Mental Health: Cost of Living Support

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Thursday 7th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Meacher (CB)]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford) (Con)]

My Lords, it is the turn of the Liberal Democrats.

[Lord Alderdice]

My Lords, in the Health Act there was a recognition of the importance of parity of esteem for physical and mental disturbances. However, of course the treatment of physical and mental disturbances often requires different amounts of time. A short appointment for a physical treatment may not be the right thing for the psychological treatments to which the noble Lord referred. That makes it difficult for people in work both to get the treatment that they need and stay in work. Does the Minister’s department recognise, as the health department does, that parity of esteem may mean extra time and facilities for those with mental disturbances as against those with physical diseases?

Scotland: Underoccupancy Charge

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord McFall of Alcluith (Lab)]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford) (Con)]

It is the turn of the Liberal Democrats.

[Lord Storey (LD)]

My Lords, I was shocked to discover that on Merseyside councils have left unused hundreds of thousands of pounds of discretionary housing payments. Will the Minister comment on that? Does he think that perhaps that money could be rolled over to future years or used in authorities where it would be used?

Child Poverty

Lord Hill of Oareford Excerpts

Tuesday 14th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Massey of Darwen]

My Lords—

[Lord Hill of Oareford]

We have just had a Labour question, so it is this side.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno]

Is the Minister aware that child poverty and poverty generally are not evenly spread across the United Kingdom? We have areas that are totally desperate. For instance, the south Wales valleys have twice the level of poverty than other places in the UK. What are the Minister and the Government doing to bridge that gap and somehow even out the issue of child poverty and other poverty in the United Kingdom?