Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Will Stone and Stephen Timms

Monday 17th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Will Stone (Swindon North) (Lab)]

1. What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of disability living allowance cases that have been incorrectly reduced to a lower rate without an explanation.

[The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)]

There should be no benefit decisions without explanation. Claim decisions should always be set out with the reasons. If a decision is unclear, or if the reasons for it are unclear, a further detailed verbal or written explanation can be requested and will be provided.

[Will Stone]

Will the Minister please outline how this Government will support young disabled people to have a positive engagement with the benefit system alongside work?

[Sir Stephen Timms]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to press for improvements. We want to change how we think about jobcentres and the benefit system. Our youth work coaches talk a lot to disabled young people and are very keen to help more. Our reforms are making that possible, by giving better help and support, and by opening up new opportunities for disabled young people up and down the country.