Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Philip Hollobone

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

This Government believe, as have every preceding Government, that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention, and it is not this Government’s policy to make split payments by default. However, we are looking at the proposed Scottish pilot and, at the same time, by the end of the summer all jobcentres will have domestic abuse specialists to support work coaches and raise awareness.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Who is impacted more by the introduction of universal credit: women or men?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

Against the background of the highest ever level of employment in our country’s history, which employment rate is growing faster—male or female?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

Both are growing, but female in particular.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Philip Hollobone

Monday 2nd July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

12. How many people have taken receipt of the state pension in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018 in Kettering constituency; and what the change in the value of the state pension has been over that period.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

In 2010, there were 17,400 recipients of the state pension in Kettering, and the most recent data shows that that number had risen to 18,600 in 2017. In cash terms, the full basic state pension is now worth £1,450 a year more in 2018-19 than in 2010. That is a £660 a year more than would have been the case if the pension had been uprated solely by earnings.

[Mr Hollobone]

That is great news for existing pensioners in Kettering and throughout the country, but what about tomorrow’s pensioners? How many people are being auto-enrolled into private pension schemes?

[Guy Opperman]

As you know, Mr Speaker, where Kettering leads the nation follows. In Kettering, a record-breaking 10,000 men and women have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. They are part of the millions of working men and women of this nation who are similarly benefiting from automatic enrolment.