Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Elmore and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 19th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson]

My hon. Friend is right to suggest that tackling the impacts of covid will require a national effort, and the DWP stands ready to deliver this with our network of local jobcentres, which we will be expanding. The JETS scheme started two weeks ago and is now live right across England and Wales, and we are contracting anew in Scotland. We anticipate that as JETS continues to roll out across Great Britain, it will help 280,000 of our claimants to find work and build the skills to pivot into new sectors if required.

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for people in the sectors worst affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Elmore and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 13th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson]

This Government are committed to working with stakeholders and those with frontline experience to continue to make improvements. There have been two independent reviews of the work capability assessment, and we have accepted and implemented over 100 improvements. We will continue to do all that we can to improve the process for claimants.

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

17. According to the Office for National Statistics for 2018, 20% of disabled people have never used the internet, so what steps will the Department take to assist disabled people who are not computer literate to ensure that their claims are processed quickly and efficiently and that they are able to enter the job market where they can?

[Justin Tomlinson]

All claimants should be advised at the beginning of the process that there are alternative methods of communication. I welcome the introduction of the Citizens Advice provision across the jobcentre network, which is an additional layer of independent support, particularly for vulnerable claimants who may find it difficult to access services.