection for pensions
0:10:45 > 0:10:48customers by removing a clause introduced in the House of Lords. In
0:10:48 > 0:10:53her words, more people are at risk of losing their hard earned savings
0:10:53 > 0:10:59in scams, fraud and an wife's pension withdrawals. She is
0:10:59 > 0:11:04absolutely right, will the government think again?
0:11:04 > 0:11:08At an grateful for the opportunity to have the same debate we had last
0:11:08 > 0:11:13Thursday Mr Speaker. I will give the same answer, no disrespect to
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Baroness Altmann, she is incorrect on this point. The government are
0:11:17 > 0:11:20addressing pensions guidance, have introduced stringent new laws and
0:11:20 > 0:11:27have improved upon their work and pensions select committee points,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29something that the honourable15- honourable15- agreed with last
0:11:29 > 0:11:39Thursday.Thank you Mr Speaker. Minister Kitt Malthouse.Mr Speaker
0:11:39 > 0:11:47all claims for mortgage loans will be paid at the same rate, therefore
0:11:47 > 0:11:50there will be no impact on income, claimants will pay back the loan
0:11:50 > 0:11:55only on the sale or transfer of the property when the loan will be
0:11:55 > 0:11:59recovered from any available equity. My constituent, registered blind,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03has paid into the system all his working life and asks how it can be
0:12:03 > 0:12:08fair that tenants can continue to get quite rightly support now but
0:12:08 > 0:12:15people like yourself are losing that interest and support on their
0:12:15 > 0:12:20mortgages. It's not enough to say they will get back at the end.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24People are worried about their futures and worried about their
0:12:24 > 0:12:30incomes now, it's not good enough, Minister.Mr Speaker mortgage
0:12:30 > 0:12:34support is being offered at the same rate as it currently was, the only
0:12:34 > 0:12:39difference and is now deferred as a lone recoverable against any equity
0:12:39 > 0:12:44available in Atlas, should it be sold in the future, as far as
0:12:44 > 0:12:49current participants in the scheme are concerned they should see
0:12:49 > 0:12:51absolutely no difference, unless and until they sell or transfer the
0:12:51 > 0:12:56house at which point the taxpayer will recover the support offered.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01Jessica Morden.Frankie Mr Speaker. This change will affect thousands of
0:13:01 > 0:13:04low income households, half of whom are pensioners. Does the minister
0:13:04 > 0:13:09act knowledge it has not been well publicised and at the least the
0:13:09 > 0:13:12government should pause and communicate what this change will
0:13:12 > 0:13:18mean for people financially?I think we need to recognise Mr Speaker that
0:13:18 > 0:13:22we are dealing with support for people accumulating significant
0:13:22 > 0:13:26capital asset and it seems only right that one equity becomes
0:13:26 > 0:13:29available that the taxpayer should be able to recover some or all of
0:13:29 > 0:13:35that support. There has been significant communication of the
0:13:35 > 0:13:38scheme where people are participating in that continues,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41there will be between four and six written communications, there will
0:13:41 > 0:13:47be telephone calls, people will be invited to call a number where they
0:13:47 > 0:13:52can obtain information from a third party adviser before we get to April
0:13:52 > 0:13:56when the scheme comes into play so I am confident the people taking part
0:13:56 > 0:13:59will have enough information. We are certainly seeing large numbers
0:13:59 > 0:14:04making a decision either way at the moment.Mr Speaker I've been
0:14:04 > 0:14:07contacted by a number of constituents about this issue
0:14:07 > 0:14:12including Mr Milner, a veteran surviving now on a meagre state
0:14:12 > 0:14:18pension. He fears that this change will force him to sell his house or
0:14:18 > 0:14:23repossessed. What assessment as the Minister made of the impact of this
0:14:23 > 0:14:30change especially on pensioners? There is no reason for anyone to
0:14:30 > 0:14:33fear for sale and possession of a house, not least because the scheme
0:14:33 > 0:14:41is designed to avoid exactly that. If members have specific cases I
0:14:41 > 0:14:46will be happy to take them up and of the honourable15- lady writes to me
0:14:46 > 0:14:58about this response I will take it up.Mr Speaker we have recently
0:14:58 > 0:15:02completed consultations on support for short term housing and sheltered
0:15:02 > 0:15:06housing, we will respond in due course, we will come forward with
0:15:06 > 0:15:11proposals for long-term support and social housing by 2020.Thank you Mr
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Speaker. My honourable friend is making useful and valid changes to
0:15:15 > 0:15:20this. Will my honourable friend sure the House that accommodation of
0:15:20 > 0:15:24short-term supported housing such as women's refuges will still be funded
0:15:24 > 0:15:27at existing levels with annual grant to local authorities being ring
0:15:27 > 0:15:34fenced?And is typical of the honourable lady to have the welfare
0:15:34 > 0:15:37of the most vulnerable of her constituents at the forefront of her
0:15:37 > 0:15:42mind. I can confirm that the current proposals on which we have just
0:15:42 > 0:15:49consulted is that the grant will be paid for provision of refuges and
0:15:49 > 0:15:54short-term supported housing, that it will be ring fenced.Mr Speaker,
0:15:54 > 0:15:58the government 's proposals are an improvement on initial proposals,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02but one has brought criticism from virtually all providers and that is
0:16:02 > 0:16:06with regard to short-term supported housing. The select committee has
0:16:06 > 0:16:10recommended that for agency very short-term accommodation of 12 weeks
0:16:10 > 0:16:13there should be ring fenced grant to local authorities. The government
0:16:13 > 0:16:18have change the definition from 12 weeks to two years. All providers
0:16:18 > 0:16:23have condemned this. Will the government think again about this
0:16:23 > 0:16:28and bring accommodation lasting two years into the welfare system.Mr
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Speaker we are in receipt of a significant number of responses to
0:16:31 > 0:16:34the consultation that only those weeks ago and will consider those of
0:16:34 > 0:16:38the weeks to come. I will be more than happy to meet the honourable
0:16:38 > 0:16:42gentleman and discuss these concerns.Thank you Mr Speaker. The
0:16:42 > 0:16:46government has promised that all short term provision currently
0:16:46 > 0:16:51funded by the welfare system will continue to be funded at the same
0:16:51 > 0:17:00level by local authorities in 2020. I'm not in a position to confirm
0:17:00 > 0:17:05that Mr Speaker but it will be our aspiration to provide the current
0:17:05 > 0:17:08level of support, indeed enhanced, better performing support which is
0:17:08 > 0:17:14the purpose of the changes in the future.Colin Clark.Question number
0:17:14 > 0:17:22six, Mr Speaker. Universal Credit is having a positive impact since its
0:17:22 > 0:17:27start, shown to published research and analysis. This independent
0:17:27 > 0:17:30research shows as people are spending more time looking for work
0:17:30 > 0:17:33they are applying for more jobs and even doing jobs they would not have
0:17:33 > 0:17:40considered doing before.Thank you Mr Speaker. Constituents in Gordon
0:17:40 > 0:17:43will face longer waiting times for payments due to the Scottish
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Government policy of fortnightly payment. What support can might
0:17:46 > 0:17:56right honourable friend offered to help reduce this?Want to thank my
0:17:56 > 0:17:59honourable friend. The advice support would be to take the
0:17:59 > 0:18:05approach of England and Wales, which we are doing because the Scottish
0:18:05 > 0:18:08approach, as my honourable friend refers to, actually delays payment
0:18:08 > 0:18:14at the end of the assessment period as well, to 75% rather than being
0:18:14 > 0:18:22100% of money on time, due to this fortnightly payment.The
0:18:22 > 0:18:27introduction of Universal Credit is not helping to keep 250 highly
0:18:27 > 0:18:31skilled HMRC staff working on tax credits in Dudley in work. They were
0:18:31 > 0:18:34told they would be transferring to the department to work on Universal
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Credit. Last week they were told her department had cancelled this, their
0:18:38 > 0:18:43office will close and they will be made redundant. Will she ensure that
0:18:43 > 0:18:46the transfer goes ahead as originally planned so that my
0:18:46 > 0:18:51constituents can keep their jobs and will to meet me to discuss it?I
0:18:51 > 0:18:56will indeed meet the honourable member to discuss this. Because back
0:18:56 > 0:19:01in 2016 HMR MRC to denounce this move, this transfer of jobs. It now
0:19:01 > 0:19:05seems that as many jobs were not needed for this purpose but I do
0:19:05 > 0:19:08know that they want to retain the staff and their skills and
0:19:08 > 0:19:12knowledge. I will meet with the honourable member to discuss the
0:19:12 > 0:19:21best way forward.Has the temperament lady agree that
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Universal Credit is helping people and it is fairer to the other
0:19:25 > 0:19:29employees in those purposes and the taxpayers will end up supporting the
0:19:29 > 0:19:33bill?My honourable friend brings up a very good point. Because the
0:19:33 > 0:19:38reason we are doing this change, a significant change from the legacy
0:19:38 > 0:19:44system, is to make sure that every hour of work counts. And what we
0:19:44 > 0:19:50will not have missed the situation whereby people are stuck not working
0:19:50 > 0:19:55or having punitive rates of income tax, 90% and above, if they take
0:19:55 > 0:20:00work after 16 hours, this is cutting edge technology, the UK is leading
0:20:00 > 0:20:05the way on flexible benefit which accompanies flexible working that no
0:20:05 > 0:20:12one else has got.Thank you Mr Speaker. May I welcome the Secretary
0:20:12 > 0:20:15of State to her position. Perhaps she might show a little more
0:20:15 > 0:20:21humility when answering some of these questions. Has she considered
0:20:21 > 0:20:25some of the other benefits that are not included in Universal Credit,
0:20:25 > 0:20:31such as free school meals, free uniforms, free bus passes, that many
0:20:31 > 0:20:36low-paid working families will lose out on with Universal Credit so they
0:20:36 > 0:20:41will be worse off in work than if they were still on benefits?Thank
0:20:41 > 0:20:45you Mr Speaker. These are precisely the things that have gone into
0:20:45 > 0:20:49consideration when bringing forward Universal Credit. One is the support
0:20:49 > 0:20:56that we are giving the extra childcare support, what is it,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59tailor-made career career advice and support, and we all need humility
0:20:59 > 0:21:05but equally we all need, we all need to hand out and deliver the correct
0:21:05 > 0:21:13facts to people, not embellish, of sound and fury and drama, and
0:21:13 > 0:21:16obviously incorrect information, as the UK starts authority have
0:21:16 > 0:21:23levelled at the Labour Party!Martin Saggers.Thank you Mr Speaker. Last
0:21:23 > 0:21:27month I visited Grimsby job centre which serves my constituency. It is
0:21:27 > 0:21:31clear that the staff there are handling the changeover to Universal
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Credit and efficiently. Will the Secretary of State join me in
0:21:34 > 0:21:39complementing the staff? And also the work that they are doing
0:21:39 > 0:21:44providing motivation and self-confidence in claimants so that
0:21:44 > 0:21:48they can see can plummet?My honourable friend makes a very good
0:21:48 > 0:21:55point. I have met his tremendous workers in his constituency and I go
0:21:55 > 0:21:59out and speak to them all the time. They are saying to me, the change
0:21:59 > 0:22:02that we are delivering to Universal Credit is the best thing that they
0:22:02 > 0:22:08have ever delivered. The support they can give, and obviously rather
0:22:08 > 0:22:14than people on the opposite benches laughing, it would be well advised
0:22:14 > 0:22:19if they would come and join me and others and meet with work coaches. I
0:22:19 > 0:22:24will tell you why we know this is working. If it was not working, we
0:22:24 > 0:22:37would not have an extra 3.1 million people in work.Thank you, Mr
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Speaker, contrary to the broken record for the Member for Gordon
0:22:41 > 0:22:48will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming recent introductions in
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Universal Credit and what you consider implementing the Scottish
0:22:52 > 0:22:54model here especially since a colleague in the Scottish Parliament
0:22:54 > 0:23:03says he is very much in favour of them. Mr Speaker, the underlying
0:23:03 > 0:23:13principle of how we get people into work... Equally, to agree with
0:23:13 > 0:23:15devolved government and giving extra powers to devolved governments,
0:23:15 > 0:23:21Scotland has the right to do things in its own way. What we pointed out
0:23:21 > 0:23:27earlier is that some of those changes Scotland are taking on board
0:23:27 > 0:23:40a resulting in a slower payment to people who need their benefits.The
0:23:40 > 0:23:45UK has the joint fifth lowest employment rate in the EU, better
0:23:45 > 0:23:49than France, the Netherlands and Denmark. The UK's and aplomb and
0:23:49 > 0:23:55great, 4.3%, is the lowest in 42 years -- its unemployment rate is
0:23:55 > 0:23:59the lowest in 42 years, less than half of that of the euro area and
0:23:59 > 0:24:09three percentage points below the Inu 28 average.Thank you, Mr
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Speaker, and implement in my constituency is now less than 1.5%
0:24:12 > 0:24:18and those able to work finding jobs. Can the Secretary of State also
0:24:18 > 0:24:21reassure constituents who need financial support that they will
0:24:21 > 0:24:23continue to be supported when Universal Credit is rolled out later
0:24:23 > 0:24:30this year?I want to congratulate my honourable friend on the work she
0:24:30 > 0:24:37will now be doing is a new MP and equally her constituents are finding
0:24:37 > 0:24:41employment, getting careers and moving forward, as I said, hand
0:24:41 > 0:24:44support and opportunity is what this government believes in. Equally
0:24:44 > 0:24:50Universal Credit is a benefit that supports people in and out of work,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53that support will continue, not only further constituents but for people
0:24:53 > 0:24:59right across the country.Mr Speaker were the Secretary of State confirm
0:24:59 > 0:25:05that of those who have gone into work -- will she confirm, that's a
0:25:05 > 0:25:09good thing, many are living in poverty because of low pay, because
0:25:09 > 0:25:14this is the inadequacy of our benefits system.Mr Speaker, it is
0:25:14 > 0:25:20interesting how different people measure people getting into work,
0:25:20 > 0:25:29measure poverty and measure lives chances because children being born
0:25:29 > 0:25:33into workless households are five times more likely to be in poverty
0:25:33 > 0:25:37than those working. And under this government we have seen 3.1 million
0:25:37 > 0:25:46more people in work and the workless numbers have gone down by over six
0:25:46 > 0:25:48in the present, we are helping people out of poverty and helping
0:25:48 > 0:25:54them get a job.Mr Speaker the Secretary of State mentioned earlier
0:25:54 > 0:25:56dodgy statistics from the party opposite. I've heard people say that
0:25:56 > 0:26:01a lot of the new jobs created or zero-hours contracts and part-time.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Could she indicate the actual figures with regard to the number of
0:26:05 > 0:26:10jobs created that full-time permanent jobs?I thank my
0:26:10 > 0:26:16honourable friend, it was not me talking about dodgy statistics, it
0:26:16 > 0:26:21was the chair of the UK stats authority, but thank you for
0:26:21 > 0:26:24pointing that out. The overwhelming majority of jobs are full-time and
0:26:24 > 0:26:32permanent jobs, and those people in part-time jobs, the vast majority
0:26:32 > 0:26:39have chosen to be in part-time jobs. On the subject of Job searching can
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I ask the Secretary of State if she's had the opportunity to review
0:26:42 > 0:26:47the helpful and generous offer from Liverpool City Council to her
0:26:47 > 0:26:51predecessor to provide office space for closure threatened job centres?
0:26:51 > 0:26:55There are two Jobcentres in my constituency, one that her
0:26:55 > 0:26:58government wishes to close leaving them with zero Jobcentres and they
0:26:58 > 0:27:03are due to close within weeks. Has she had an opportunity to review
0:27:03 > 0:27:07that offered to make sure my constituents continue to receive
0:27:07 > 0:27:12implement support?
0:27:12 > 0:27:16It's really important everybody gets the support they need. A lot of the
0:27:16 > 0:27:20support going forward will be outreach work. So they don't need to
0:27:20 > 0:27:25go to the JobCentrePlus but actually further support and support in the
0:27:25 > 0:27:30community. But obviously I am pleased that in the Liverpool city
0:27:30 > 0:27:35area and in the north-west area, which is my hometown, employment is
0:27:35 > 0:27:43now far higher than it was in 2010. When I look at the unemployment
0:27:43 > 0:27:48rates by the Labour Party, 2.8 million in 2008 even before the
0:27:48 > 0:27:54banking crisis but now it's 1.4 million. We are supporting people,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57we will continue to support people because that's what this
0:27:57 > 0:28:08Conservative government does.I don't want to see anyone living in
0:28:08 > 0:28:11poverty, and no Conservative member of Parliament once people living in
0:28:11 > 0:28:18poverty. Disabled people are some of the biggest beneficiaries of
0:28:18 > 0:28:22Universal Credit with around 1 million disabled households having
0:28:22 > 0:28:28an average of £110 a month more on Universal Credit than they would
0:28:28 > 0:28:38have had on the legacy benefits.As disability charity in Cheshire has
0:28:38 > 0:28:43pointed out, many disabled people don't have internet access, assisted
0:28:43 > 0:28:47technology or the necessary support to fill in the online form to apply
0:28:47 > 0:28:52for Universal Credit. Does the Minister agree that the application
0:28:52 > 0:28:56process needs to be more accessible so disabled people can easily apply
0:28:56 > 0:29:02for these benefits?The honourable lady raises a very important point
0:29:02 > 0:29:07about accessibility for everyone to our benefit system. It's something
0:29:07 > 0:29:12we'll take very seriously. I'm very grateful for the support that the
0:29:12 > 0:29:16foundation and a range of stakeholders give us in designing
0:29:16 > 0:29:23the process, to make sure that it's accessible as possible.Does the
0:29:23 > 0:29:28Minister agree it's important we are absolutely scrupulous in our
0:29:28 > 0:29:32presentation of the facts around Universal Credit. I wrote to the UK
0:29:32 > 0:29:36Statistics Authority to query the claim that 40,000 children will wake
0:29:36 > 0:29:40up in poverty on Christmas Day because the Tories refused to pause
0:29:40 > 0:29:44the roll-out of Universal Credit. On Friday I was told it is clearly
0:29:44 > 0:29:49important statements by a political party should be fully supported by
0:29:49 > 0:29:54the statistics and sources on which they rely. We do not believe...
0:29:54 > 0:30:00Order. He's got the thrust of it across and how is doubtless will be
0:30:00 > 0:30:04grateful to him but this isn't a debate, it's question time about the
0:30:04 > 0:30:10policies. He is finished for today on this. It's about the policies of
0:30:10 > 0:30:12the government. The Secretary of State has made the point about
0:30:12 > 0:30:18statistics authority which I allowed her to make perfectly properly but
0:30:18 > 0:30:22it's not now the occasion for dilation on beatitude of the
0:30:22 > 0:30:25opposition. It's questions to ministers on the policies of the
0:30:25 > 0:30:29government. Please don't dilate on that matter because it's out of
0:30:29 > 0:30:39order.I think it's a very important matter that anybody who stands up in
0:30:39 > 0:30:42this Parliament take their responsibilities towards the treat
0:30:42 > 0:30:48extremely seriously.Some specialist employment services for people with
0:30:48 > 0:30:58a distil -- with a disability are subcontracted to these small local
0:30:58 > 0:31:03agencies minus a management fee and with an unsatisfactory remote
0:31:03 > 0:31:10control. With these small local agencies not have more resources
0:31:10 > 0:31:17were needed, and also better value for money for people?He raises the
0:31:17 > 0:31:22very important point of specialist providers of employment for people.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25This is a very important sector which the government has a proud
0:31:25 > 0:31:30tradition of supporting. I meet with stakeholders readily and we are
0:31:30 > 0:31:35always looking to see what more we can do to help them sustainably
0:31:35 > 0:31:43provide the invaluable employment opportunities that they do.Despite
0:31:43 > 0:31:47the government's claim that most severely disabled person moved on to
0:31:47 > 0:31:52Universal Credit would be worse off, we now know that that is not the
0:31:52 > 0:31:58case. Scrapping the disability premiums will have just that effect.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Transitional protection for existing claimants can easily be lost where
0:32:02 > 0:32:08there is a change in circumstance, such as moving into work, and if
0:32:08 > 0:32:11that job doesn't last. What assessment has the Minister carried
0:32:11 > 0:32:16out on the impact of abolishing these disability premiums on
0:32:16 > 0:32:20disabled people and will she agree that transitional protection should
0:32:20 > 0:32:24itself be retained so that it is not lost where there is a change in
0:32:24 > 0:32:31circumstance?I thank the honourable lady for her question. Unlike the
0:32:31 > 0:32:35previous system, Universal Credit is more targeted and supporters focused
0:32:35 > 0:32:38on those that need it the most. Transitional protection is available
0:32:38 > 0:32:45for people who move into Universal Credit from other benefits, provided
0:32:45 > 0:32:51their circumstances say the same. My honourable friend the Minister for
0:32:51 > 0:32:55employment, when giving evidence to the select committee last week, said
0:32:55 > 0:32:59that he was aware of the situation and he is thinking very carefully
0:32:59 > 0:33:09about this issue.The government has taken a number of steps to reduce
0:33:09 > 0:33:15the risk of problem debt including capping payday lending costs and
0:33:15 > 0:33:17promoting savings. Within Universal Credit we also have interest-free
0:33:17 > 0:33:24advances in the system to help claimants who have got into arrears.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28The government's own data showed that rising numbers on Universal
0:33:28 > 0:33:33Credit falling into rent arrears and many claimants are going to food
0:33:33 > 0:33:37banks and approaching payday lenders. This is a loan which is to
0:33:37 > 0:33:43be repaid at 40% of the standard allowance. Another 40% can be
0:33:43 > 0:33:47deducted to repay creditors, for example utilities. That's a total of
0:33:47 > 0:33:5280%. Can the Minister reassure me that 80% of the individual allowance
0:33:52 > 0:33:58cannot be a deducted and at affordability checks are carried out
0:33:58 > 0:34:04before any deductions are actioned? Of course the honourable lady is
0:34:04 > 0:34:08right to highlight the point that we want to make sure that we help those
0:34:08 > 0:34:13in arrears. She also knows that research done by the National
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Federation have found three quarters of tenants were in rent arrears
0:34:17 > 0:34:21already before they moved into Universal Credit. She talks about
0:34:21 > 0:34:25reductions but I would be happy to meet with her to discuss this
0:34:25 > 0:34:36further.Thank you for arranging a visit from eaters Universal Credit
0:34:36 > 0:34:39working in his constituency this Friday. Can my honourable friend
0:34:39 > 0:34:43outlined the steps being taken to ensure organisations on the ground
0:34:43 > 0:34:47are able to how vulnerable people access Universal Credit advances
0:34:47 > 0:34:52rather than get into debt?I can confirm that work coaches and those
0:34:52 > 0:34:56who performed the interview that Job Centres make people aware that they
0:34:56 > 0:35:02can access 100% advances which are interest-free. The other aspect that
0:35:02 > 0:35:06is available is support in terms of personal budgeting support which
0:35:06 > 0:35:18individuals who need it can also receive.1272 new jobs have been
0:35:18 > 0:35:22created in Basildon South and Warwick East since 2010, an increase
0:35:22 > 0:35:26in no small part due to my honourable friend's efforts. You'll
0:35:26 > 0:35:30be aware that older work in employment levels are at a record
0:35:30 > 0:35:36high and in his region 85,000 50-64 -year-olds are in employment, and
0:35:36 > 0:35:49increase since 2010. 120,000 with an increase of 45,000 since 2010.Does
0:35:49 > 0:35:52my honourable friend agree with me that encouraging businesses to be
0:35:52 > 0:35:55flexible in the way they employ older workers is one way to bridge
0:35:55 > 0:36:01the skills gap and keep older workers in the employment market for
0:36:01 > 0:36:06longer, sharing their experience and knowledge?The full working life
0:36:06 > 0:36:10strategy launched by this department last year is there specifically to
0:36:10 > 0:36:14support over 50s into employment and provide them with the skills and
0:36:14 > 0:36:18retraining they need, and which businesses specifically value. There
0:36:18 > 0:36:23are a number of exemplar businesses. He'll also be aware that individual
0:36:23 > 0:36:28people created over 26,000 new businesses since 2011 which offer
0:36:28 > 0:36:36over 50s.Many older workers and their necessarily by choice. I think
0:36:36 > 0:36:44in particular the WASPI women who are having to go into work because
0:36:44 > 0:36:47of the inadequacies of their pension provisions. What is the government
0:36:47 > 0:36:53going to do about this?The government has no intention to
0:36:53 > 0:36:58revise the pension acts introduced by previous governments and by the
0:36:58 > 0:37:01coalition, but I would make the point very strongly that the average
0:37:01 > 0:37:07employment throughout over 50s and over 64 has increased dramatically
0:37:07 > 0:37:17since 2010.I'd like to answer question 11 with question 12.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Universal Credit transforms the welfare state and the roll-out is
0:37:20 > 0:37:23proceeding to plan with Universal Credit now available in one third of
0:37:23 > 0:37:30Job Centres in Great Britain. Easterhouse Housing and regeneration
0:37:30 > 0:37:33is a coalition of independent Housing associations in my
0:37:33 > 0:37:37constituency. They have profound concerns about the roll-out of
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Universal Credit in Glasgow. Given that the government has made
0:37:40 > 0:37:46commitments to make people from their own ventures, will he come to
0:37:46 > 0:37:50my constituency and listen to their concerns?Where we have a role that
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Universal Credit we have done it in a manner that makes sense and works.
0:37:54 > 0:38:01Right now 9% of those who will end up on Universal Credit are on
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Universal Credit, it will reach 11% by June this year. I am undertaking
0:38:05 > 0:38:12a range of visits across the country to Job Centres and I will make sure
0:38:12 > 0:38:17that I make a visit to Scotland and we can have a discussion where there
0:38:17 > 0:38:22is an opportunity to visit him as well.A terminally ill man has won
0:38:22 > 0:38:26the right to raise a landmark challenge to the government after
0:38:26 > 0:38:29the introduction of Universal Credit left him significantly worse off.
0:38:29 > 0:38:37Having already acted unlawfully to 1.6 million PIP claimants, does the
0:38:37 > 0:38:41Minister guarantee that his government will not be found guilty
0:38:41 > 0:38:50of unfairly treating the terminally ill?I will be absolutely clear. The
0:38:50 > 0:38:53changes we are making in Universal Credit and in the benefits system
0:38:53 > 0:39:01are bare and focused on protecting the most vulnerable. That is the
0:39:01 > 0:39:03underlying policy of Universal Credit and we will continue to do
0:39:03 > 0:39:09that.Has the Minister had any discussions with colleagues in the
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Department for Education about their proposals for eligibility of
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Universal Credit claimants to free school meals? If the current
0:39:15 > 0:39:19proposal went ahead it would introduce a huge new benefit trap
0:39:19 > 0:39:22into the system, far worse than anything in the old system that
0:39:22 > 0:39:26Universal Credit was supposed to remove such traps not create new
0:39:26 > 0:39:34ones.1.1 million young people, students, receive free school meals
0:39:34 > 0:39:38currently. If the policy put forward as part of the consultation goes
0:39:38 > 0:39:43forward where there is an earnings threshold of 7400, there will be an
0:39:43 > 0:39:51additional 50,000 young people who will benefit from free school meals.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Mr Speaker, with permission I'll take questions 13 and 15 together.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Both honourable ladies are right to recognise the role that welfare
0:39:59 > 0:40:02reform is playing in alleviating child poverty. Work is the best
0:40:02 > 0:40:08route out of poverty and Universal Credit enables parents to move into
0:40:08 > 0:40:12and progress in work. It cannot be considered in isolation, it's a key
0:40:12 > 0:40:17component of a broader strategy to move Britain to a higher wage, low
0:40:17 > 0:40:24welfare and low tax society.Due to policies pursued since 2010, we have
0:40:24 > 0:40:2820,700 children in poverty across Hull, with food poverty and holiday
0:40:28 > 0:40:34hunger growing. Including in working families. Will the Minister tell us
0:40:34 > 0:40:38whether restricting the free school meals in Universal Credit will
0:40:38 > 0:40:43create that cliff edge making the situation even more dire in the most
0:40:43 > 0:40:51disadvantaged communities?Mr Speaker, it's undoubtedly the case
0:40:51 > 0:40:55as my right honourable friend said earlier the children are five times
0:40:55 > 0:41:00more likely to be in poverty if they are in a workless household. The
0:41:00 > 0:41:03thrust of this government is to get as many people into work as we can.
0:41:03 > 0:41:08We would never contemplate anything that would get in the way of those
0:41:08 > 0:41:11kind of incentives. The current proposals on free school meals will
0:41:11 > 0:41:20mean nobody loses out and there may be more recipients in the future.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Mr Speaker figures published last month showed 27% of children in my
0:41:24 > 0:41:27constituency in Lincoln live in low income households, these are
0:41:27 > 0:41:31families relying on Universal Credit. My question is, does the
0:41:31 > 0:41:36Minister believe it is acceptable that families in Lincoln, living in
0:41:36 > 0:41:44poverty, have to rely on food banks particularly due to problems with
0:41:44 > 0:41:50the roll-out of Universal Credit.Mr Speaker I'm sure the honourable lady
0:41:50 > 0:41:55welcomes the fall in the claimant count in her constituency over the
0:41:55 > 0:42:00last few years. To come to her question, as many members will know,
0:42:00 > 0:42:06the causes of people going to food banks are complex. In my
0:42:06 > 0:42:15constituency for example the food tanker was established in 2006 at
0:42:15 > 0:42:18the height of Labour's conduct of the economy and the welfare system
0:42:18 > 0:42:22but is a department we do need to think carefully about some of these
0:42:22 > 0:42:29issues and we will do in the future. Michael Tomlinson.Thank you Mr
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Speaker. May I welcome my honourable friend to his place and does he
0:42:33 > 0:42:37agree that on the subject of children living in poverty it's
0:42:37 > 0:42:40important to have a grown-up debate rather than bandying around and
0:42:40 > 0:42:48qualified figures?The right honourable gentleman makes a strong
0:42:48 > 0:42:51point and is right, looking at National statistics on several
0:42:51 > 0:42:55measures we've seen child poverty fall and in particular we have seen
0:42:55 > 0:43:02200,000 children over the last few years move out of absolute poverty.
0:43:02 > 0:43:10Thank you Mr Speaker, for too long a parent has been able to hide their
0:43:10 > 0:43:12income from child maintenance authorities adding to child poverty,
0:43:12 > 0:43:18what action is the government taking to stop this.As the honourable lady
0:43:18 > 0:43:22knows the child maintenance system was put in place to enable greater
0:43:22 > 0:43:27co-operation between parents, it often results in a better outcome
0:43:27 > 0:43:31for children that some are reluctant to and in those circumstances we
0:43:31 > 0:43:35have invested in the service of the child maintenance service and will
0:43:35 > 0:43:41consult on what more we can do to strengthen our enforcement powers.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Thank you Mr Speaker, I would like to welcome the honourable member to
0:43:44 > 0:43:50his place. When the benefit freeze was introduced in April 2016
0:43:50 > 0:43:54inflation was not .3%, it is no other 3% and food prices in December
0:43:54 > 0:44:01were 4% higher than a year earlier. Recent studied at the Institute for
0:44:01 > 0:44:04Fiscal Studies shows one in four households struggling with problem
0:44:04 > 0:44:08debt and new figures from the Child poverty coalition show that in some
0:44:08 > 0:44:12areas like Bethnal Green in London over half of children are living in
0:44:12 > 0:44:18poverty. Those families are no longer just about managing. Will the
0:44:18 > 0:44:20government and the Social Security freeze pushing families into
0:44:20 > 0:44:26poverty? If your Mac Mr Speaker I would advise the honourable lady to
0:44:26 > 0:44:29be careful about the statistics uses. As we have heard earlier,
0:44:29 > 0:44:37there are some that problems but in that report in particular there are
0:44:37 > 0:44:40enormous caveats saying that the numbers were not necessarily
0:44:40 > 0:44:47accurate. This government is committed to a strategy to tackle
0:44:47 > 0:44:52poverty that involves work. And since 2010 we have moved 954,000
0:44:52 > 0:45:01fewer households, we have 900 thousand fewer households out of an
0:45:01 > 0:45:05implement and into work which is the best we could do for their futures.
0:45:05 > 0:45:11Questionable 14.With your permission Mr Speaker I would like
0:45:11 > 0:45:19to greet this with question 20, there are 5550 employers currently
0:45:19 > 0:45:24signed up to Disability Confident. This group is promoting the scheme
0:45:24 > 0:45:32to other employers, all main ministerial government departments
0:45:32 > 0:45:34have now achieved Disability Confident leader status and I would
0:45:34 > 0:45:38encourage all members to come to a drop-in centre of organised on
0:45:38 > 0:45:46Wednesday, February 21, 3-5 in Portcullis House holed so they too
0:45:46 > 0:45:50can become disability confident employers.Always useful to have
0:45:50 > 0:45:57more information, we are deeply obliged to the Minister.Last year I
0:45:57 > 0:46:03attended a Disability Confident workshop in my constituency where
0:46:03 > 0:46:09unemployment is now at an all-time low. Many businesses signed up
0:46:09 > 0:46:11immediately, could my right honourable friend give more feedback
0:46:11 > 0:46:15on this programme which encourages employers to take advantage of keen,
0:46:15 > 0:46:21loyal staff who are disabled.I thank my right honourable friend for
0:46:21 > 0:46:26his question and congratulate him on his support for Disability Confident
0:46:26 > 0:46:29locally and encourage all members to get involved in these great events
0:46:29 > 0:46:33where we see hundreds of people signing up to the scheme. I think
0:46:33 > 0:46:38that's really important, that we carry on, to build on the very
0:46:38 > 0:46:42positive feedback we get from employers with the practical support
0:46:42 > 0:46:45we are providing them with so that they can employ more disabled
0:46:45 > 0:46:54people.Have recently visited an excellent local school and I
0:46:54 > 0:46:58constituency, the leadership are working hard to get talented young
0:46:58 > 0:47:02people with special needs into work placements when they finish school.
0:47:02 > 0:47:07Would my honourable friend encourage, like I am, employers in
0:47:07 > 0:47:11my area to join the Disability Confident scheme so we can give
0:47:11 > 0:47:15opportunities to those young people, and not just give them hope for the
0:47:15 > 0:47:18future but also get a number of people into the Labour market that
0:47:18 > 0:47:24will give a vast and experienced difference to our workplaces.I
0:47:24 > 0:47:27thank my honourable and for his question and I was pleased to get
0:47:27 > 0:47:31about the important work done by oak-wood School. Last over 500 young
0:47:31 > 0:47:36people took part in supported internships. This year the
0:47:36 > 0:47:39Department for Education has made just under an additional sum of £10
0:47:39 > 0:47:43million of funding available which will enable more work placements
0:47:43 > 0:47:47particularly for young people with special educational needs, I agree
0:47:47 > 0:47:53with him, it is vital we give these young people the opportunity to
0:47:53 > 0:48:01work.I am sure people will have the chance to pour over the reply by
0:48:01 > 0:48:05moving to the library where I am sure copies will be located within
0:48:05 > 0:48:14minutes. Brigid Philipson.Mr Speaker we had a record-breaking
0:48:14 > 0:48:172017 for employment, I am delighted to see the trend continue as we
0:48:17 > 0:48:23enter the New Year. The number of people in work is at an all-time
0:48:23 > 0:48:30high, 75.3% meaning 32.3 million people are now in work which is a
0:48:30 > 0:48:34rise of more than 415,000 compared to last is figures. Figures show
0:48:34 > 0:48:38there is a record 810,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time,
0:48:38 > 0:48:41proving this government is delivering on our promise of
0:48:41 > 0:48:48building a strong economy.Brigid Philipson.Thank you Mr Speaker, no
0:48:48 > 0:48:53child in Britain should grow up in poverty, yet figures from her own
0:48:53 > 0:48:57department show that we face a growing crisis. Does she seriously
0:48:57 > 0:49:01believe that ploughing ahead with Universal Credit will do anything to
0:49:01 > 0:49:05help the millions of children trapped in avoidable poverty in this
0:49:05 > 0:49:11country will bring that number down? Mr Speaker, there is one thing that
0:49:11 > 0:49:16we will both agree on, all sides of the house will agree on, that no
0:49:16 > 0:49:21child should grow up in poverty. And it is thereby the actions that you
0:49:21 > 0:49:27take and make sure that families are working and those children are not
0:49:27 > 0:49:34going to be in poverty, and what we know for certain is that should
0:49:34 > 0:49:38family be working, that child is much less likely when it grows up to
0:49:38 > 0:49:42be in poverty and also attain higher school qualifications. That's what
0:49:42 > 0:49:50this side of the House is doing.Mr Speaker, my local citizens advice
0:49:50 > 0:49:58bureau has seen a drop in the number of Universal Credit cases since they
0:49:58 > 0:50:01measures were introduced. We have seen cases of advanced payments to
0:50:01 > 0:50:04help clear debts. What price are we giving to claimants regarding
0:50:04 > 0:50:12budgeting so that they can sensibly unsustainably clear problem debt?Mr
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Speaker, whipped through universal support providing personal budgeting
0:50:15 > 0:50:18support which is available in consultation with work coaches and
0:50:18 > 0:50:23this is making a difference to those who need this help.We will have to
0:50:23 > 0:50:27be brief because we are running short of time so pithy sentence will
0:50:27 > 0:50:32suffice. New grey.The Secretary of States response to the European
0:50:32 > 0:50:35committee of social rights which says studies repayments for those
0:50:35 > 0:50:40seeking work is, and I quote, "Manifestly inadequate" and
0:50:40 > 0:50:47therefore in breach of the legally binding European social chapter.Mr
0:50:47 > 0:50:51Speaker I am happy to have a discussion with the honourable
0:50:51 > 0:50:53gentleman on this point. What I would say is that, all the policies
0:50:53 > 0:51:02being put forward are based on being as fair as we can to all recipients.
0:51:02 > 0:51:06We've heard a lot about Universal Credit today, making it work
0:51:06 > 0:51:15properly will depend on DWP staff to a great extent. Would my right
0:51:15 > 0:51:20honourable friend join me in congratulating the stuff in
0:51:20 > 0:51:22Sittingbourne and sheerness job centres who have shown immense
0:51:22 > 0:51:28dedication and enthusiasm to ensure benefit claimants in my constituency
0:51:28 > 0:51:33not adversely reflected by the roll-out of Universal Credit.Of
0:51:33 > 0:51:36course I joined my friend in congratulating the staff at these
0:51:36 > 0:51:40job centres. If I may say, when I have spoken to work coaches in the
0:51:40 > 0:51:44visits I've done they are incredibly infused, they tell me this is the
0:51:44 > 0:51:49first time they have been able to do what they want to do which is help
0:51:49 > 0:51:53people into work.Mr Speaker, the behaviour of Philip Green on the
0:51:53 > 0:51:56edge as pendants was outrageous. Mike was currently paying dividends
0:51:56 > 0:52:02and big bonuses while running up and £900 million pension deficit. We
0:52:02 > 0:52:07expect better from our universities, does the Secretary of State agree
0:52:07 > 0:52:11that it cannot be right that they are proposing to cut the pension
0:52:11 > 0:52:15benefits of stuff when one vice Chancellor alone at Edinburgh
0:52:15 > 0:52:20University has accepted a 33% salary hike as part of a package worth
0:52:20 > 0:52:28£410,000?With respect, this is not a matter for government to respond
0:52:28 > 0:52:33on, and joint negotiating committee made up of employers and unions are
0:52:33 > 0:52:36responsible for approving an appropriate plan to ensure the
0:52:36 > 0:52:39scheme is adequately funded and universities are subject to regular
0:52:39 > 0:52:43assessment of their overall financial management, and I'm sure
0:52:43 > 0:52:48the regulator will be watching this particular situation.Mr William
0:52:48 > 0:52:53Reich.Mr Speaker, I had the pleasure of visiting my local job
0:52:53 > 0:52:59centre on Friday. Will my temper my friend Peter breached the
0:52:59 > 0:53:04hard-working staff delivering record levels of employment in my
0:53:04 > 0:53:08constituency?Absolutely, Mr Speaker, I congratulate the stuff in
0:53:08 > 0:53:12his job centre. They are also save that by the end of the process of
0:53:12 > 0:53:17rolling out Universal Credit will have 5000 extra work coaches across
0:53:17 > 0:53:22the country.Mr Speaker 20,000 people in Davood have had their
0:53:22 > 0:53:26personal independent payments cuts due to the blatantly discriminates
0:53:26 > 0:53:29league regulations that the Secretary of State has not accepted
0:53:29 > 0:53:34or not lawful. Can the secretary of state tummy when my constituents
0:53:34 > 0:53:37will get their money back and the entitlement returned?The first
0:53:37 > 0:53:46decision I made was to make sure that we did not appeal that question
0:53:46 > 0:53:49about the personal independence payments and what this side of the
0:53:49 > 0:53:53House would do to live up to the expectations of PIP. I think it is
0:53:53 > 0:53:57true, honourable correct thing we've done. However, to make sure we
0:53:57 > 0:54:01deliver correctly and give the correct and of money to the people
0:54:01 > 0:54:06who need it, it will take time to us to thoroughly research what needs to
0:54:06 > 0:54:09be done.Mr Speaker the attractiveness to many of the two
0:54:09 > 0:54:13weekly payments of Universal Credit and obvious. Does my right
0:54:13 > 0:54:17honourable friend show my concern is that the Scotland decision to offer
0:54:17 > 0:54:22this will lead to people worse off than claimants and the rest of the
0:54:22 > 0:54:28UK?Mr Speaker it is the case that under the Scottish system
0:54:28 > 0:54:32individuals will be at a cash flow disadvantage after several weeks.
0:54:32 > 0:54:37Alternative payment arrangements are available in England as well.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40Following last December 's High Court ruling, Secretary of State
0:54:40 > 0:54:46tell me by what date all 1.6 million PIP claims have been reviewed,
0:54:46 > 0:54:53weeks, months, even years?This reviewing will be an administrative
0:54:53 > 0:54:58process so we will not be muted to see the people but what is most
0:54:58 > 0:55:01important is that the right people will get the right and of money and
0:55:01 > 0:55:08that will take the time it needs.Mr Speaker we had an interesting
0:55:08 > 0:55:13session on assistive technology the other day. We'll is the government
0:55:13 > 0:55:17committed to looking at how this technology can help more disabled
0:55:17 > 0:55:22people into work?I thank my honourable friend for that question
0:55:22 > 0:55:26and I welcome the work the select committee is doing. I believe the
0:55:26 > 0:55:29fourth industrial revolution has the most enormous impact to transform
0:55:29 > 0:55:34the lives of disabled people and I will of course read that report very
0:55:34 > 0:55:42thoroughly.Callum Smith.One of my constituents suffers from MS and has
0:55:42 > 0:55:46been receiving PIP for several months but was recently reassessed
0:55:46 > 0:55:51and denied it on the grounds that she can work part-time. She's now
0:55:51 > 0:55:54working full-time and damaging her health. Does the government
0:55:54 > 0:55:57recognise that the disabled need support to stay in work for as long
0:55:57 > 0:56:00as possible and will the Minister meet with me to see that this is
0:56:00 > 0:56:06reviewed?I think the honourable lady for the question. I would be
0:56:06 > 0:56:10delighted to meet with and discuss the case of a constituent. Yet let
0:56:10 > 0:56:14us be clear that what we want to achieve is the maximum amount of
0:56:14 > 0:56:18support from people who want to and can get into work but by making sure
0:56:18 > 0:56:25the right support for those that cannot.The child support agency was
0:56:25 > 0:56:28set up to pursue absent fathers were not paying anything towards their
0:56:28 > 0:56:34children. Too often the child maintenance service seems to file
0:56:34 > 0:56:38everyone and are "Too difficult" and just pursue people who are already
0:56:38 > 0:56:42paying. Can the Minister guarantee that the child maintenance service
0:56:42 > 0:56:45continues to go after people paying nothing to the upkeep of their
0:56:45 > 0:56:52children rather than those already making a contribution?Mr Speaker I
0:56:52 > 0:56:55can reassure Posch gentleman that that will be the case and we will
0:56:55 > 0:56:58shortly consult on what more we can do to enforce the case against those
0:56:58 > 0:57:03not willing to support their children.
0:57:03 > 0:57:07One of the challenges of the design of Universal Credit is that it
0:57:07 > 0:57:10doesn't take into account the fluctuating income of people who are
0:57:10 > 0:57:17freelance. At the end of the year, if you earn £15,000 self-employed
0:57:17 > 0:57:24you will get less than if you were earning £15,000 employed. Will the
0:57:24 > 0:57:29government commit to fixing this anomaly?As the honourable gentleman
0:57:29 > 0:57:34knows come Universal Credit works on a monthly basis. Of course where
0:57:34 > 0:57:39people earn a large amount in a month, we do then a portion that
0:57:39 > 0:57:43over the following months. It's worth pointing out to him that it is
0:57:43 > 0:57:47entirely possible for people who have these kind of earnings to
0:57:47 > 0:57:54budget over the year, as indeed do many businesses.The GK and takeover
0:57:54 > 0:58:00proposal announced last Thursday seeks to pay a 1.4 billion sweetener
0:58:00 > 0:58:03to shareholders, despite a 2 billion pension deficit. Does the Minister
0:58:03 > 0:58:14agree that governments should act to protect the interests of GKN pension
0:58:14 > 0:58:20fund contributors?Here we have actually seen the trustees of the
0:58:20 > 0:58:25pension fund coming out and being bold and wanting reassurance from
0:58:25 > 0:58:30the company that they can indeed pay for the pension scheme. There are
0:58:30 > 0:58:36two sides of looking at the argument here. GKN have to be strong and
0:58:36 > 0:58:42robust and also Melrose should ask the regulator to look at the cost in
0:58:42 > 0:58:46that benefits scheme and make sure it can afford as a company to take
0:58:46 > 0:58:52over that companies.On the fourth week of December last year I asked
0:58:52 > 0:58:59the Minister not to ignore the voices of 7000 women in my
0:58:59 > 0:59:02constituency affected by state pension inequality, as we are not
0:59:02 > 0:59:06going away. Can she tell me whether the department is any closer to
0:59:06 > 0:59:14paying us what we are due?The position has not changed, the
0:59:14 > 0:59:20government do not intend to change the 1995 pension act, the 2011 or
0:59:20 > 0:59:242007 pension act and there was a 1.1 transitional arrangements put
0:59:24 > 0:59:31forward in the 2011 statute.70% of the rise in UK employment is higher
0:59:31 > 0:59:37skilled jobs. This is true in Wiltshire which expects 2500 jobs
0:59:37 > 0:59:45from Dyson alone. What work is the Minister doing to tackle the stem
0:59:45 > 0:59:52skill gap?I do of course have been having conversations with
0:59:52 > 0:59:57ministerial colleagues and she's right, we need to make sure we have
0:59:57 > 1:00:03high skilled jobs created across our country.With the significant rise
1:00:03 > 1:00:07in household debt and the fear payday lenders will seek to take
1:00:07 > 1:00:11advantage, is not now the right time to seek a significant expansion of
1:00:11 > 1:00:14credit unions across the UK? What bike the Minister do to facilitate
1:00:14 > 1:00:21that?We actually have a meeting in our diaries for a week Monday when I
1:00:21 > 1:00:24had to expand upon this point. He will know that credit union
1:00:24 > 1:00:28membership has doubled in the last ten years and I can assure him we
1:00:28 > 1:00:31are discussing matters with the Treasury who have ultimate control
1:00:31 > 1:00:35of credit Unions.I'm a mathematician and the mother and
1:00:35 > 1:00:39when the head of UK statistics has to write a Shadow Minister pointing
1:00:39 > 1:00:44out the statements they have made are not based on real sources or
1:00:44 > 1:00:47real statistics, I'm concerned. Does my right honourable friend agree
1:00:47 > 1:00:56they should apologise?My honourable friend says it so eloquently. Is it
1:00:56 > 1:01:00is about time the opposite benches apologise for the scaremongering
1:01:00 > 1:01:07they have been doing.Even mothers and mathematicians have to respect
1:01:07 > 1:01:14new method. In the House the method is you question the government
1:01:14 > 1:01:18Minister about the policies of the government. Order, order. I don't
1:01:18 > 1:01:22blame the Secretary of State had taking her opportunity and running a
1:01:22 > 1:01:26home her point with force and alacrity but members must understand
1:01:26 > 1:01:31this is not question time about the policies, the tactics, the
1:01:31 > 1:01:35preferences of the opposition. Its question time about the policies of
1:01:35 > 1:01:39the government. Even if there is some whip hand out saying ask the
1:01:39 > 1:01:42Minister about the behaviour of the Labour Party, that doesn't make it
1:01:42 > 1:01:50in order. It is not in order, end of subject.Thousands of women born in
1:01:50 > 1:01:54the 1950s are being left in serious hardship as a result of accelerated
1:01:54 > 1:02:00changes to the state pension age. As my honourable friend said, they are
1:02:00 > 1:02:04crying out for justice. In the week when we are celebrating the
1:02:04 > 1:02:08centenary of the first win in gaining the right to vote, how dare
1:02:08 > 1:02:14this government ignore their voices? The honourable lady will know this
1:02:14 > 1:02:18was a policy continued for 13 years under the Labour government and
1:02:18 > 1:02:24which between 1997 and 2010, have of and could have done something about
1:02:24 > 1:02:29it. She maintained it was the right policy. We continue in this
1:02:29 > 1:02:32government to maintain it was the right policy and if there are
1:02:32 > 1:02:36individual people who require assistance, there is over £50
1:02:36 > 1:02:42billion which this government gives on an ongoing basis.In fairness to
1:02:42 > 1:02:46colleagues who haven't asked questions, a short sentence will
1:02:46 > 1:02:52suffice.What benefit has auto-enrolment provided for my
1:02:52 > 1:02:59constituents?7000 employees are now signed up and 900 employers are
1:02:59 > 1:03:07doing the right thing and providing auto-enrolment to his constituents.
1:03:07 > 1:03:10Later we'll be debating benefit operating which will mean
1:03:10 > 1:03:14maintaining a freeze on many of the key worker age benefits, even while
1:03:14 > 1:03:20consumer price index it is up 3%. Will the Secretary of State take
1:03:20 > 1:03:23this opportunity to lift the freeze to ease the suffering of claimants,
1:03:23 > 1:03:29yes or no?As the honourable gentleman knows the freeze was
1:03:29 > 1:03:31enacted in primary legislation, it would need of the whole house to
1:03:31 > 1:03:35change it change it and it forms part of a general suite of welfare
1:03:35 > 1:03:38reforms which have driven enormous numbers of people into work and out
1:03:38 > 1:03:48of poverty.A short sentence...Will the Minister look at how Universal
1:03:48 > 1:03:52Credit is paid into credit unions because there are real issues being
1:03:52 > 1:03:56raised locally by my credit union as to the efficiency and organisation
1:03:56 > 1:04:02of the DWP in doing that.I'm certainly very happy to take
1:04:02 > 1:04:05representations from the honourable gentleman and I'm looking at that
1:04:05 > 1:04:11point with colleagues handling Universal Credit.Bearing in mind
1:04:11 > 1:04:14the Secretary of State's calls the clear statistics, will she welcomed
1:04:14 > 1:04:20the House of Commons library paper today which clarifies that 113,000
1:04:20 > 1:04:23children will cease to receive free school meals under the proposed
1:04:23 > 1:04:29changes to Universal Credit? Withdraw the claim that 50,000 more
1:04:29 > 1:04:39children will benefit at one point in time.There is a consultation
1:04:39 > 1:04:45taking place all. The Department for Education will respond to that.
1:04:45 > 1:04:50Everyone currently on Universal Credit will have that benefit
1:04:50 > 1:04:56protected as long as they remain in that setting of education.We've had
1:04:56 > 1:04:5923 Topical Questions and I'm sorry for disappointed colleagues