Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Witherden Excerpts

Monday 17th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Western]

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that this issue falls under the umbrella of wider fraud. We inherited an appalling level of fraud in the welfare system under the previous Government. Our fraud Bill goes some way to tackling that, as part of a broader package of £8.6 billion—the largest ever package for tackling fraud.

[Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr) (Lab)]

Given that nearly half of families in poverty have a disabled member and that without PIP an additional 700,000 disabled households could be pushed into poverty, I am concerned that the rumoured cuts will not help people into work but instead drive them further into destitution. What assurances can the Minister give me that the voices of disabled people have been heard and reflected on in the upcoming Green Paper?

[Sir Stephen Timms]

I give my hon. Friend a firm assurance that not only have we been listening, but we shall continue to listen once the proposals have been published.