ESA Underpayments

Alan Brown Excerpts
Thursday 19th July 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sarah Newton Portrait Sarah Newton
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The hon. Lady raises a very important point. I am more than happy to put it beyond any doubt for people who are receiving payments for these underpayments that those payments will be disregarded for the purposes of other benefits.

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
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Rather than waiting for this failing Department to contact my constituents about any underpayments, how can MPs make proactive inquiries on their behalf? Is the Minister aware that despite the MPs’ helpline for universal credit, some DWP offices are hiding behind general data protection regulation and saying that they cannot deal with verbal inquiries? Will she ensure that the MPs’ helpline does what it says on the tin?

Sarah Newton Portrait Sarah Newton
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The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and as a constituency MP I understand the important role that we all have to play. I will ensure that he is able to raise constituency cases effectively and swiftly, and if he experiences any specific problems, he should please contact me so that I can rectify them.