Devolved Administrations: Intergovernmental Relations

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Tuesday 8th November 2022 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

The Prime Minister set the tone for the Government’s collaborative approach to working with the devolved Governments right from his very first day in office. I can tell the House that the Prime Minister expects to meet the First Ministers again later this week. That is the tone that he has set and that we will continue.

[Baroness Fookes (Con)]

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Constitution Committee issued a very important report on the future of the United Kingdom? We would hope that intergovernmental relations will be taken very seriously, but there is a particular problem, in that the consent of the devolved Governments does not have to be sought for delegated legislation on matters that I am very aware would otherwise not be reserved. May we hope that this problem will be looked at very seriously, because it causes intense irritation among the devolved Administrations?

Social Housing (Regulation) Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Committee stage
Tuesday 6th September 2022 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Fookes) (Con)]

My Lords, I remind Members of the Committee that only the first amendment in a group is moved until such time as it is reached on the Marshalled List.

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

I thank the noble Baronesses for tabling amendments on these important issues. This group of amendments primarily relates to the Regulator of Social Housing’s monitoring and enforcement powers.

Amendment 3 relates to compensation. I begin by stating that registered providers of social housing should always seek to rectify problems relating to the housing they provide. In certain circumstances, where they do not do so and continue to fail their tenants, it is right that tenants are compensated for the suffering caused as a result of these failings. However, I must reject this amendment.

Outsourcing: DWP Telephone Services

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Tuesday 30th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, not all DWP telephony lines are outsourced, as we know, but all DWP telephony lines are freephone 0800 numbers.

[Baroness Fookes (Con)]

My Lords, given the importance of these services to the clients, can my noble friend tell us how often performance is reviewed, and with what result?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

Several reviews take place in the course of a contract to assess performance against key performance indicators. Performance is reported and monitored daily and reviewed monthly during formal business unit reviews. These are led by DWP contract management teams. Wider delivery considerations to inform efficiency and effectiveness are reviewed on an annual basis through financial management reviews and quarterly formal reviews.

Personal Independence Payments

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Monday 22nd November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

The department accepts that there is more that it can do; there is always more it can do. The disability Green Paper means that we will talk to people—we have already gone out to consultation—particularly claimants and disabled people, and find out what more we can do. But the situation is not getting worse, it is getting better.

[Baroness Fookes (Con)]

My Lords, many people with mental health problems have a particular difficulty in negotiating the system and getting the benefits they need. Can my noble friend tell me what help the Government are giving this group of people?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

I thank my noble friend for that question. The consultation period for the health and disability Green Paper, to which I referred, has now run out and we are looking at the results. Through that, the department conducted extensive stakeholder engagement and talked to people with mental health problems and their carers about how we could do more to help them when they were being assessed, particularly for PIP. Interestingly, people with mental health problems are the largest group of people who now receive PIP.

Disability Benefit Claimants

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Tuesday 8th June 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

I know that the noble Lord understands these systems very well. All health professionals receive comprehensive training in disability analysis, which includes an evaluation of how medical conditions affect claimants in their day-to-day activities, as well as awareness training in specific conditions. He probably knows that with regard to autistic spectrum disorder, staff are working with the Autism Alliance to develop further training specifically to help people who find those first interactions with the system very difficult. We are also putting clear markings on assessments when they are first made in order to identify those people with vulnerabilities.

[Baroness Fookes (Con)]

My Lords, I am interested in the work of the Serious Case Panel. Is my noble friend able to give me an update on the work of this panel and its progress?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, the Serious Case Panel was established only last year—2020. It has now met five times and it is going to meet very soon—later this month. The panel does not investigate individual cases; it considers themes arising from a range of sources, including internal process reviews and front-line feedback, which is important. It also agrees recommendations for organisational learning, where needed, and will assign a director-general for committee accountability for delivering these recommendations within the department. It may be useful for noble Lords to know that the panel’s terms of reference and minutes from all its meetings can be seen on GOV.UK.

Financial Services Bill

Debate between Baroness Fookes and Baroness Scott of Bybrook

Committee stage
Monday 1st March 2021 Grand Committee

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, this may be a convenient moment for the Committee to adjourn.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Fookes) (Con)]

The Committee stands adjourned, but in so doing I remind everyone to sanitise desks and everything else within sight.