Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Andrew Stephenson

Monday 1st February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

It is important that the hon. Gentleman appreciates that the new state pension is based on national insurance contributions. He will be aware that for many years many people have contracted out, and a small portion of their national insurance has gone towards a work pension or a private pension. If they add the new state pension to their other pension, which was paid for by national insurance contributions, they will find that in many cases they will be better off than they would be under the new state pension, which is £155.65.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

Will not the new state pension remove injustices that have persisted for far too long, benefiting women and low earners especially?

[Mr Vara]

Absolutely. As of April this year, with a new state pension and the triple lock, people will be £1,000 better off than they would have been under the old system whereby pensions were uprated. The triple lock will benefit people by £1,000 by April this year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Andrew Stephenson

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

My hon. Friend is right to say that we have met. With this proposed closure of 91 courts, I have tried to make myself available to as many colleagues as possible—as far as I am aware, I have met every person who wanted a meeting. I am seriously considering my hon. Friend’s proposals, and I am grateful to her for submitting them.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to improve prisons’ engagement with employers; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shailesh Vara and Andrew Stephenson

Tuesday 11th November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

Certainly. One of the issues at hand is that we are dealing effectively with the backlog of cases that existed before. As a consequence, the average time that is taken is being reduced. We are dealing expeditiously with new cases and trying to deal with the backlog.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

9. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of convictions for stalking offences.