Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2015 Commons Chamber

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

We are liaising with companies and individuals and also ensuring that people take some individual responsibility, by looking at their statements and contributions and thinking ahead. We are also encouraging companies to be proactive and to ensure that their workers take part in the auto-enrolment process and that those workers are protected.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Building a broad skills set is crucial for entering the world of work, so is the Department actively promoting schemes such as the National Citizen Service, which provides a really unique opportunity to do exactly that?

[Justin Tomlinson]

We have already had cross-departmental meetings to look at how we can further promote the National Citizen Service. As an MP, I can say that it is one of the schemes that was introduced in the previous Parliament of which I am proudest. It absolutely transforms children into young very employable adults; it is a brilliant scheme.

DWP Data

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Tuesday 21st July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

We will publish the data, and Opposition Members can then make their own judgment.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that if inaccurate or rushed data were published, she would then be accused, including by Opposition Members, of gross carelessness, given the sensitivity of those data?

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend makes a valid point. It is hugely ironic to hear the remarks of Labour Members, whose Government never published any information or data in this area. We are expected to meet the high standards required for the official publication of statistics, and that is exactly what this Government will do.

Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Thursday 9th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

rose—

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

rose—

[Alan Mak]

rose—

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Duncan Smith]

I just do not agree with that, I am afraid. We have set out to protect disability living allowance and PIPs so that those in the greatest need are protected and their benefits continue to rise. As I said, we will help those in work and capable of work through the living wage and childcare support. We will get people back to work and doing more hours. I do not agree, therefore, with what the hon. Lady says; we have gone out of our way to protect those in the greatest need.

[Tom Pursglove]

In my constituency, people would say that the £20,000 benefits cap is not only morally right but much more in line with circumstances in our area. I tried to intervene on the shadow Chancellor to find out if he agreed with that. Has the Secretary of State had any such indication?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

We have presented today a package for working people that will incentivise those who can work to go back to work and work the hours they need to improve themselves and their families. My hon. Friend is absolutely correct. This is exactly the drive the Government are making.

Child Poverty

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Thursday 25th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan Smith]

Quite simply, the view is that we need to support people in work to ensure that they have the support that is necessary and that they progress in work. I make a simple point that I have made already in this House, which is that it is also the responsibility of companies to pay people a decent wage, and not to rely solely on Government to top up those incomes. We will continue to back those families, and universal credit will make that even more relevant with a greater level of support.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

What is the impact of the Government’s policy of taking low-income families out of tax altogether and how many families directly benefit from that approach?

[Mr Duncan Smith]

We have taken millions of people out of tax altogether, which has dramatically improved their incomes. Something like 25 million people have seen their tax bill reduce directly. For those who have a limited amount of income, this is a huge change and a huge support. That is not ever recognised by the Opposition, who basically raised taxes rather than lowered them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Pursglove Excerpts

Monday 22nd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

The hon. Gentleman has highlighted a constituency case, and I would be very happy to discuss it with him and look into the details.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

This weekend I had a discussion about the difficulties that those suffering from mental health conditions face when trying to access support, specifically in relation to budgeting. What support is available, particularly in the most difficult cases?

[Justin Tomlinson]

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the issue of mental health conditions, which is a particular priority for us. Through the Access to Work scheme, we have introduced a lot more measures to increase support and provision for those trying to get into work and while they are in work. That is partly why 35,000 people benefited from that scheme last year, up by 4,000 on the previous year.