argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Redhill, Reigate and District Rail Services — House of Commons, 2018-10-18
Topic: Education
Crispin Jeremy Rupert Blunt (Conservative, Centre-right): I have managed to scrape in before the Minister’s last word. Obviously, his concluding remarks are immensely welcome, and it would be ungracious of me not to be delighted on behalf of my constituents that he has had the opportunity to reflect and put a plan in place to get this issue addressed. I am immensely grateful. I am afraid that we will continue to have meetings on the merits of the other issues, but I am delighted that we will get Oyster as it is rolled out across the piece. He will probably continue to be lobbied by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), I am afraid, as his constituents who travel to the further education colleges in my constituency are caught by this problem, but, overall, I am very grateful to the Minister.
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): Universal credit is a person-centred benefit focused on the needs of the individual. We are working continuously with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that we provide the right support for vulnerable claimants, and our work coaches undertake awareness training to identify claimants with complex needs.
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Paul Masterton (Conservative, Centre-right): During a recent visit with the Secretary of State to the Barrhead jobcentre in my constituency, one of the things we discussed with staff was the payment of advances as a single payment potentially to claimants who have difficulty managing budgets or who are struggling with addiction. Will she take into account those concerns when reviewing how the advance system is operating?
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I was delighted to visit my hon. Friend’s constituency and local jobcentre and to visit the Greenhouse Café, which he champions and which helps vulnerable people to get closer to the workplace. On the question that he and the work coaches raised about the advance, those advances could be given up to 100%, and with the personal relationship that the work coaches have, through this training they can assess what the right needs are. That is the right thing to do.
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan (Conservative, Centre-right): Vulnerable claimants often consult their local citizens advice bureau. On a visit to the Chesham citizens advice bureau, staff told me that the fixed-term, timed appointments for their clients are often taken up by them hanging on to the DWP telephone line for up to 25 or 30 minutes, and then the time for the appointment has expired. Will the Secretary of State look at the telephone line and try to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, so that CAB advisers can instantly access the advice that they need to help these clients to make universal credit go smoothly?
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend, who does so much for people in her constituency, and particularly those with autism, raises a very good point. We will look into exactly what we can do to do that for the citizens advice bureaux, as we have a very good working relationship with them.
Universal Credit: Vulnerable Claimants — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will know that we still pay child benefit for all children. We are also paying childcare costs. In fact, those have increased. As I said, what we have done with tax credits is make sure that people who are paying their way and are not dependent on the state get the same support as those people who are also getting support from the state.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Government Operations
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): It is not necessarily the case that the decision made was the wrong decision; mostly what happens is that more information comes forward at the appeal. Hon. Members should look at the data I have already given. One wrong decision is one too many, however, which is why we have done a great deal of work to improve our decision-making process.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I respectfully point out to the hon. Gentleman that more people are receiving higher awards on PIP than did on the legacy benefit, disability living allowance, and people moving from DLA to PIP remain in payment while going through the process. I utterly refute what he said.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman wants to talk about constituents. I was on "You and Yours" last week and, during the phone-in, a whole series of people called in about their PIP experiences. As he has made his point, let us hear what Jennifer from Lancashire said: "As it happens, it has worked very well for me." She contacted the Royal National Institute of Blind People, which helped her fill in the form, and the "result was I now get the top rate for both things…. I get £140 whereas I used to get £112."
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Michael Alex Burghart (Conservative, Centre-right): I especially welcome the fact that the Government have accepted the Select Committee on Work and Pensions recommendation to record PIP interviews. Will the Minister set out for the House the sort of timescale in which we can expect these changes to come through?
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his contribution today and the hard work he puts in on the Select Committee. I was delighted to welcome its recommendations, and I really believe that the video-recording of PIP assessments will reduce a lot of stress and anxiety, which largely occurs because of the scaremongering we see too often from the Opposition. We have begun work on the piloting and will be undertaking the testing this summer.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
John Michael Howell (Conservative, Centre-right): At a recent Westminster Hall debate, several of us commented on how the PIP process had improved. Will the Minister continue to work with those of us who have suggestions for improving the system still further?
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. I am utterly determined to ensure that everyone has a very good experience of PIP. The independent customer satisfaction ratings show that the vast majority of people feel that they are treated with respect and dignity and receive the benefit to which they are entitled, but we will of course seek continuously to improve the process.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the right hon. Lady for her question. Of course I am always happy to meet all Members to review individual cases, but I suggest, for everyone’s benefit, that any Member with a constituent who faces losing a Motability car should call Motability. Motability is sitting on very considerable reserves. It is a charity and is able to make discretionary payments to enable people to keep their cars during the appeal process.
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you for calling me, Mr Speaker, and thank you for your kindness to a group of visitors who came to see me in the House earlier today I thank the Minister for the answers that she has given so far. I recently met representatives of Carers Aid Torbay to talk about the PIP process and the support that they provide for those who are going through it. Can she reassure me that there will be engagement with groups such as that in respect of the potential introduction of video recording of interviews?
PIP Assessments: Appeals — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What recent estimate she has made of the average number of personal independence payment assessments that are overturned on appeal; and what the average waiting time is for such appeals to be heard.
Sarah Louise Newton (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for his question. It is very important for us to listen to people who are going through the process. I have regular meetings with disabled people and charities to ensure that we get it right and continuously improve the experience of our claimants.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): We are continuously testing, learning and improving to deliver an effective roll-out. The pace of the roll-out reflects the need to listen, respond and get it right. We have rolled out universal credit to 353 jobcentres and are increasing the roll-out to 60 jobcentres per month. Universal credit is on track to be in all jobcentres nationally by the end of 2018.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Peter Heaton-Jones (Conservative, Centre-right): This Wednesday sees the roll-out of full-service universal credit in North Devon. Will the Secretary of State join me in acknowledging the hard work of Jobcentre Plus staff in ensuring the smoothest possible transition for all claimants?
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I will indeed join my hon. Friend in thanking his team. I also thank him for what he has personally done in his local area, working with Alex Coull, the work coach team leader, and his team. They have done an excellent job, engaging with stakeholders from North Devon Homes, North Devon Council, Citizens Advice Devon and North Devon+. That is the sort of work that all Members of Parliament can do to ensure that universal credit is rolled out safely.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: Increasingly, my constituents are finding that elements of their benefits have been withdrawn—because there is less money in the bank—before the DWP has sent the decision letter. When they phone the helpline, they are told that, as a decision letter has not been sent, the adviser cannot discuss anything with them. A month later the letter arrives, with an explanation of their right to appeal. Will the Secretary of State put her house in order, and ensure that claimants are the first and not the last to know?
Rachel Helen Maclean (Conservative, Centre-right): May I commend the Secretary of State and convey to her the comments of staff at a jobcentre in Redditch? People who have worked there for decades said that universal credit was the best system that they had seen for 30 years. That is because it is an individualised system based on the "test and learn" approach. What more can the Secretary of State do to ensure that that approach helps our constituents?
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Questions: Increasingly, my constituents are finding that elements of their benefits have been withdrawn—because there is less money in the bank—before the DWP has sent the decision letter. When they phone the helpline, they are told that, as a decision letter has not been sent, the adviser cannot discuss anything with them. A month later the letter arrives, with an explanation of their right to appeal. Will the Secretary of State put her house in order, and ensure that claimants are the first and not the last to know?
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend has made a very good point. When we speak to the people who are working with the system day in, day out, they say that it is the best system that they have ever seen, and it is about a "test and learn" process. Listening to what is said in the House, one would not believe that over 3.2 million more people were in work. That is not something that happens by mistake. It is as a result of the hard work of our work coaches and the direction that is being set by the Government.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Macroeconomics
Questions: Increasingly, my constituents are finding that elements of their benefits have been withdrawn—because there is less money in the bank—before the DWP has sent the decision letter. When they phone the helpline, they are told that, as a decision letter has not been sent, the adviser cannot discuss anything with them. A month later the letter arrives, with an explanation of their right to appeal. Will the Secretary of State put her house in order, and ensure that claimants are the first and not the last to know?
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Gentleman raises a good point. We are looking constantly at real-time income—how it works and how it works best—and we continue to do that and put out new guidance when we know what is going on.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Questions: Increasingly, my constituents are finding that elements of their benefits have been withdrawn—because there is less money in the bank—before the DWP has sent the decision letter. When they phone the helpline, they are told that, as a decision letter has not been sent, the adviser cannot discuss anything with them. A month later the letter arrives, with an explanation of their right to appeal. Will the Secretary of State put her house in order, and ensure that claimants are the first and not the last to know?
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): Not only is it seeing more people into work sooner, but it shows they are staying in work longer and looking to do more hours. It also shows that people who are in work are earning £600 more a year on average. My hon. Friend has raised a good question.
Universal Credit: Supporting People into Work — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department published an analysis on 8 June which showed a near doubling of the proportion of UC claimants in a paid job after eight months into the claim. The Department published analysis last year which shows that UC claimants are 4 percentage points more likely to be in work than an equivalent claimant on JSA six months after their claim.
Universal Credit: Supporting People into Work — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): As the Secretary of State has said, we are at record levels of employment in this country and that is because of the policies of this Government. The hon. Gentleman talks about the 200,000 extra people who will be in work as a result of UC. He will also know that, in 2012, the Institute for Fiscal Studies looked at the methodology, which related to the key element of this, which was the financial incentives that will make more people go into work, and it concluded that this was within the plausible range.
Universal Credit: Supporting People into Work — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are at record levels of employment in this country. It is interesting that the Opposition talk about estimates. If I remember correctly, back in 2010, the Opposition said we would lose 1 million jobs as a result of our policies, but we have created 3.2 million. At the end of the day, when it comes to estimates, I am not taking lectures from the Opposition.
Universal Credit: NAO Report — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the findings of the NAO report entitled rolling out universal credit, published on 15 June 2018.
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): It is unfortunate that the NAO was unable to take into account the significant changes recently implemented in universal credit. Those changes address many of the concerns raised in its report. We continue to listen and learn from feedback, and make the necessary changes to the benefit as we roll it out.
Universal Credit: NAO Report — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the findings of the NAO report entitled rolling out universal credit, published on 15 June 2018.
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): The NAO made clear quite the opposite: it said that we need to continue with universal credit. It was also concerned that it was rolling out too slowly and said that actually we should increase what we are doing. So what the right hon. Gentleman says is absolutely not what the NAO said.
Universal Credit: NAO Report — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Questions: What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the findings of the NAO report entitled rolling out universal credit, published on 15 June 2018.
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right—that is exactly the number. Actually, Patrick from Newport has said that it helped him with fares to get to a job and with the cost of clothing. He said: "Thanks for all your help. It was really easy dealing with everyone who helped me back into work quickly and helping me buy what I need and travel back and forth." That was an example from Wales.
Universal Credit: NAO Report — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Questions: What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the findings of the NAO report entitled rolling out universal credit, published on 15 June 2018.
Esther Louise McVey (Conservative, Centre-right): I will indeed join my hon. Friend in praising that support. It is really important that local authorities are involved in what is happening and that we provide the right support on the ground for individuals to get their benefit.
Universal Credit: Financial Hardship — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Christopher Laurie Malthouse (Conservative, Centre-right): The best way to help people financially is to help them into work, and universal credit will get 200,000 more people into work. Our recent survey evidence shows that people on UC and in work had an average increase in reported earnings of £600 a year. There was also an 8% fall in the number of people on incomes of £10,000 a year or less.
Universal Credit: Financial Hardship — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Christopher Laurie Malthouse (Conservative, Centre-right): As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said earlier, the close and constructive relationship between work coaches and their clients should enable them as a team to get through any hardship that arises. The hon. Lady is attempting to build a career on bashing universal credit, but she never does so in context. We have chosen to fight poverty in a different way. We have chosen to fight it with work rather than with welfare. She never points out that, under the last Labour Government, the number of households where no one worked almost doubled.
Universal Credit: Financial Hardship — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Stephen Charles Kerr (Conservative, Centre-right): Earlier on, the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, my hon. Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth (Sarah Newton), mentioned scaremongering by the Opposition. I can confirm that that scaremongering causes grave anxiety among my constituents. Will the Minister confirm that, for example, an advance payment does not involve rates of interest and that it is reimbursed by deductions made over a period of months?
Universal Credit: Financial Hardship — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Christopher Laurie Malthouse (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is exactly right. I was pleased to be able to sit with him in a meeting with some of his third sector organisations, including his local food bank, his citizens advice bureau and his local refuge, to try to scotch some of the mythology that has been created around universal credit. Wherever universal credit has been in place for some time, it receives universal praise from work coaches on the frontline and very high satisfaction levels from the people who are using it.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Labor
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): Nearly 1 million people are now claiming universal credit, with around 37% of them in employment. We take 5,000 new claims a day and universal credit is operational in half of all jobcentres, with the full roll-out expected to be concluded by the end of the year.
Universal Credit: Roll-out — House of Commons, 2018-07-02
Topic: Social Welfare
Alok Kumar Sharma (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North (Gavin Newlands) talks about sanctions, but he will know that the regime is different. For example, under JSA if somebody who was due to come in for an interview does not contact us after five days, they fall out of the system and are not sanctioned. Under universal credit, however, we continue to pay all the elements—the child element and the housing element—but the sanction that they would face applies only to the standard allowance. The hon. Gentleman talks about wanting to help people, but the Scottish National party voted against £1.5 billion of support. If he wants to support people, he should try to support the Government from time to time.