Oral Answers to Questions

Owen Thompson Excerpts

Monday 11th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

12. What assessment he has made of the potential policy implications for his Department of the UK leaving the EU.

[Owen Thompson (Midlothian) (SNP)]

21. What assessment he has made of the potential policy implications for his Department of the UK leaving the EU.

[Michelle Thomson (Edinburgh West) (Ind)]

22. What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on welfare spending.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Crabb]

The money has already been announced by the Chancellor on successive occasions, and it is there, waiting to be used. When the hon. Lady reads the Green Paper, which we hope to publish later this year, she will see how we will use it to develop longer-term reform options to provide better support for people with disabilities and close the disability employment gap. I think there is cross-party support for that in the House.

[Owen Thompson]

Cuts in support for people who have been placed in the employment and support allowance work-related activity group from April 2017 will leave many sick and disabled people in the dark, and potentially without the protections provided by the European Union. Will the Secretary of State, unlike the Brexiteers, give us some assurance that the Government actually have a plan for the Green Paper to give back, so that those who are affected by these changes are accurately assessed and are recognised and valued by the state?

[Stephen Crabb]

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman about the need to recognise and protect people with these health conditions, and we are absolutely committed to doing that. I do not want to repeat the answer that I gave earlier, but we have money set aside, and we will publish the Green Paper later this year. It will set out clear reform options which I hope will command support from Members on both sides of the House, and also from disability organisations.