Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Debate between Andrew Gwynne and Stephen Timms

Monday 20th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Timms]

I will give way in a moment. Universal credit is a reform which, even though it is running four years late, we still want to succeed.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

Was my right hon. Friend as shocked as I was at the response of the Secretary of State to his intervention in respect of disabled people, especially those who have terminal illnesses as well—cancer and Parkinson’s disease were two of the examples that he used? The Secretary of State does not seem to understand the implications of the changes to the employment and support allowance for these very vulnerable people at a very worrying time in their lives.

[Stephen Timms]

My hon. Friend raises an important point, which I wanted to return to. The implication of what the Secretary of State said is that, for example, people with Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis should be in the support group, not in the work-related activity group. The Secretary of State needs to follow that through.

Because we support some measures in the Bill, oppose others and want to change yet others to make them workable, we ask the House to support the reasoned amendment in my name and those of my right hon. and hon. Friends.