Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hepburn and Shailesh Vara

Monday 7th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

As I have said, the facts prove that young people are getting into jobs a lot more than they did before—certainly more than when the Labour party was in government.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

6. What estimate he has made of the proportion of working families likely to be affected by the Government’s reforms to benefits.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hepburn and Shailesh Vara

Tuesday 1st July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

It is vital that we have the necessary discussions with other Departments. We are working on that, at pace, to ensure that we get the best possible outcome for those at the end of that chain.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

Does it not tell us everything we want to know about this nasty Government—doing a rotten deal with Tory funders in the City to the detriment of dying people?

[Mr Vara]

The hon. Gentleman does neither himself nor his party any credit by using such language. A document has been made public and no deal was done with it—that is the fact. It would help the House if the hon. Gentleman dealt with facts rather than supposition.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hepburn and Shailesh Vara

Tuesday 18th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Shailesh Vara)]

We have received a small number of representations on pleural plaques over the past few months, including some from Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents.

[Mr Hepburn]

Does the Minister agree that the current system of compensation for pleural plaques is grossly unfair? People with pleural plaques living in Scotland or Northern Ireland qualify for compensation, but those living in England or Wales do not. Does he think that is unfair, and is he going to do anything about it?

[Mr Vara]

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that there are different legal jurisdictions, which means that there will occasionally be differences. In the light of the current medical evidence, the Government do not consider it appropriate to overturn the House of Lords judgment that the condition of pleural plaques is not compensatable under the civil law.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hepburn and Shailesh Vara

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vara]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that comment. This is an independent commission and it is not for me to say what it will eventually conclude, so I am afraid that we will simply have to wait for the final outcome.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

17. What recent representations he has received on arrangements for compensation claims by people with pleural plaques.