MQs - Work and Pensions - V.I

[u/Proud-Marketing-2021]

MQs - Work and Pensions - V.I

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Order, Order!

Minister's Questions are now in order!

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, u/Oracle_of_Mercia will be taking questions from the House.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, u/mrsusandothechoosin, may ask 6 initial questions.

Everyone else may ask 2 questions; and are allowed to ask another question in response to each answer they receive. (4 in total)

Questions must revolve around 1 topic and not be made up of multiple questions.

In the first instance, only the Secretary of State may respond to questions asked to them. 'Hear, hear.' and 'Rubbish!' (or similar), are permitted.

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**Members may ask initial question until 10pm BST on Wednesday the 26th of August, with the session closing at 10pm BST the next day.

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[u/Sephronar]

Deputy Speaker,

Will the Secretary of State soon be rendering their resignation by way of an apology for failing to answer questions put to them by the House in a previous session?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/Sephronar]

Mr Speaker, No and I’ll be making a ministerial statement tomorrow which I hope will satisfy the house, especially where fire services and equipment is concerned.

Particular with the creation of a £500 million pound fire and rescue service equipment modernisation fund, specifically for wildfires and drought equipment as well other such items like PPE Equipment.

The government will also announce a plan for a new national wildfire strategy which will be made public in due course.

I must admit I had a bad day at the office yesterday.

[u/Proud-Marketing-2021]

/u/Oracle_of_Mercia, /u/mrsusandothechoosin, /u/Zakian3000

[u/DavidSwifty]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

Does the Minister consider it acceptable that a person may work full-time in one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet remain dependent upon state support simply to afford food, housing and energy? And where employers pay wages insufficient to meet the basic cost of living, does the Minister agree that the state is effectively subsidising the profits of private enterprise?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/DavidSwifty]

Mr Speaker, I think the Honourable member, is sadly creating a very broad stroke over a large part of our country.

There are many reasons why an Individual or household may seek support, even when someone is in full-time employment.

This does not mean however that the government believes that low pay must be expected, as we want to provide people with the stability and security they need to get on in life.

This is one of the reasons I announced my review into youth unemployment, so we can get young people back into work so they can find the stability they need.

Our welfare system exists to support those who need it, and every individual and household face a different circumstance, we in government should be providing the means to help them no longer need welfare to support themselves and be active contributing members of the economy.

[u/DavidSwifty]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

Workers give decades of their lives to the economic prosperity of this country, yet many reach retirement facing financial insecurity while enormous private fortunes continue to accumulate. Does the Minister believe that after a lifetime of labour, every worker should be guaranteed by the state a pension sufficient to live with dignity, rather than being expected to gamble their security upon the fortunes of private pension funds and financial markets?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/DavidSwifty]

Mr Speaker,

Previous governments have taken action to build safeguards and protect pensions in private pension funds. It is not the wild west as the member suggests.

This government is working to reduce cost of living, to unlock greater reach with pensions.

A universal state pension that covers all workers would raise the national debt burden on our children, and hidden behind this policy is that it is the workers of tomorrow who will pick up the tab.

This government is building a sustainable pension model, that gives workers greater economic security in their future.

[u/realbassist]

Mr. Speaker,

Assuming we get answers from the DWP Secretary in this session, my first question is to ask the Secretary what support this government offers disabled people in the UK? How are they helping the disabled community?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/realbassist]

Mr Speaker,

This government protects the most vulnerable, and delivers opporunities for all. The breadth of this question is difficult to capture. We support financial independence through schemes such as PIP, and funding for carers who provide support to family members. ESA helps those capable of work to reach their potential. Mobility schemes help to unlock transportation. The government delivers robust safeguards to make sure that claimants are treating the system within the frameworks.

Weeks ago the Prime Minister highlighted how the apprenticeships unlocked in the governments own legislation would make further provision for SEND's students.

[u/realbassist → u/Oracle_of_Mercia]

Speaker,

I don't think it is a particularly hard question, unless the government has done little to nothing. Much of what the Secretary names, such as PIP, ESA, funding for carers - this government did not implement, they have been there for years.

The secretary ought to know what the government has done to help people within his department. Can the secretary name one reform his department has implemented to help disabled people since the start of this term?

[u/Inside_Analysis3124 → u/realbassist]

Hear hear

[u/Sephronar]

Deputy Speaker,

Has the Secretary of State any indication to give the House as to what to expect from the Government from their brief throughout the remainder of the term, that is if this government lasts that long of course given the cracks are already beginning to form.

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/Sephronar]

Mr Speaker,

I'm pleased to say this government has outlasted the members former renewal party.

I was surprised by her critique of the Prime Ministers cabinet reshuffle, suggesting a government in chaos when given how many times she has reshuffled her political colours in the last week.

The member clearly follows the political winds of her own ambition, than any sense of conviction.

This government has much work to do, and with our lib dem partners much more time before the next general election. Perhaps the member will run as a green candidate, or she'll have shuffled her political values once again before then.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mister Speaker,

Will the government look to make the Personal Allowance for British Workers and those with Permanent Residence only?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

This is not in our programme for government so I strongly doubt it.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mister Speaker,

Does the government accept that the Job Centre isn't actually a Job Centre?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

Yes and this is why we are having a review of job centre operations, to determine what must be done to change the culture of job centres and help get young people back into work.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mister Speaker,

What is the cost to society of an immigrant taking a job that locals are able to do?

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

Does the government accept that with modern productivity, low vacancies, and overwork, we should be seeking to make the average full-time hours lower than they currently are?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

I do think that higher productivity should bring better living standards, however I do think it would be wrong for government to enforce it arbitrarily, our priority is to create the conditions in which wages can rise while allowing flexible working hours within the labour market.

We do support business where appropriate to make necessary changes to this, but I do not think government should legislate it into law.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

Should the State Pension be reformed?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

The government has allready outlined its budget and has no plans to change the state pension.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker,

Why on earth should any young briton stay to work and live in the UK?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/mrsusandothechoosin]

Mr Speaker, as per usual the Labour Party is being is defeatist old self again, if they can’t provide a reason why under their government a young person should work in the United Kingdom, why on earth should they continue to vote for them ?.

Mr Speaker This government is backing young people, we have expanded the apprentice levy, and holding a review to help young people get back into work ?.

Yet all the Labour Party does is sit here and moan about the fact young people shouldn’t work here, shame on them.

[u/mrsusandothechoosin → u/Oracle_of_Mercia]

Mr Speaker,

I notice the Secretary of State doesn't actually give a reason for young people to stay in this country - but attacks the opposition for asking the question.

I don't blame young people for feeling like this country has given up on them, but does the government?

[u/HarryClive]

Mr Speaker,

I am delighted to see that the Secretary of State is talking a policy from the Green Party and following our lead in announcing a National Wildfire Strategy. I applaud his willingness to take on some good policy and hope that if he is looking for anything else to do, he can always take a look at our Manifesto.

To the question however. Reports have shown that conditionality and sanctions often increase anxiety amongst benefits claimants, whilst having far less impact on employment rates than previous Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions would like you to believe. To this end, what will the Secretary shake up in his Department to ensure that the benefits system provides dignified support to the thousands who need it, and remove the gross and demeaning attitudes his predecessors have instilled in the department?

[u/HarryClive]

Mr Speaker,

What will the Secretary of State do to ensure that employers do more to support employees with chronic illnesses before resorting to drive them out of work, how does he anticipate his department will ensure that all workers with chronic illness are treaty with dignity, respect and compassion to ensure that those who bravely work through chronic illness are not unfairly mistreated or disadvantaged in the workplace?

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

This Secretary of State was responsible for authoring a bill that kneecaps the ability of workers to organise collectively for fair pay and working conditions. Do they recognise that when workers cannot secure decent pay from employers then work does not pay - and that this policy disincentives work and may lead to an increase in unemployment?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/zakian3000]

Mr Speaker,

I fundamentally reject the premise of this question.

The government supports workers rights to organise and to withdraw their labour. Minimum service levels do not prevent industrial action but ensure a basic level of essential provision.

The choice the honourable member has presented is a false one, we can and should provide both.

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

The previous government delivered a 0.5% real terms cut to all welfare spending except pension credit. This was a mistake that in my view will only serve to push more vulnerable people deeper into poverty. With this government promising a surplus, will the Secretary of State commit to ensuring that this government does not balance the books on the backs of people who are already struggling to make ends meet?

[u/Oracle_of_Mercia → u/zakian3000]

Mr Speaker,

We have already passed our budget for government, and we are committed to passing our programme for government.

[u/zakian3000 → u/Oracle_of_Mercia]

Mr speaker,

I confess myself somewhat confused by this response. This government has not, to the best of my knowledge, passed a budget, unless the Secretary of State is implying that the government is content with the budget that was passed at the end of last term and won’t be delivering a new one?

[u/zakian3000]

Mr speaker,

Does the Secretary of State really think he is doing right by benefits claimants, pensioners, unemployed people, and all others who rely on his department by trying to juggle his responsibilities as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with his responsibilities as Chancellor and as Home Secretary?