Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 4th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

I visited North Devon in April to meet my hon. Friend and discuss those issues. She has my full support and that of the Department in her work to ensure that we address those problems. Clearly, those matters are being addressed on an ongoing basis by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, but I can assure her that she has my full support.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

22. What steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce sickness absences in the workplace.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 31st October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

In my former life I was very much looking at that specific policy and I am quite sure that the Government will address it shortly.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

This morning I attended the York cost of living summit and heard about the impact that food poverty, heating poverty and housing poverty are having on my constituents. One issue is the rate at which the benefits cap is set. By 2027, it will not have been reviewed for 11 years, so will the Secretary of State make representations to the Chancellor to ensure that it is reviewed before 17 November?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 8th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

I can do that. It is a herculean IT project with 43,000 pension providers, 22 million private pensions and state pensions all coming to your mobile phone, your laptop or your device at home. It will be groundbreaking and will be ready in 2023.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

T3. In breaking the pensioners’ promise by unlocking the triple lock, many pensioners in my constituency, where there is an extremely high cost of living, will struggle this winter with heating and food. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that they receive the money they rightly deserve and that he promised the electorate to get through this winter?

[Guy Opperman]

The hon. Member will be aware that the pension has gone up by more than £2,000 in cash terms since 2010. There will be a double lock this coming year, subject to the will of Parliament, and there is also the enhanced take-up of pension credit, which I urge her to ensure her constituents apply for.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 7th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

My hon. Friend makes the good point that hundreds of thousands of people have been helped into work, but more particularly this is about the difference between the current system and the legacy system: we now have a dedicated work coach and personalised support; we have scrapped the 16-hour cliff edge; there is more help with childcare; and we have given additional support that was never there under the legacy system.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

20. A young constituent of mine could not afford to go to his UC appointment, was sanctioned and then lost his home in York’s resettlement project and ended up on the streets. We were told that the Government would fix the problems with UC as it was being rolled out. Why have the Government not stuck to that commitment?

[Guy Opperman]

If the individual case is sent to the Minister with responsibility for UC, they will take that up and respond accordingly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 13th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1.9 million pensioners now live in poverty, which is a complete disgrace. Given that 46,000 pensioners died prematurely last year, why has the winter fuel allowance not been increased for more than a decade?

[Guy Opperman]

It is not specifically the case that pensioners are in poverty compared with previous records, which show that pensioner poverty is coming down. I will write to the hon. Lady in respect of her specific point about the winter fuel allowance.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Rachael Maskell

Monday 18th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Guy Opperman]

My hon. Friend makes two points. The first is that auto-enrolment is a massive success in Tewkesbury, with 23,000 men and women now saving up to 5%—going up to 8% in April—for their long-term retirement. In addition, on fuel poverty, he will be pleased with the warm home discount scheme, which supports over 2 million low-income and vulnerable customers each year with direct assistance with their costs. However, I accept that there is always more that we can do.

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, one in six pensioners now live in poverty. Last year, 46,000 pensioners died prematurely, and the winter fuel allowance has not been increased for 15 years, so what is the Minister doing about that? The Government are cutting pension credit for couples at the same time.

[Guy Opperman]

The reality is that pensioner poverty is at an historically low level. The hon. Lady will be aware of the 12 million winter fuel payments, at a cost of £2 billion, with £200 for households with someone who has reached state pension age and £300 for households with someone who is over 80. In addition, there is the warm home discount support I just outlined.