Legal Aid: Post-Implementation Review

Debate between David Gauke and Jessica Morden

Thursday 7th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend is of course right. I believe that the process we have undertaken in the past year has been a thorough engagement with stakeholders from throughout the country, and that is very much the feedback I have been getting. It is important that we continue to engage. As my hon. Friend makes clear, there are different challenges in different parts of the country, and that needs to be reflected in our approach.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

One consequence of the Government’s deep cuts to legal aid has been the emergence of an unregulated legal advice sector, which has stepped in to fill the gap. What work have the Government done to look into the quality of advice and redress in the sector?

[Mr Gauke]

Of course, we have to keep this matter constantly under review to ensure that citizens are not misled or taken down a wrong approach. Innovation and competition should be part of the context, but the hon. Lady is quite right that we must ensure that citizens get the correct advice and that we are not in a position where the unscrupulous are able to take people in the wrong direction.

Jobcentre Plus: Closures

Debate between David Gauke and Jessica Morden

Thursday 6th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Jobcentres are certainly very open to partnership working. She highlights an area where more progress is needed, and indeed where we might be able to help.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

The DWP is proposing to relocate the service centre out of Newport to some location north of Cardiff, but the exact location is unclear. My hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn) and I clearly want to keep those jobs, the expertise and the services. The centre provides 249 jobs right in the heart of our city. Will the Minister meet us, so that we can put the case in person?

[Mr Gauke]

We are trying to find a site that would minimise job losses, but I know that my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment would be happy to meet the hon. Lady.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and Jessica Morden

Tuesday 10th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

We are not afraid of anything. The Government have been more successful at prosecuting criminals involved in tax evasions, more successful at closing tax avoidance loopholes and more successful at getting money in. That is a record we can be proud of.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

2. What proportion of recipients of tax credits are in employment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Gauke and Jessica Morden

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

The reality is that the west midlands, as with other parts of the country, is growing strongly. Today’s figures show that manufacturing has grown by 3.3% over the past year, and that is particularly important for the west midlands. The reality is that we are moving into a period of growth, and that is encouraging. Further work needs to be done, but the truth is that this Government have succeeded in turning around the mess that we inherited.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

13. What discussions he has had with energy-intensive industries on measures to be included in the 2014 Budget.