argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Universal Credit: Food Insecurity — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Andrew James Bridgen (Conservative, Centre-right): Will my right hon. Friend confirm that someone on benefits moving into work under the legacy welfare system that we inherited from the Labour Government could have lost up to £9 of every £10 they earned? There was no incentive to work whatsoever.
Universal Credit: Food Insecurity — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend draws attention to a real failing of the previous system. There was such a high rate of tax—sometimes up to £9 out of every £10—that there was no incentive for people to get into work. I thank him for reminding us that universal credit adjusts to such situations and ensures that work will always pay.
Universal Credit: Food Insecurity — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I have acknowledged that people having difficulty in accessing money on time was one of the causes of the growth in food bank usage, but we have tried to address that. One of the principal ways of doing so is to ensure that every applicant can receive advance payments on the day that they apply. In fact, I visited a jobcentre just before Christmas and was told about a number of claimants who came in for the first time on the Friday before Christmas and got those advance payments.
Universal Credit: Food Insecurity — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): May I just point out to the hon. Gentleman that, by 2020, payments made under universal credit are expected to reach £62 billion, compared with £60 billion under the previous system? [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman raised the issue of the amounts, and I am merely pointing out to him that, with the changes in place, the amounts are larger under universal credit than they would have been under the previous system.[Official Report, 14 February 2019, Vol. 654, c. 10MC.]
Universal Credit Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): We have now successfully rolled out universal credit full service across the country, with 1.6 million people now claiming universal credit. For the next phase, referred to as "managed migration," we will test and refine our approach in a pilot, with up to 10,000 people moving from legacy benefits to universal credit. That pilot will start in July 2019.
Universal Credit Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Law and Crime
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point but, as he is aware, the Department is considering the High Court judgment carefully—I have said this before in the House—and it therefore would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.
Universal Credit Roll-out — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): If the hon. Lady would kindly listen, what I am saying is that the long-agreed change for mixed-age couples was voted on and agreed by Parliament in 2012. We should also be clear that mixed-age couples already claiming pension-age, income-related benefits at the point of change will not be affected, so long as they remain entitled.
Universal Credit: Fluctuating Income — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said, we will respond to the judicial review in due course. The hon. Gentleman will also be aware that, where the employer pays a claimant on a fixed date every month but that changes because of a weekend or a bank holiday, we tell the employer that they should still report the actual pay date to the real-time information system, so that the UC claim is unaffected. Guidance is available from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs on that.
Universal Credit: Fluctuating Income — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): I think the Minister has just referred to the situation that affects my constituent, who is paid on the last Friday of every month, so as the calendar date varies, there are occasions when there is a nil award for UC. Will he confirm that that issue is being looked at and considered?
Universal Credit: Fluctuating Income — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes. As I have said, this is a matter where employers need to take action, and guidance is available from HMRC. As I understand it, employers were once again reminded before Christmas that they need to get the right payment date in place.
Universal Credit: Fluctuating Income — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): We had a discussion about what happens where there is a fixed payment date, but I point out that where two awards had been made in one assessment period it would mean that the claimant would be entitled to a maximum UC award in the following assessment period.
Work Capability Assessments — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Gregory William Hands (Conservative, Centre-right): It is so important to discuss how we can help those who cannot work, but we should also recognise that 900,000 more disabled people are in work since 2014. Will the Minister outline what more she can do to get even more disabled people into work?
Work Capability Assessments — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes a really important point. We have a strong safety net for people who cannot work, but it is also wonderful that so many more people are able to work. I am delighted to announce that from 1 April we will uprate the Access to Work grant to just under £60,000 per person per year, which will provide tailor-made support to enable people to work.
PIP Reassessments: Lifelong Disabilities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady will be aware that under disability living allowance there were also assessments and difficulties with getting people paid on time, so let us not pretend that this is a wholly new change in terms of the consequences. I have started to look at the proposal from the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon), to make sure that people with a terminal illness are treated correctly and get the support that they need as soon as possible.
PIP Reassessments: Lifelong Disabilities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for fighting so hard for his constituents and making sure that the most vulnerable in his constituency are well represented and looked after by their Member of Parliament. I believe he was referring to the tribunal reviews that take place when there are PIP appeals. We are working with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to make sure that we speed up the process to ensure that the waits are not so long.
People with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating Achievements — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for raising this matter. I very much support the inaugural Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List. I thank Sam for his contribution to his community and congratulate him on his achievement. There are so many unsung heroes in all our communities and it is always a pleasure to have an opportunity such as this. The Prime Minister’s award, Points of Light, provides another excellent way of highlighting the contribution of disabled people to our society.
People with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating Achievements — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Kirstene Janette Hair (Conservative, Centre-right): Recently in my constituency, I held a Disability Confident event where I signed up many new employers in Angus and heard success stories of constituents of mine who have benefited from the scheme. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should be encouraging Members across this House to have a similar event so that we can see the successes of the Disability Confident campaign?
People with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating Achievements — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I congratulate my hon. Friend on taking that initiative. She is an absolute champion of enabling people to reach their full potential in society through work. I pay tribute to the many hon. Members across the political divide who have joined Disability Confident and who are getting out and having events in their constituency. We should all be proud that, for the first time in our country, there are more disabled people in work than out of work, so the nation can draw on that rich talent pool.
People with Learning Disabilities and Autism: Celebrating Achievements — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady makes a really important point. We do not want employers to miss out on this fantastic talent pool of people. Through Disability Confident, we are able to provide free and extremely valuable resources to employers to show them how they can make reasonable adjustments regarding the recruitment, retention and management of people on the spectrum in the workplace. That is really important. I am sure that her question will raise awareness of the free, fantastic resources that are available to all employers through Disability Confident.
Universal Credit: Social Security Advisory Committee — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent progress her Department has made on implementing the recommendation of the Social Security Advisory Committee on alternatives to claiming universal credit online.
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): Universal credit is primarily a digital service, but it can also be accessed via telephone and in a jobcentre, where in-person support is available. We also provide assisted digital support as part of our current universal support offer.
Employment Level — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Mark Andrew Menzies (Conservative, Centre-right): Recent figures show that unemployment in my constituency continues to fall. What plans does the Secretary of State have to reduce it further by working with businesses and further education colleges to ensure that young people have the skills needed for today’s workplace?
Employment Level — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for the good work that he does in his constituency to ensure that unemployment continues to fall. We are committed to providing targeted support to young people, so that everyone—no matter what their start in life—is given the very best chance of getting into work. The Jobcentre Plus support for schools programme helps to improve the employability of young people and has resulted in thousands of children being better equipped for today’s labour market.
Employment Level — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Macroeconomics
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I urge the right hon. Gentleman not to be so despondent about the growth figures today. We are seeing growth. Overall employment continues to rise. If he would like to speak to one of us regarding any scheme he has to boost employment in his constituency, I would be pleased to see him.
Employment Level — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman may have his facts wrong. Zero-hours contracts are down; 780,000 people are currently on zero-hours contracts, down from 883,000 in the same period in 2017. Overall, we estimate that 2.4% of the employment market are on zero-hours contracts.
Universal Credit: Debt Repayments — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Guy Thomas Opperman (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that the hon. Lady has met my hon. Friend the Minister for Employment on the issue of her constituent and that the Department awaits more details to investigate it in more detail. The wider point is that the Minister for Employment is looking into this issue with Her Majesty’s Treasury and will, I am sure, update her.
Universal Credit: Debt Repayments — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Guy Thomas Opperman (Conservative, Centre-right): We believe that it is a positive step in the light of the review that took place. I draw my hon. Friend’s attention to the Breathing Space scheme that is being introduced by Her Majesty’s Treasury to assist people on an ongoing basis. That scheme came in in the legislation that we introduced last year.
Care Leavers: Employment Opportunities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
James Spencer Cleverly (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Prior to universal credit, under the legacy system, care leavers and other vulnerable jobseekers were just left to sign on but now, with tailored support and work coaches, that has changed. Now that youth unemployment is at record low levels, what is the Minister’s Department doing to make sure that work coaches are helping care leavers to find not just a job but the right job for them?
Care Leavers: Employment Opportunities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who has championed this area for a number of years, particularly during his time under the former Mayor of London as his youth ambassador. We recognise that the key is to build a personalised and positive relationship between the work coach and the care leaver. We have been working very closely with the Children’s Society and Barnardo’s to improve both the guidance and the training for all our frontline work coaches.
Care Leavers: Employment Opportunities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): Last Thursday, my hon. Friend held a powerful debate in Westminster Hall covering some of this area. The Government take the issue very seriously. We are providing additional funding for 47 local authorities that have the highest numbers of care leavers at risk of rough sleeping. That funding will allow them to appoint specialist personnel advisers to provide additional support to small caseloads of those at risk. I am also keen to look at opportunities to open up the jobcentres to care leavers six months before their 18th birthday in order to look at all the different opportunities and support available to them.
Care Leavers: Employment Opportunities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): Our whole strategy of supporting care leavers, which was set out as part of the care leaver covenant, is about closer partnership working with not only the Department for Education but local authorities, to ensure that there is consistent support across the board. As I said in my previous answer, I want to start that earlier, giving young care leavers the maximum time to prepare for the transition as they reach 18.
Care Leavers: Employment Opportunities — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman; I know that he has raised similar issues before. It is right for this work to be joined up and consistent. At the moment, in the DWP, we look at this 28 days before care leavers are due to start UC. As I said, I think that that should be brought forward to six months, with advice and training on the different opportunities that are available. It is vital that all groups work in partnership. They have supported all the roundtables that I have held and I will continue to work closely with them.
In-work Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): There is clear evidence that work offers people the best opportunity to get out of poverty. A working-age adult living in a household where every adult is working is about six times less likely to be in relative poverty than one living in a household where nobody works.
In-work Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): This Government are not only delivering record employment in all regions of the UK—it is accepted that work is the best route out of poverty—but targeting support at the most vulnerable in society, with increases in the national living wage, which will see the fastest pay rise in the last 20 years, changes to the income tax threshold and a doubling of free childcare.[Official Report, 14 February 2019, Vol. 654, c. 9MC.]
In-work Poverty — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Justin Paul Tomlinson (Conservative, Centre-right): As we know, there are 1 million fewer people and 300,000 fewer children in absolute poverty. The hon. Lady raised that theme at the last DWP oral questions, when she set out the distressing case of a claimant who she claimed was left with just £10 over Christmas because her payment was due on Christmas day. We looked into that case and I took a personal interest in it. The claimant actually received their full entitlement before Christmas, as well as interim support for childcare because they had been able to secure work. I know that the hon. Lady would want everybody in the House to be aware of that.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled People — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): Universal credit has been designed with accessibility in mind, and we are committed to providing a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs. We are improving accessibility features and we are adding to the system all the time, allowing people to claim online, by telephone or through home visits. We really want to work with many community partners or those who are supporting people with complex needs to make sure they do get that support.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled People — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): We work very hard in the DWP to make sure that decisions are made accurately the first time. However, where there have been mistakes, we work really quickly to remedy them as soon as possible. The hon. Gentleman is quite right that we are going through some wide-scale administrative exercises on both employment and support allowance and PIP, and I regularly provide written ministerial statements to the House—the most recent ones were in December—setting out exactly what we are doing.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled People — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Questions: What steps is the Department taking to improve the general assessment process and the oversight of individual assessors to reduce the rate of cases going to appeal?
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): It is absolutely right that we should be focused on making the right decision first time. We have had independent reviews of both the work capability assessment and the PIP assessments, and we are working rigorously to implement each of the steps that have been identified.
Social Security Benefits: Disabled People — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Questions: What steps is the Department taking to improve the general assessment process and the oversight of individual assessors to reduce the rate of cases going to appeal?
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): Universal credit provides tailor-made support for all people, including those with disabilities. Once somebody meets their work coach, they will have a personalised journey to support them into work and to make progress into work, and that can happen even before the work capability assessment is taken.
Breathing Space Scheme — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Guy Thomas Opperman (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will be aware that, in relation to Breathing Space, the Government are considering the responses to our recent consultation and will respond in due course, and that the standard deduction rate for the repayment of a non-fraud overpayment of universal credit is 15%.
Location of Jobcentres — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Government Operations
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): The DWP has a network of over 630 jobcentres across the UK. We consider a number of factors when making decisions about the future DWP estate, including the potential demand for services, the accessibility of our buildings and value for money.
Location of Jobcentres — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch (Conservative, Centre-right): I have a vulnerable constituent who lives in Stansted Mountfitchet but has to travel an hour and a half by public transport to Braintree in order to access a jobcentre. Will the Minister please review jobcentre provision in my constituency, specifically in Uttlesford district?
Location of Jobcentres — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for the work she does on behalf of her constituents. I can confirm that we will continue to work with community-based partner organisations, including Saffron Walden Town Council, to ensure support and the delivery of outreach. Also, for vulnerable claimants and those in remote areas, alternative attendance arrangements can be introduced.
Location of Jobcentres — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Education
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): Just before I call the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes), I can tell her that this morning I conducted my usual weekly Skype session with school students, and today it was with students at the outstanding Elm Wood Primary School in her constituency. I engaged with those quite superb, articulate and personable students, and with their class teacher, Stephanie Kamara, and the headteacher, Ms Myrtle Charles, who made a guest appearance. What a credit those students are to their teachers and parents.
Social Security Benefits: Windrush Generation — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I take a particular interest in ensuring that the Department for Work and Pensions liaises closely with the Home Office to make sure that the Windrush generation are properly supported. So far we have helped over 400 customers to swiftly confirm their status and access benefits.
Social Security Benefits: Windrush Generation — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Social Welfare
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): I would like to reassure the hon. Lady that I have looked into this case, and I do take seriously, as she and the House would expect, the issue of ensuring that the Windrush generation are supported correctly by the DWP. We have reinstated the claimant’s pension credit and have awarded arrears to date. With regard to the attendance allowance, I will be writing to the hon. Lady, and officials are working to resolve the matter. I will provide the letter as a matter of urgency.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2019-02-11
Topic: Labor
Amber Rudd (Conservative, Centre-right): Today I am delighted to confirm that 10 million workers have now been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. Since 2012 this policy has been transforming savings culture. The increase in pension uptake has been particularly marked in younger workers, women and those on low earnings. For many, a private workplace pension was once a pipe dream. Thanks to the action we have taken, it is now a reality. Today I am also bringing forward plans to strengthen the Pensions Regulator to protect final salary pensions, including a new prison sentence of up to seven years in certain circumstances. These measures show that the Government are on the side of workers saving for retirement and that we will protect their incomes from the reckless behaviour of a small number of unscrupulous bosses.