Ministerial Corrections

Thursday 16th May 2019 Ministerial Corrections

Thursday 16 May 2019

Work and Pensions

Thursday 16th May 2019 Ministerial Corrections

Pension Credit Changes

The following is an extract from a Westminster Hall debate on Pension Credit Changes on 24 Aril 2019.

[Ruth George]

When the changes were debated back in 2012 as part of the Welfare Reform Act, universal credit was still a similar level of benefit to tax credits. Since then, following the 2015 budgetary changes, universal credit has been worth significantly less, and increased numbers of people on universal credit are in poverty. Does the Minister not agree that that should be a reason for Parliament to debate again the changes that will affect hundreds of thousands more, often vulnerable, households, in the light of the changed circumstances?

[Guy Opperman]

With respect, Parliament has debated the matter and made a decision. The hon. Lady will be aware of the 2011 equality impact assessment, the 2012 risk assessment, the universal credit impact assessment, and the ad hoc statistical analysis that was published on 28 February, which outlined the number of people affected, as the hon. Gentleman mentioned—approximately 115,000 mixed-age couples in the United Kingdom.

[Official Report, 24 April 2019, Vol. 658, c. 315WH.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman):

An error has been identified in my response to an intervention from the hon. Member for High Peak (Ruth George).

The correct response should have been:

[Guy Opperman]

With respect, Parliament has debated the matter and made a decision. The hon. Lady will be aware of the 2011 equality impact assessment, the 2012 universal credit impact assessment, and the ad hoc statistical analysis that was published on 28 February, which outlined the number of people affected, as the hon. Gentleman mentioned—approximately 115,000 mixed-age couples in Great Britain.

Health and Social Care

Thursday 16th May 2019 Ministerial Corrections

Health

The following is an extract from my reply to an Opposition day debate on Health on 14 May 2019.

[Seema Kennedy]

The hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) spoke about local mental health provision and the experience of his young constituent. NHS England’s planned spend on mental health in the year ending 2019 was just over £12 billion. For children’s mental health services, it is nearly £7 billion—an increase of 5.6% on the previous year. I would like to reassure him that we are definitely not aiming for a one-size-fits-all service.

[Official Report, 14 May 2019, Vol. 660, c. 191.]

Letter from the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the hon. Member for South Ribble (Seema Kennedy):

An error has been identified in my reply to the debate.

The correct wording should have been:

[Seema Kennedy]

The hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) spoke about local mental health provision and the experience of his young constituent. NHS England’s planned spend on mental health in the year ending 2019 was just over £12 billion. For children’s mental health services, it is nearly £700 million—an increase of 5.6% on the previous year. I would like to reassure him that we are definitely not aiming for a one-size-fits-all service.