Ministerial Corrections

Monday 2nd November 2020

(3 years, 6 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Monday 2 November 2020

Treasury

Monday 2nd November 2020

(3 years, 6 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Draft Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020
The following is an extract from the Third Delegated Legislation Committee on the draft Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020.
Neil Coyle Portrait Neil Coyle
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I just want a clarification on the waiver process. Do the Government intend to make it the case that a local authority has to seek permission from a Minister in the Department to honour a legally decided case of discrimination and make the payment that a court has ordered? Is that the process that local authorities and other public bodies will have to follow?

Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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That is a very valid question. In a whistleblower case, for example, there is no requirement on the local authority to submit a business case for approval. There are mandatory causes for exemption. However, where a discretionary exemption is sought, such as on a restructuring, it is necessary to submit a business case.

[Official Report, 21 September 2020, Third Delegated Legislation Committee , c. 7.]

Letter of correction from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Steve Barclay):

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Neil Coyle).

The correct response should have been:

Steve Barclay Portrait Steve Barclay
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That is a very valid question. A whistleblower case, for example, does not require submission of a business case to HMT for approval. There are mandatory causes for exemption. However, where a discretionary exemption is sought, it is necessary to submit a business case to both the department and HMT.

Women and Equalities

Monday 2nd November 2020

(3 years, 6 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Covid-19: Support for Older People
The following is an extract from oral questions to the Minister for Women and Equalities on 21 October 2020.
Anne McLaughlin Portrait Anne McLaughlin
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It is estimated that there is more than £2 billion out there every year that is the legal right of older people on those islands. Pension credit does not make anybody wealthy, but it can make the difference between the loneliness and misery that poverty brings and the joy of simply being able to engage in life again. Will the Minister responsible for fighting for those older people agree to take this on as an equalities issue and put resources into ensuring that people have the knowledge and support—including support in using the online service she mentioned—to access what is, after all, a legal entitlement?

Mims Davies Portrait Mims Davies
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In supporting our older people, pension credit is an absolute priority for this Government, as I mentioned earlier. In fact, about 1 million pensioners—close to that number—who are pension credit customers will receive a winter windfall of £140 off their fuel bills, thanks to the Government working with energy firms to cut costs. This Government are determined to do all we can to support pensioners, and the DWP cross-match these pension credit customers with the data held by pension suppliers. I am sure that we will continue to support pensioners as widely as we can through this pandemic and ongoing.

[Official Report, 21 October 2020, Vol. 682, c. 1045.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Mims Davies):

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Anne McLaughlin).

The correct response should have been:

Mims Davies Portrait Mims Davies
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

In supporting our older people, pension credit is an absolute priority for this Government, as I mentioned earlier. In fact, about 1 million pensioners—close to that number—who are pension credit customers will receive a winter windfall of £140 off their fuel bills, thanks to the Government working with energy firms to cut costs. This Government are determined to do all we can to support pensioners, and the DWP cross-match these pension credit customers with the data held by energy suppliers. I am sure that we will continue to support pensioners as widely as we can through this pandemic and ongoing.