Oral Answers to Questions

Lee Anderson Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Pat McFadden]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I am very happy to make sure that he gets a meeting with me or another Minister in the team.

[Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Reform)]

T7. At least £10 billion a year is being paid in universal credit to households with at least one foreign national residing there—a truly shocking figure—but what I want to know is how much is being paid in PIP, carer’s allowance and attendance allowance to foreign nationals.

[Pat McFadden]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the retraining scheme that he is running for former Conservative MPs, although I am not convinced that a change of colour is really a change of heart. Let me come to the heart of his question. We do believe that if people have worked here and have contributed over the years, they are entitled to the benefits that the state provides. The logical conclusion of his position would be to deny that to many people who have lived and contributed here, sometimes for decades.