Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to introduce new (a) opportunities and (b) training for PIP claimants who will lose their entitlement to PIP due to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in addition to those announced in the (i) Green Paper entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, published on 18 March 2025 and (ii) White Paper entitled Get Britain Working, published on 26 November 2024.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Government has listened and committed to making changes to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. We will take forward reforms to PIP in a different way through the Timms review, and only make changes to PIP eligibility, activities and descriptors once the review has completed. The aim of the review is to make sure it is fair and fit for the future in a changing world and helps support disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence.

As announced in the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ statement on Welfare Reform on 30 June, we have increased the funding for employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions, investing an additional £300m over the next 3 years. This means our ‘Pathways to Work Guarantee’ is now an investment of £2.2 billion by 2030. This brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament.

In addition to our Pathways to Work Guarantee announced in the Green Paper, our Access to Work Scheme provides practical support to help disabled people get into and stay in work.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, what plans her Department has to provide dedicated capital funding for (a) safe, (b) modern, (c) sustainable and (d) inclusive facilities for fire and rescue services in (a) West Midlands Fire Service and (b) England.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 3 February, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement, which sets out funding allocations for all Local Authorities, including Fire and Rescue.

These allocations, which include the National Insurance Contribution Grant, will see standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) receiving an increase in core spending power of £69.1 million in 2025/26. This is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25.

In 2025/26, West Midlands FRA has a core spending power of £135.3 million. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each FRA.

Fire and Rescue Services play a crucial role in making our communities safer, both in prevention and in responding to emergencies. Government will continue to work with the Fire and Rescue sector to understand the investment needed and how that need can be addressed.

Following the Spending Review, my department is now working through departmental allocations. Once this process is complete, I will be able to share what the Spending Review means for the Fire and Rescue sector.

High street gambling reform

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Paulette Hamilton (Chair); Danny Beales; Ben Coleman; Jen Craft;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Paulette Hamilton (Chair); Danny Beales; Ben Coleman; Jen Craft;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Paulette Hamilton (Chair); Ben Coleman; Dr Beccy Cooper; Jen Craft

Found: Education Committee IV: Dame Emily Thornberry, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee V: Paulette Hamilton

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 20 June 2025 48 Agreed to_21 Munira Wilson Paulette Hamilton Jess Asato Tim Farron

Found: the meaning given by section 37(5).” 59 REPORT STAGE Friday 20 June 2025 _21 Munira Wilson Paulette Hamilton

Found: REPORT STAGE Friday 20 June 2025 30 _21 Munira Wilson Paulette Hamilton Jess Asato Tim Farron Rachael

Found: Stephenson Rupert Lowe Liz Jarvis Neil Duncan-Jordan Rebecca Smith Sarah Bool Rebecca Paul Paulette Hamilton

Found: Stephenson Rupert Lowe Liz Jarvis Neil Duncan-Jordan Rebecca Smith Sarah Bool Rebecca Paul Paulette Hamilton

Found: Irons Joe Powell Chris Curtis Paula Barker Helen Hayes Alberto Costa Kirith Entwistle Paulette Hamilton

Submit Evidence (by 7 Aug 2025)

The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the role of physical activity in improving the health and wellbeing of our older population.  

Submit Evidence (by 28 Aug 2025)

The Committee is holding an inquiry into food and weight management, including treatments for obesity.