Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Q2. If he will take steps to ensure that the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment does not propose changes that would affect people undergoing cancer treatment. (907446)

We. Mr. speaker. >> Mr. speaker, my review of PIP will be co-produced with disabled people. Its steering group of 12 people. Its steering group of 12 will meet with me and my two co-chairs face to face for the first time later this week. I can't pre-empt its choice of priorities and recommendations, but it will draw on the full range of views for a system which is fair to everybody.

14:47

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Richard Quigley thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his response. Many cancer patients receiving Pip and Universal Credit are alarmed by proposals put forward last summer, suggesting that individuals undergoing active cancer treatment might be required to complete a capability for work assessment before accessing these benefits. What assurances can the department give that people in the midst of cancer treatment will not be burdened with these assessments at such a vulnerable and challenging time? challenging time?

14:47

Mr Richard Quigley MP (Isle of Wight West, Labour)

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Minister. Well, my friend raises a good point. But on the work capability assessment, what I can tell him is that people claiming Universal Credit can be treated as having limited capability for work and work related activity if they're being treated for cancer, if they're likely to be treated within six months or are recovering from treatment. I hope that will be reassuring to his constituents.

14:48

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Andrew Lewin number four, please, Mr. Speaker.

14:48

Q4. What steps he is taking to support people with health conditions into work. (907449)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And can I thank my hon. Friend, for this important question about people important question about people with health conditions and how we can best support them into work. Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and to get on in work through our Pathways to Work guarantee, which is backed by £1 billion of new funding by the end of the decade. And I'll connect to of the decade. And I'll connect to work supported employment programme, more disabled people and people with health conditions will be with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work.

14:48

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Andrew Lewin. answer. I welcome the investment. I also welcome the news earlier this month from the ONS that since July 2024, the number number of people in employment has actually risen by 500,000. I'm sure the Minister will join me in celebrating the fact that there are more people entering the labour market under a Labour government. We should celebrate progress but must recognise there is more to do. So can my right hon. Friend set out what more the Friend set out what more the government is going to do to support people with health conditions back into the workplace, and in particular, build on the and in particular, build on the success of the work? Well, pilot.

14:49

Andrew Lewin MP (Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)

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Minister. Well, pilot and I attended a session of Workwell in Cambridge recently and was really impressed. Following the success of the pilot, which have supported over 25,000

14:49

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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people so far, Work Well will expand across all of England, backed up by £259 million investment over three years, and could support up to 250,000 people into work. Participants receive proactive early support based on their health related barriers to employment, related barriers to employment, such as mental health issues, musculoskeletal problems and other

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long term health issues. David Chadwick Mr Speaker access to work is meant to help disabled people stay in employment. Yet numerous constituents tell me they have been waiting over nine months for an assessment and a year or more for changes of circumstances. Those delays are putting jobs and incomes at risk. How many people has the department assessed as losing work because of these delays? And what urgent action is being And what urgent action is being taken to clear that backlog?

14:50

David Chadwick MP (Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, Liberal Democrat)

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Minister. very important scheme that enables people to move into work and to stay into work and stay in work. I think it's right to say that there have been some issues with access to work. More resources have gone in to ensure that, particularly those who are moving into work are prioritised by the scheme. And I'm prioritised by the scheme. And I'm sure that my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, who leads on on access Disability, who leads on on access to work, can write to the hon.

Member with further details of what more we are doing.

14:50

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Mr. Peterborough.

14:51

Mr Peter Bedford MP (Mid Leicestershire, Conservative)

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Yes, thank. vandalism, unemployment continues to rise, particularly amongst young people and those with disabilities. Now, more than ever, it is crucial Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we support people back into work. Turning to the Access to Work scheme is overly bureaucratic, faces significant delays and indeed at the weekend, what are my constituents said to me that they were asked by the department official to fill in a fraudulent timesheet in order to be paid on time. So what is the Minister doing to get this programme back on track, so that disabled people have the that people with disabilities and long term health conditions have what they need to support them into work and to keep them in work.

14:52

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Lee Dillon.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With permission, I'll answer this question along with question six. As the Secretary of State set out on the 11th of November, 2025, we are retaking the decision made in

14:52

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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December 2024 as it relates to the communications on state pension age. We'll update the House on a decision as soon as a conclusion is reached. >> Lee Dillon.

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Lee Dillon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was one of 100 MPs that signed a one of 100 MPs that signed a cross-party letter calling on the government to take action for Waspi women. Such is the strength of feeling in my constituency of Newbury that I am regularly contacted about it in the government's determination. Mr. speaker, are they planning to consult with the WASPI campaign, consult with the WASPI campaign, especially if it is minded to deny 1950s born women their lived 1950s born women their lived experience? Again, sir.

14:53

Mr Lee Dillon MP (Newbury, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know hon. Members on all sides of this House will have been contacted by members in their own constituency who have been affected, and many of us will have family members who have also been in that situation. As I said, we will update the House as soon as the conclusion is reached. We've committed in public to do that within three months of the decision in December. So that means there'll be a decision

14:53

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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reported to this House before the beginning of March. I would just gently say that we need to be clear gently say that we need to be clear about what is at stake in this decision, which is this is a decision relating narrowly to the question about the communication of the state pension age for many the state pension age for many women, including many of my constituents, the issue that they are most actually focussed on is the increase and the acceleration the increase and the acceleration in the increase in the pension age that was put in place by the coalition government, and which not a single Lib Dem MP voted against back in 2011.

I think we should be clear about that, and I'm sure the hon. Member will be clear about that with his constituents when they're raising it with him.

14:54

Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)

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Sarah Mr. speaker, across Glastonbury and Somerton, there are Glastonbury and Somerton, there are over 8000 WASPI women, including Miriam from Martock, who has lost a Miriam from Martock, who has lost a staggering £50,000 because of the maladministration state pension age changes. Because she was unable to changes. Because she was unable to work, she was forced to sell her home and live on released capital. And now, aged 70, she has rejoined the workforce. Miriam and women like her deserve fairness. So will the Minister commit to properly compensating 1950s women, and will the government consult with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman before finalising its response?

14:54

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I the hon. Lady for her question. I know many of our sympathies would be with Miriam, and I would say many of us have constituents who actually, at all times have people actually, at all times have people run up towards state pension age, have challenges in the years running up to it for whatever reason, they're unable to work. But reason, they're unable to work. But in the way she's asked her question, she has rather made the point that I was just setting out.

When you talk about losses of 50,000, 60,000, which I do see in letters from constituents, that is not relating to the issue of the communication of the state pension age. The issue she is raising is the increase and the acceleration in the state pension age put in place by a Liberal Democrat government, where not a single Liberal Democrat MP voted against it. And it's important to be clear about what is and what is not part of the Soho's investigation. As I say, it is very important that we take these issues seriously.

We should not have seen an acceleration of the state pension age that gave some women only five years notice, put in place by a coalition government. We will not be making those mistakes again.

14:55

Chris Vince MP (Harlow, Labour )

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Chris Vince thank. sympathies to your recent injury. The. Can I first of all, Mr. Speaker, pay tribute to the women in my constituency for their in my constituency for their tireless campaigning on this issue. Can I ask the Minister how to outline the difference this Labour government and his department are making to all pensioners in my constituency? Harlow.

14:56

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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Firstly. the whole world that can't see on the screens that the Mr. Speaker is very much still with us and we all very much still with us and we all hope for some time to come. But at the point at which he does decide to become a pensioner, he'll have the full support of this government, the full support of this government, which is bringing down waiting lists benefiting pensioners right across this country, because the biggest single disgrace facing older generations across the UK today has been the state of our NHS.

And that is why this government is investing in bringing down waiting lists month after month after month.

14:56

Mark Garnier MP (Wyre Forest, Conservative)

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Mark Garnier shadow Minister. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I better have my sympathies as well to your to your Paul Davies. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The party opposite has performed a spectacular, frankly, a spectacular U-turn on its support for WASPI women. But now they find themselves bogged down in judicial reviews and accusations of incompetence. Mr. speaker, if the government can't even deliver literally nothing for WASPI women without messing up, what hope is there for delivering wider welfare reforms?

14:57

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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Mr. >> Mr. >> I mean, I just simply can't let the hon. Member off. It's the party opposite that made the decisions about accelerating the state pension age, giving women less than five years, around five years notice of increase. In some cases. notice of increase. In some cases. That was a choice made by the party opposite. What this party is doing is considering an ombudsman report, which the party opposite left sitting on their desks and refused to make a decision on. And that is what we are going to do.

14:57

Steve Darling MP (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)

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Steve Darling Liberal Democrat spokesperson. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. >> And prior. To the government's decision not to grant compensation. To WASPI women, there was a disturbing lack of engagement with the Ombudsman. Since then, the the Ombudsman. Since then, the Ombudsman has been able to gain access to the Paused Action Plan, but only after leaving their electronic device at the door. Is the Minister comfortable in the way that this trusted civil servant has been treated? Yes, Minister.

14:58

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Ombudsman is an important part of the systems we have in place to make sure that the administration make sure that the administration of, of public services is done in the right way. My hon. Friend will know that our permanent secretary met the Ombudsman before Christmas a draft of the action plan that he refers to was shared with her to provide her with reassurance that progress was being made on that. As he will be aware, the work on that action plan has been stopped because it was an intrinsic part of the remedy set out in the case last year.

And as I've said, the Secretary of State is considering the evidence in the round and we will report back to this House as soon as the decision is taken.

14:58

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Gagan Mohindra question. >> Mr. speaker, there were 2 million working age Pip claimants before the pandemic. That number is now over 3 million, and it's set to now over 3 million, and it's set to exceed 4 million by the end of the decade. My review will aim to make sure that Pip is fair and fit for the future. Gagan Mohindra I thank the Minister for that answer. One of my constituents in Abbots Langley, Darren, suffers from a very complicated congenital heart condition which, alongside his hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnoea, significantly restricts his ability to perform everyday tasks, including work.

Despite this, Darren has recently had his entitlement to Personal had his entitlement to Personal Independence Payment. Withdrawal. As Darren now awaits a heart transplant. Can the Minister transplant. Can the Minister outline what steps his department will take to ensure that Darren and his family receive the necessary financial support during this stressful time?

14:59

Mr Gagan Mohindra MP (South West Hertfordshire, Conservative)

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Minister? haven't seen the details of that particular case. I'll be very happy to have a look at it if he'd like me to. There is, of course, the opportunity for mandatory reconsideration and in due course for appeal. But I'll be very happy to look at those details.

14:59

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Rachael Maskell.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the data is segmented, there is a strong correlation between NHS waiting lists and the number of claimants of personal independence payments. So what steps is the Minister taking to ensure that Minister taking to ensure that those people who are not able to work because they're on an NHS waiting list, are having their

15:00

Rachael Maskell MP (York Central, Labour )

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health optimised so that they can engage with employment, but also can be fast tracked through the system. >> Minister.

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Minister. My hon. Friend will welcome, as I do, the dramatic record fall in waiting lists that has been recently reported. But of course, we need to make further progress in reducing waiting lists, and we are determined that the assessment for PIP will be fair to everybody. The steering group, as I've mentioned, steering group, as I've mentioned, will meet for the first time over two days at the end of this week, two days at the end of this week, and everybody on that group I know is going to be focussed on making sure we can deliver a fair system for those who need it.

15:00

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Helen Whately Shadow Secretary of State. the right hon. Gentleman became Disabilities Minister, half a million more people have gone on to Pip, and the sickness benefits bill is heading up to 100 billion a year by the end of this decade. We know his review isn't due to serve up any savings, but there must come a any savings, but there must come a point where even he would say the country can't afford this. Does he country can't afford this. Does he have any ambition to make welfare savings?

15:01

Helen Whately MP (Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative)

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Mr. some very important changes already. We removed, for example, a very serious disincentive to work that was created in the system by the last government in Universal Credit. That has gone thanks to the changes in the Universal Credit Act. Last summer, the changes to take effect in April. We do have a broken system. She's absolutely right system. She's absolutely right about that. That's the system that was left behind by the last government. And yes, we are determined to fix it.

determined to fix it.

15:02

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Peter Swallow thank you, Mr. Speaker. Number nine, please.

15:02

Q9. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that post-16 education provides the necessary skills to support the economy. (907455)

Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that we have already taken know that we have already taken action. In October, we published the Skills White Paper, and we are investing £1 billion in skills investing £1 billion in skills packages in sectors that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next five years. The Budget also sets out more than £1.5 billion over the spending review period for investment in employment period for investment in employment and skills support, including for the Youth Guarantee and apprenticeships for young people.

Mr. swallow, thank you. Can I Mr. swallow, thank you. Can I welcome the commitment.

15:02

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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In the post 16 Skills White Paper to support the development of skills passports, because supporting young people to develop essential skills like media and financial literacy, communication and problem solving must be at the heart of our plans to tackle youth unemployment. What conversations has my hon. Friend had with the Education Secretary on developing and capturing skills before 16 as well?

15:02

Peter Swallow MP (Bracknell, Labour)

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Minister, I thank my hon. Friend for his question and confess, Mr. Speaker, that he has had more conversations with the Department for education on this than I because I know that he met the Secretary of State recently to discuss this. He will be pleased,

15:03

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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I'm sure, to know that this department did pilot last year, skills passports in the hospitality skills passports in the hospitality sector, working with hospitality UK. But what I would say to him is that But what I would say to him is that my noble friend, the Skills Minister, her role sits directly between the Department for education and the Department for Work and Pensions specifically so that this sort of joined up work to which he refers can take place.

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which he refers can take place. Vikki Slade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sammy is a charity working in Dorset to support young, disabled young adults into self-employment. They've celebrated ten years, supported 2700 people and have what they tell me is the world's only supported, living, supported, self-employed internship. Young people who are learning disabilities have got great skills for self-employment, but they can't for self-employment, but they can't access them because they can't get unique tax reference because they take more than 12 months to get to take more than 12 months to get to earnings levels.

So what is the Minister doing to help young people into self-employment so that they can fulfil their destiny?

15:04

Vikki Slade MP (Mid Dorset and North Poole, Liberal Democrat)

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Minister. important point. Can I begin by commending the charity in her constituency to which she refers? I know that there is an acknowledgement amongst the ministerial team that we need to look particularly at the support available for people looking to move into self-employment, and I'd be very happy to meet with her to further. further.

15:04

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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For Britain. Question. I also thank my hon. Friend for his question on this important issue, for the government action to support families includes raising the National Living Wage, expanding access to free school meals and tripling investment in breakfast clubs. Removing the two child limit in Universal Credit will benefit in Universal Credit will benefit 1.5 million children across Great Britain, including over 2500 children in Bolton West. We have children in Bolton West. We have also implemented the fair repayment rate for deductions from Universal Credit, and announced a new £1 Credit, and announced a new £1 billion a year package to reform crisis support.

15:05

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for her response. Almost 4000 people with jobs in my Bolton West constituency still need Universal Credit to cope with the cost of living. Heating, water and food bills have been stubbornly high. So what steps is the Minister taking to ensure that families in my constituency get the support they need to pay the bills?

15:05

Phil Brickell MP (Bolton West, Labour)

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We recognise that too many homes in England struggle to afford heating, and tackling fuel poverty is a government priority. On 21st January, we published a new fuel poverty strategy alongside the Warm Homes plan to better protect fuel poor households by 2030. And at Budget 2025, we cut energy bills by an average of £150 and expanded the an average of £150 and expanded the Warm Homes discount, providing £150 rebate to a further 2.7 million low income households.

15:06

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Preston food and energy costs are.

15:06

Kirsty Blackman MP (Aberdeen North, Scottish National Party)

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Remaining high, and there are significant number of families that are struggling more than they ever have before to try and make ends have before to try and make ends meet. Has she given any consideration to matching the SNP's consideration to matching the SNP's Scottish Child Payment? In order to ensure that more families with children can be kept out of poverty?

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Minister. Well, we are as I said in my initial answer, we have lifted the initial answer, we have lifted the two child limit in the child poverty strategy. That's something that we know will lift about that we know will lift about 450,000 children out of poverty. Combined with all the other measures that we've set out around measures that we've set out around free school meals, etc. we think there'll be about 550,000 children

15:06

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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there'll be about 550,000 children lifted out of poverty. That is against the backdrop of the 900,000 children who went into poverty during the time of the conservative government's from 2010 onwards. Of course, we speak all the time to the Scottish Government, and we will continue to have conversations about how we can deal with child poverty. Speaker.

15:07

Q11. What steps he is taking to help support young disabled people into work. (907458)

Question number 11. there to support disabled people. Too often in the past, disabled people have been signed off and written off. The state has paid benefits, but not done enough to help disabled people into work. So we are expanding employment support for the long term sick and disabled through, among other things, the Connect to Work programme, which Connect to Work programme, which will deliver £1 billion for this purpose in supported employment over the next three years. And we are also supporting the Keep Britain Working Review from Sir Charlie Mayfield, aimed at keeping Charlie Mayfield, aimed at keeping people in work through cooperation with employers.

15:07

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Can I thank.

15:07

Daniel Francis MP (Bexleyheath and Crayford, Labour)

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My right hon. >> Too many young people with ADHD are being kicked on them until 25 years old due to the complexities involved with offering them specialist support required to place them into apprenticeships or work placements. Could the Secretary of State therefore Secretary of State therefore provide an update on what work is being undertaken across government departments to support these young people into career paths to commence their working lives?

15:08

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Will Stone. >> Will Stone. >> Mr. speaker, let me pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising this issue. Ever since he came into this house, including in his maiden house, including in his maiden speech, he's made a powerful case on behalf of carers and of children on behalf of carers and of children with disabilities. And the critical point he is making is that we should not give up on anyone. And he's right that not all the conditions that are identified will be permanent.

Not all conditions should be seen as barriers to work, and that we should do everything we can to help disabled people into work across.

15:08

Harriet Cross MP (Gordon and Buchan, Conservative)

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Thank you. >> Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the ability to use public transport is vital to allow disabled people or others who are less mobile to access work. Inverurie station in my Gordon Buchan constituency has just been removed from the access for all programme, which provides for all programme, which provides mobility aids in stations. In this case, a lift will not now be installed. I completely appreciate that access for all is not a responsibility of DWP, but access and allowing disabled people to get to work is what conversations has DWP and the Department for transport had regarding the removal of access for all funding? And does the department share my concern about disabled and less mobile users in my constituency will now

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have less ability to get to work on public transport. Well, Mr. Speaker, she's

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Well, Mr. Speaker, she's absolutely right that mobility and public transport are essential to help people get to work. And I think on the specifics of our question, the best thing I can do is to get the Department of Transport to write to her with a

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Transport to write to her with a proper response. Toby Perkins the 12th sir. Minister. Mr. speaker, my two

15:09

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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>> Minister. Mr. speaker, my two co-chairs, Sharon Brennan and Doctor Clenton Farquharson, were appointed in October. We've appointed a firm to facilitate the co-production of the review and, drawing on an open expression of interest, appointed a steering

15:10

Q12. What recent progress his Department has made on the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment. (907459)

group of 12, which will come together for the first time this week. Toby Perkins. I thank my

15:10

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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right hon. Friend for that answer. It's clear that the number of people and the conditions eligible people and the conditions eligible for personal payment support has expanded in recent years, far beyond what was initially intended, beyond what was initially intended, and that reform is needed. It's also clear from conversations with my constituents that there are many my constituents that there are many people who are desperately disabled who do still need this support. So what reassurance can my right hon. Friend give us that after his review, we will have a system that looks more specifically the individual, rather than a sort of check box approach that has brought the personal Independence Payment

15:10

Mr Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield, Labour)

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regime into such disrepute. Well, the steering group that we have the steering group that we have appointed is overwhelmingly made up of disabled people, many of whom have themselves claimed PIP either in the past or are currently doing so. And so the perspective that

15:11

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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he's bringing in his very good question will be at the heart of question will be at the heart of this review. It's a co-produced review. Effective co-production needs transparency and openness. The co-chairs and I are publishing monthly letters, so I hope that he and everyone who's going to be following this with with interest will see that the progress that we're making and the determination that we're expressing Lee Anderson.

15:11

Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield, Reform UK)

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Thank you. Ministers please explain to me, the people of Ashfield, why the UK has one of the highest rates of disability in Europe.

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disability in Europe. Well, Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure what figures he's drawing attention what figures he's drawing attention to. There certainly has been an increase in the incidence of disability. The incidence of benefit claiming has been greater, however, than the increase in the incidence of disability. And that's one of the reasons that we're undertaking this review. What we have to do is make sure that we have a system which is fair, because it's a PIP is a vital benefit for for many, but it's also fit for the future.

15:12

Q13. What steps he is taking to help support employers to keep people healthy at work. (907460)

Nick Smith number. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Businesses are really important. Partner, partner in supporting workers health. This isn't just an workers health. This isn't just an issue for government. I have seen examples of employers doing this in examples of employers doing this in an excellent way, including, for example, when I visited British Airways at Heathrow in November to mark the launch of the Keep Britain Working Review final report. And Sir Charlie Mayfield, who wrote that report, made a number of recommendations, including the launch of a Vanguard scheme.

With launch of a Vanguard scheme. With now over 100 employers taking part in playing a leading role in in playing a leading role in developing best practice when it comes to workplace health and keeping people in work longer, even keeping people in work longer, even if their health declines over time.

15:12

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Nick Smith thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Minister for his answer? Mr. speaker, I'm delighted that we've got a trailblazer pilot in my constituency on the weekend in the Times, and Milburn emphasised the importance of boosting young people's life chances. So could the Minister please outline how data from the pilot will strengthen from the pilot will strengthen delivery to keep people healthy at work?

15:13

Nick Smith MP (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, Labour)

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Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of South Wales, I opened the Neath Opportunity Hub in October. I announced a further £10 million of funding for the trailblazer that

15:13

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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covers that area. And in terms of the Milburn Report, he is doing very important work in reporting on very important work in reporting on the whole issue of young people in activity and work. And the thing activity and work. And the thing that unites these efforts is the belief that work is good for you, that we do not want to see young that we do not want to see young people graduating from education onto a life on benefits. And that will be what brings together both will be what brings together both the current activity and the future changes that we will need to make.

Chairman.

15:14

Q14. What steps he is taking to ensure that the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment considers the needs of people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. (907461)

Mr. speaker, first of all, can I wish you well and I hope you'll be spoilt by all the staff around you and obviously at home as well. You deserve it. You deserve it. Question number 14, please.

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Question number 14, please. Mr. Speaker. The review will be, as I've said, co-produced with disabled people to put lived experience at its heart. It will engage very widely to bring together the full range of voices, including those of people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.

15:14

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Jim Shannon very much for that answer. Very positive. The Minister will appreciate people living with arthritis and other multiple skeletal conditions. Make one of the largest groups of Pip claimants. Should the previous Pip proposals have continued, over 77% of claimants living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions would have lost their claims. The Minister is a good man. Could I ask the Minister, please? Would he the Minister, please? Would he agree to having a round table with arthritis UK myself to with people arthritis UK myself to with people living with arthritis organised at his convenience so that the Minister can hear directly from Minister can hear directly from those impacted.

Thanks so much.

15:15

Jim Shannon MP (Strangford, Democratic Unionist Party)

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Well, the hon. Gentleman makes a very interesting suggestion. I'll be very happy to have the round table that he's called for.

15:15

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Select Committee. Select Committee. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Number 15. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I met with Sir Charlie Mayfield, who is author of the Keep Mayfield, who is author of the Keep Britain Working report, to discuss progress. He reported that there are now over 100 employers on board to act as vanguards, including British Airways, Sainsbury's, Holland and Barratt and a number of Holland and Barratt and a number of smaller employers. And the aim is to develop a healthy life cycle of to develop a healthy life cycle of work throughout people's careers.

And we are also setting up the Health information and data unit that Sir Charlie recommended in his report.

15:16

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Debbie Abrahams. And as my right hon. Friend knows, Sir Charlie made a number of recommendations, including setting up or providing evidence rather of the returns on investments that would incentivise more businesses to take part in preventative measures to ensure that their workers remain healthy and in work. Now, given there's an excellent Now, given there's an excellent network of academic centres across the the UK, how will the proposed Workplace Health Intelligence Unit Workplace Health Intelligence Unit harness their expertise and ensure that we are reducing health inequalities, which also dampen productivity and economic growth?

15:16

Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)

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So state.

15:16

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Well, my hon. Friend raises a number of issues. As I said, we are setting up the unit, and Charlie recommended. I very much hope that recommended. I very much hope that it will work with academic expertise across the country. And expertise across the country. And in terms of her initial point about this being a win win for employers, I think it's a very important point I think it's a very important point because if they let someone go, they lose that experience, have to go through the effort of hiring somebody new and training them up.

And so it is a worthwhile experience to try to help someone stay in work if they have a decline in their health over a period of time. It is good for the employee and good for the employer.

15:17

Q16. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Jobcentre Work Coaches in directing people to English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. (907463)

It's only about. >> Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and Jobcentre Plus offers tailored, flexible advice and support to help individuals to get into work and overcome any barriers to employment. Work coaches offer all claimants a comprehensive menu of help, including referral into skills provision and job search support, and this can can include referrals to local ESOL provision.

15:17

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Antonia Bance. answer. I recently visited the Jobcentre Plus and I want to pay tribute to the great work of the staff based there in what is a really tough job market. What they said to me is what they will value

15:18

Antonia Bance MP (Tipton and Wednesbury, Labour)

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is the ability to refer jobseekers onto an intensive ESOL course, with the expectation that they attend the expectation that they attend every weekday for a number of months to tackle the key barrier to sustainable employment for many, which is a lack of English skills for work. Would the Minister consider engaging with our combined authority to pilot an intensive, mandatory ESOL intervention to get locals into work and raise incomes

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in my area? Minister. First of all, can I thank my hon. Friend for her interest and her visit to the Jobcentre Plus and her kind words about the staff there. I know that Jobcentre Plus in Tipton have been reviewing local ESOL availability, and I welcome and are welcoming the work with the combined authority to look at expanding provision to ensure expanding provision to ensure demand is met so more claimants can move into work.

15:18

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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Baggy Shanker of topicals. Speaker Noes to the right.

15:19

Topical questions: Work and Pensions

Mr. speaker, since the new Year, >> Mr. speaker, since the new Year, we've had the first expressions of interest from firms who want to participate in the Youth Guarantee. We've announced their intention to change benefit entitlement for people in mental health hospitals convicted of serious violent crimes. We have announced reforms to the Disability Confident Scheme to encourage more employers to make encourage more employers to make their workplaces suitable for disabled employees, and we've introduced the legislation to lift introduced the legislation to lift the two child limit, which will have its Second Reading in this House next week.

15:19

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Baggy Shanker.

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Mr. Speaker. Whether it's care or others, apprentices in Derby are thriving at our large manufacturing thriving at our large manufacturing companies, but we also want to see our small and medium sized businesses being able to take on businesses being able to take on more apprentices. Could the government set out what is being done to help smaller businesses

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done to help smaller businesses take on more apprentices? Mr. speaker, let me congratulate him and everyone who is involved in

15:19

Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )

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him and everyone who is involved in Team Derby in the excellent record in terms of training and employment there. Around 40% of all apprenticeship starts are in small and medium employers. They will benefit from these £725 million funding we announced at the Budget, funding we announced at the Budget, which includes fully funding SME apprenticeships for eligible people apprenticeships for eligible people aged under 25. And as he'll be aware, employers are not required to pay anything towards those employees National insurance.

15:20

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Mr. Secretary. Helen Whately. of people on benefits is soaring. Nearly a million young people not in education, employment or training and over 700,000 university graduates are now out of work and on benefits. So many young people putting in hundreds of job applications and getting hundreds applications and getting hundreds of rejections. This government is killing their jobs and their dreams killing their jobs and their dreams by taxing job creating businesses into oblivion. What does the Secretary of State have to say to these young people?

15:21

Helen Whately MP (Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative)

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So. rise in graduate inactivity happened under the last government. Economic inactivity is down by 450,000 since the last election, where there is a critical problem and she is right, is in neat numbers, which have been rising for four years. The difference is we are doing something about it through the Youth Guarantee, which is £820 million behind it, and is £820 million behind it, and changing her record on apprenticeships, which saw a 40% fall in youth apprenticeship starts over ten years.

15:21

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Claire. are a young person, you are not going to be reassured. But no surprise. What else can he say? The Prime Minister is out there too busy blocking rivals for his job, while a generation of young people pay the price for his weakness and so are taxpayers footing a ballooning benefits bill? Now is not the time for another review or scheme or slogan. What young people want is the chance to get a decent want is the chance to get a decent job and get on in life.

Surely he agrees it is time to scrap the job killing red tape in the employment killing red tape in the employment rights bill and cut taxes for businesses so they can give young people the chance to get off people the chance to get off welfare and into work.

15:22

Helen Whately MP (Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative)

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Yeah. So. stand for my party. People want to day.

15:22

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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All of that. >> We do want to give hope to young people. That's why we put the youth guarantee in place. That's why we are changing the apprenticeship are changing the apprenticeship system. Two things she could have done well in office while the numbers were rising year on year,

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but utterly failed to do so. Josh Newbury. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent Julie, a single mum of two, had a successful career in marketing but had to quit after battling with depression stemming battling with depression stemming from undiagnosed ADHD. Julie's been stuck in a cycle of struggling to get treatment and diagnosis on the get treatment and diagnosis on the NHS, and having to go back to work before she's ready. A story sadly echoed across so many of my constituents, who struggled with

15:23

Josh Newbury MP (Cannock Chase, Labour)

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constituents, who struggled with fragmented mental health services and the lack of employment support due to cuts made by the previous government. Could the Minister update the House on the work she's doing with her health counterparts, to make sure people struggling with mental ill health can recover and

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get back to work? Bill Esterson well, I meet regularly with my colleagues in the regularly with my colleagues in the health department, particularly because of the important work that the Joint Work and Health Directorate are doing to get people Directorate are doing to get people into work and to support people in work with health conditions, including chronic mental health including chronic mental health conditions. One of our programmes is the employment advisers and talking therapies, and that's

15:23

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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specifically targeting people with mental health conditions. >> Steve Darling Liberal Democrat spokesperson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

15:23

Steve Darling MP (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)

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The Space Review investigated the carers Carer's allowance the carers Carer's allowance scandal, identifying that almost 100 and sorry identifying that 100 and sorry identifying that almost 87,000 carers were affected. The government are planning to The government are planning to write off 26,000 carers debts. Does this mean that the Minister

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believes that 60,000 carers are guilty of fraud? Minister Mr Speaker Liz they did

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Minister Mr Speaker Liz they did a superb job. I think he would agree with me about that. We commissioned her straight after the commissioned her straight after the general election and we've accepted all but two of the recommendations all but two of the recommendations she made in her report. We're working through the detail now of how to implement those

15:24

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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how to implement those recommendations. We'll set out the proposals and the details as soon as we're able to. At the moment, we're working with carer organisations on communications with the carers affected to make sure that they're right. And I'll

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look forward to giving you more detail as soon as they're available. Martin Rhodes thank you. Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker. In light of the government's commitment to delivering employment and opportunities for young people of all backgrounds, could the of all backgrounds, could the Minister set out what recent progress has been made in establishing the Youth Guarantee Scheme in Scotland?

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Scheme in Scotland? Yes, Mr. Speaker, the Youth Guarantee Scheme will be delivered

15:25

Martin Rhodes MP (Glasgow North, Labour)

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across Great Britain and this includes the jobs guarantee scheme that I mentioned earlier. Where from the spring we will be providing over 1000 fully subsidised jobs in six areas across the UK, including central and East Scotland, ahead of the national roll out, which will come later this year. this year. Speaker.

15:25

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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One of my.

15:25

Ian Roome MP (North Devon, Liberal Democrat)

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Is a disabled Royal Navy veteran whose migration to Universal Credit has been a nightmare, including has been a nightmare, including incorrect payments, long delays to identify verification and a lack of help with accessibility. I've help with accessibility. I've received no response to their case since the 13th of November last year. Does the Minister agree with me that this falls short of what people should expect from DWP and will help me get this resolved?

15:26

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Minister. >> Well, I'm sorry to hear about the hon. Gentleman's experience we are in now. The most difficult part of the transition of people who were previously on Employment and were previously on Employment and Support Allowance move over to Universal Credit. We've introduced an enhanced support journey to try and simplify this. I am keeping a very close eye on how it's going, and if you'd like to send me the details of that particular case, I'll certainly look at that.

15:26

Jack Abbott MP (Ipswich, Labour )

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Jack Abbott. good one for jobs, investment and opportunity in Ipswich Harlow, one of the biggest firms tech firms in the UK, are moving the global HQ the UK, are moving the global HQ into the centre of town, creating 1000 jobs, many of them for graduates and, as we'll see, graduates and, as we'll see, unveiled plans for a new bus depot which create 400 jobs, 75% of them from local area. So this has been a brilliant week, but I know there's much more to be done.

So could the government outline what extra steps

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it's taking to get young people back into training and employment? Well, Mr. Speaker, let me

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Well, Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. Member for the fantastic work that I know that he has done in campaigning for the investments in and around his constituency, major infrastructure constituency, major infrastructure investments like Sizewell should be an opportunity for local employment, for local training, for increasing

15:27

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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for local training, for increasing the skills of local people. And we want our youth guarantee and the changes that we're making in the

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apprenticeship system to support those aims. Greg Smith thank. You, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, I

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You, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, I met a constituent who has been told she's losing all of her child maintenance payments because her maintenance payments because her ex-husband has simply told the CMS that he's moved abroad. So I think my constituent knows to be entirely my constituent knows to be entirely false. So what steps will the government take to better verify these claims from people trying to

15:27

Greg Smith MP (Mid Buckinghamshire, Conservative)

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these claims from people trying to get out of their child maintenance payments? Good question, Minister. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm very sorry to hear about the case that the hon. Gentleman raises. Clearly, if there is evidence of false claims being made in applications, I'd be very grateful for him sharing that information with me directly, and I will be sure to come back on him, to him on that, to ensure that it is fully investigated. If we are coming back on anybody.

Hopefully it will be the gentleman to whom he has referred. referred.

15:28

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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Simon Opher thank. places.

15:28

Dr Simon Opher MP (Stroud, Labour)

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Employment. >> They support people. >> Who are out of work and in receipt of benefits to return to employment, improving their health employment, improving their health and also reducing their reliance on welfare. So will the Minister consider rolling this model out

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nationally, recognising that work is often the best cure for sickness? Mr.

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Mr. Well, first of all, can I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the meeting that we had on this very subject just a few months ago and raising this issue about how important it is to get people back into work. I know there are lots of into work. I know there are lots of good examples of GPS who are doing this around the country, and I look forward to seeing what more we can

15:28

Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, Labour)

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forward to seeing what more we can do to work with the hon. Gentleman and other GPS to make sure we get as many people back into work who are who are, who are not in work at the moment due to ill health.

15:29

Wendy Chamberlain MP (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat)

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Wendy Chamberlain Mr. speaker, I have two constituents. have two constituents. >> Who have been awaiting work capability reassessments since July and September 2024. That is over a and September 2024. That is over a year stuck in limbo rather than preparing to get back to work. Will the Minister confirm what my team has been told? That extreme waiting times are now normal in the department, and set out what they are doing to break this backlog?

15:29

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Mr. Well. me the details of those two cases, I'll certainly investigate. >> OK. Tom Hayes. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent, Stephen Sherwood, has constituent, Stephen Sherwood, has complex needs and learning difficulties. Stephen couldn't understand changes to Universal Credit. He needed guidance that never came and lost financial support that he badly needed. Stephen and his mum Nicola rightly want to know does DWP involve people with complex needs and learning difficulties in the design learning difficulties in the design of system change, and will the government do more to ensure that such people have these changes explained to them in ways that they can understand? Mr.

15:30

Tom Hayes MP (Bournemouth East, Labour)

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Well, my hon. Friend raises a very good point. As I've said, the process that we're going through in the migration, it is the most difficult part as people move from ESA onto Universal Credit. We have introduced this enhanced support journey to assist people like my hon. Friend's constituent going through this, but I am looking through this, but I am looking forward to to to meeting him in a couple of weeks time to discuss lessons from this particular case.

15:30

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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Luke Evans. thresholds, which brings pensioners, state pensioners into paying tax. Now, this was raised with the Chancellor, who said that she didn't want that to happen and she would create a workaround. However, only two weeks ago we voted on the Finance Bill, which the Labour Party pushed through, which means Party pushed through, which means as it stands, they will pay tax on their state pension. So what is the DWP doing to make sure that DWP doing to make sure that pensioners will not pay tax on their state pension, or have to do a tax return? a tax return?

15:31

Dr Luke Evans MP (Hinckley and Bosworth, Conservative)

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Will Forster. been confirmed that the those whose income is only the basic level of the basic state pension or the new state pension, will not be required to pay tax next year because you've seen the level of the personal allowance set remaining above the level of the new state pension. What the Chancellor said of the Budget is that in future years, we will make sure that no pension will be required to fill in a self-assessment or indeed a simple self or a simple self-assessment form for any tax that is due because the new state pension level is above that of the of the personal allowance.

15:31

Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Swansea West, Labour)

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Nia Griffith very much.

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Indeed, Mr. Speaker. Well, a constituent of mine. Just goes. Full details of her change in circumstances to the department. But the department, although they admitted it was their mistake, they had received that information. They had received that information. They had repeatedly failed to update their records. They still sent her a very, very threatening letter. Now, whilst I fully support the Now, whilst I fully support the need to protect the public purse, would the appropriate Minister agree to meet with me to discuss

15:31

Dame Nia Griffith MP (Llanelli, Labour)

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how the department could improve their updating procedures, reduce the occurrence of overpayments and

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treat claimants more considerately when they have received overpayments through no fault of their own. Mr.

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Mr. Mr. speaker, I'll be very happy to meet my hon. Friend for that discussion. Bob Blackman.

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Bob Blackman. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. People that come here and make this their home are welcome to work and to pay home are welcome to work and to pay their taxes. However, over the weekend, Ministers may have seen

15:32

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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weekend, Ministers may have seen reports of foreign career criminals who've been spared prison, now claiming Universal Credit. Taxpayers are going to be outraged by this fact. What action will the Minister take to actually ensure Minister take to actually ensure that only the people that are entitled to receive Universal Credit do so, and career criminals do not.

15:32

Bob Blackman MP (Harrow East, Conservative)

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Minister? a very serious issue payment accuracy and ensuring only those who are eligible to claim benefits. It is incredibly important for confidence in the system. I haven't seen the specifics of the case to which he refers, but where we become aware that these errors have been made, we do seek to claim that money back. We have taken further powers in the Public Authorities Fraud, Error and Recovery Act to Fraud, Error and Recovery Act to take action against the sort of serious and organised criminals that the hon.

Gentleman refers to. that the hon. Gentleman refers to. And I'm pleased to say that that act received Royal assent last month.

15:33

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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Jo White.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister inform the House what discussions he has had on removing discussions he has had on removing universal Universal Credit from convicted killers who are currently

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serving a sentence in a psychiatric hospital? Secretary of State. Mr. speaker, I had a number of

15:33

Jo White MP (Bassetlaw, Labour)

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>> Mr. speaker, I had a number of discussions, including with victims families, and it is important to stress that if someone is sentenced to a psychiatric hospital, they are. Care and maintenance is paid for by the state. In any case, and we therefore propose a change to the previous system that will stop the build up of, in some cases, large build up of, in some cases, large sums of money in continued benefit payments.

15:34

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Mike Martin.

15:34

Mike Martin MP (Tunbridge Wells, Liberal Democrat)

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My constituent, Andrew co-founded Adzuna, a job search website built on AI. Their research website built on AI. Their research shows that existing AI tools could actually improve the DWP service actually improve the DWP service and create 250,000 more jobs per year. It's reported that the new rebuild of the service, though, is rebuild of the service, though, is not going to include these AI tools. So can the Secretary of State give the House reassurance that we are going to incorporate these new AI tools into the rebuild of the service, so that we do get that employment boost?

15:34

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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Minister. for his question? He will forgive me if, for commercial reasons, I do not confirm that Adzuna specific tool or any other would be part of the work that we are taking forward. But what I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that we will be bringing forward a new AI tool in bringing forward a new AI tool in the coming months that will include not only find a job options, but CV support, interview training and various other cutting edge tools that will support people up and down this country into work.

Utilising the power of AI.

15:35

Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)

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Johanna Baxter. >> Mr. Speaker. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund currently supports around 20% of Renfrewshire Council's employability Budget. Given that funding is due to come to an end. Can my right hon. Friend outline what steps he will take to support employability services in Renfrewshire going forward?

15:35

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Well, Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend will have heard me refer to Friend will have heard me refer to the Youth Guarantee being a GB wide scheme which will help people in Scotland. But I know that she will Scotland. But I know that she will agree with me when I point out that the Scottish Government has had the most generous financial settlements most generous financial settlements since devolution was introduced, and I would hope that some of that

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will go towards the kind of question. The Chelmsford. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent has been waiting more than five months trying to get a response from DWP about his UC claim. I've now taken up the case claim. I've now taken up the case and I'm also experiencing unacceptable delays 15 weeks in counting when the supposed counting when the supposed turnaround is 15 days. Can the Minister please say what action he is taking to ensure that DWP

15:36

Dr Ellie Chowns MP (North Herefordshire, Green Party)

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is taking to ensure that DWP responds to constituents and to MPs within reasonable timescales? >> Minister.

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Can I begin, Mr. Speaker, by apologising to the hon. Lady for the experience that both she and the experience that both she and her constituent have encountered? She would be pleased to know that I met recently with our newly met recently with our newly appointed complaints lead and indeed the Independent Complaints Case Examiner, who is raising Case Examiner, who is raising concerns about the trends that she is seeing. We are putting in place

15:36

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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a range of interventions that take us forward in a positive way to improve our complaints handling process, and I will be happy to

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share more detail with her directly. Neil Duncan-Jordan thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

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The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Trussell Trust are campaigning for an essentials guarantee that for an essentials guarantee that would ensure benefits cover the necessities for living. Does the Minister agree that the welfare

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Minister agree that the welfare state should be a universal safety net, not a trap door? So stay.

15:37

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP (Poole, Labour)

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>> So stay. >> I very much agree that the welfare state should be there to help people and to help people change their circumstances, not just to keep them in their circumstances. I am pleased to support to report that we have now put in place the Crisis and Resilience Fund that will help people in the most desperate circumstances and guarantee that funding for the next three years.

15:37

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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Lisa Smart very much.

15:37

Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

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Mr. speaker. My constituent Harry has a learning disability and he is so brilliant. He has not one he is so brilliant. He has not one but two jobs. His mum, Helen is his appointee and she's not allowed to access his access to work paperwork access his access to work paperwork online. This means she has to print out 24 bits of paper, get it manually signed and paid to post it manually signed and paid to post it in. This is crackers in 2025. Please could the Minister undertake to look 2026? Thank you.

The Minister undertake to look at Harry's case to make sure that appointees like Helen don't find it too hard for access to work, to work. And we can keep brilliant people like Harry in work.

15:38

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (East Ham, Labour)

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The hon. Lady makes a very good >> The hon. Lady makes a very good point, and it's one of the reasons that we are reforming access to that we are reforming access to work. We consulted on reform in the Green Paper last year, and I think she's right. We do need a less bureaucratic system around access,

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but not least for appointees. Richard Quigley. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I also wish you a speedy recovery. As I understand it, the recovery. As I understand it, the other fellow came off much worse, and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Day and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Day so sorry I couldn't have it on the NHS trust. Take students who would otherwise have ended up as NEETs and takes them through a pre-apprenticeship scheme which not only gives them the skills, but more importantly, the confidence to go on to an apprenticeship and then

15:39

Mr Richard Quigley MP (Isle of Wight West, Labour)

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go on to an apprenticeship and then work. Can I encourage the Secretary of State to come and visit the Isle of Wight to see the great work they

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do, and encourage other employers to do the same? Secretary of State. Mr. speaker, I'll certainly come to the Isle of Wight if I can permitting. But the issue that he raised about confidence is crucial. Time and time again, when I speak Time and time again, when I speak to our work coaches, they say that building the confidence of young people to get out there and apply people to get out there and apply for things and go into new and unfamiliar circumstances is a critical part of their work.

15:39

Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)

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critical part of their work. >> Max Wilkinson thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituent, Sam has been failed by the CMS. Her ex-partner hid a load of his income. She knows this because the CMS sent her the evidence and then they denied it. And any reference to onward referrals are denied. She's stuck in the bureaucracy. It is an unacceptable situation. And by the time the back payment is through to her children, she says she'll be her children, she says she'll be passing it straight through to the grandchildren.

This is a total disgrace. Women shouldn't be treated like this and subjected to treated like this and subjected to this kind of failing bureaucracy. Can Ministers have a look into it? And would they have a look into Sam's case, please? Sam's case, please?

15:40

Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)

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I will, Mr. Speaker, have a look into the general issue, but also with the hon. Member could share directly with me details of Sam's case. Would be very happy to look at it for him.

15:40

Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)

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Right. Well, let the Night. Night. We now come to the urgent question. Dame Priti Patel.

15:40

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)

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To to ask the Secretary of State for the foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if she'll make a statement on the government's a statement on the government's plans for the Diego Garcia military base in British Indian Overseas Territory. Bill. >> Minister.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Minister. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope you make a swift recovery. Having injured my ankle just before Having injured my ankle just before Christmas, I know how painful it can be, but I wish you very well in your recovery. But, Mr. Speaker, on the 22nd of May, the Diego Garcia treaty was signed and laid before the House. As the Defence Secretary told the House on the day of the treaty, secures the strategically important UK US military base on

15:41

Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )

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the island of Diego Garcia. The base, as I've said in this House many times, is essential to the security of the UK and our key security of the UK and our key allies, including the United States. It is essential to keeping British people safe, and it's also one of our most significant contributions our most significant contributions to the Transatlantic Defence and Security Partnership, because it enables rapid deployment of operations and forces across the operations and forces across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia, helping combat some of the most challenging threats, including from terrorism and hostile states.

from terrorism and hostile states. And its unique strategic location, creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific, and the facility has helped also to collect data used to support counter-terrorism operations, including against high value Islamic State targets. In recent years, we've been clear on many times in this House, Mr. Speaker, the UK will never compromise on our national security and as we have been repeatedly making clear, the agreement we have struck is vital for protecting our national security, guaranteeing the long term future of a vital base for both the UK and the US, which had been under threat as the opposition fully understood and were briefed on.

The deal secures the operations of the joint UK US base on Diego Garcia. For generations, it was publicly welcomed by the United States, Australia and all other Five Eyes partners, as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea. And just last week, Mr. Speaker, the House spent two hours debating the Lords amendments to the bill. The opposition will know, of course, that programming of business in the other place is a matter for them and not for us. However, Mr.

speaker, the Lords consideration of Commons amendments has been delayed because the opposition tabled a wrecking amendment hours before the Other place rose. And a day. Well, I mean, I think this just shows the measure of the. Mr. Speaker, and a day before a scheduled debate, this is an irresponsible and reckless behaviour from the official opposition in the second House, using programming tactics to frustrate the implementation of a treaty on a critical national security matter. And I have to say, Mr.

Speaker, it stands in stark contrast to the very reasoned, constructive criticisms and questions and suggestions that have been made by members from other parties and indeed by crossbenchers, which we've engaged with in good faith and at every stage, and will continue to do so. This is on the official opposition, Mr. Speaker, because this amendment is not only unnecessary, but it is toying with our national security. And it is only right, Mr. Speaker, that we take steps to consider the next steps on programming, because we remain confident this treaty is the best way forward.

The Lords will consider the Commons amendments in due course. This will be announced

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