Asked by: Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party - Gordon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the needs of people with MS as part of the Government's recently launched consultation on disability, health and work.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Government wants all disabled people and people with a long term health condition to have the opportunity to work and share in the economic and health benefits that appropriate work can bring. That is why we published ‘Improving Lives the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper’ setting out the action we plan to take and starting a far-reaching, national debate on what more we can do to ensure everyone, including people with multiple sclerosis, is supported to reach their full potential.
During our three-month consultation, we heard from a wide range of stakeholders, including organisations who work with and represent people with multiple sclerosis. We are now taking stock of what we have heard.
Asked by: Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party - Gordon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Gordon dated 2 March 2017 on behalf of a constituent.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I apologise for the delay in responding to your letter on behalf of your constituent Ms Kimberly Roy. A response has been issued to you today (26 April 17).
Asked by: Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party - Gordon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken in response to the National Audit Office's December report on the UK's benefit sanctions system; and if he will launch an independent review of the sanctions regime.
Answered by Damian Hinds
It is not normal practice to comment on any National Audit Office report where this is followed up by a Public Accounts Committee hearing. We are currently awaiting the Committee’s report following the Benefit Sanctions hearing held on 12 December 2016.
Once their report is published, we will wait until HM Treasury formally commissions the Department’s official response to any comments and recommendations made by the committee. We anticipate the committee’s report to be published at the end of February 2017 and for the Treasury commission to be issued shortly afterwards.
Asked by: Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party - Gordon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 23 September 2016 from the hon. Member for Gordon on toilet facilities in Ebury House, Aberdeen.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
A reply was sent to the Rt Hon member by the Department’s Work Services Director for Scotland, Denise Horsfall, on behalf of the Secretary of State on 16 November 2016.