Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and David Morris

Monday 24th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

5. What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of good school places in England.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Damian Hinds)]

I join colleagues from across the House in congratulating you on your decade, Mr Speaker. On the subject of nice round numbers, we are on track to create 1 million new places in schools this decade, primarily through building free schools and encouraging existing high-performing schools to expand.

[David Morris]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that continual investment in schools in Morecambe and Lunesdale has directly resulted in improvements in education standards?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and David Morris

Monday 13th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

14. What estimate he has made of the number of claimants applying for universal credit advance payments.

[The Minister for Employment (Damian Hinds)]

The answer is about half. We are working to further improve awareness and access to this support.

[David Morris]

I am keen to ensure that advance payments are made to my constituents in need, which is why I see the jobcentre and the citizens advice bureau, one after the other, every month. Does the Minister agree that the Labour party should start acting responsibly and join me in encouraging constituents to apply for this additional help, and tone down the political rhetoric, which could deter vulnerable people from applying in the first place?

[Damian Hinds]

I do. My hon. Friend knows, and the Labour party should acknowledge, that no one need go without money while they wait for their first regular payment. Labour should not try to put people off accessing the support that is there for them.