theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_14

Laura Kyrke-Smith:I have been in touch with a constituent who has a disability and needs help with showering and dressing. She is concerned that, under our proposed reforms, she will not score enough points to continue receiving the daily living portion of PIP. I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement that the Government are reviewing the PIP assessment, including the descriptors, but can she confirm that cases like that of my constituent will be considered as part of the review? \p Stephen Timms: I recognise my hon. Friend’s concern. We will engage stakeholders to consider the scope of the review before publishing terms of reference. In the review we will consider whether the assessment criteria effectively target the right people at the right level. We will look at the descriptors and consider the points allocated to them. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. \p Steve Darling: With 300,000 people set to be plunged into poverty through the proposals in the Green Paper and 700 families set to go deeper into poverty, will the Secretary of State advise how changes to PIP will ensure that people with disabilities are living their best lives? \p Stephen Timms: The crucial thing is to improve the employment support for people who are out of work on health and disability grounds. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have an ambitious programme, Connect to Work, which is being rolled out this calendar year, building up to an additional £1 billion a year in employment support by the end of the Parliament. At the moment there are 200,000 people out of work on health and disability grounds who say they would like to be in a job now, and could be in a job now, if they had the support they need. We are determined, through the changes, to provide exactly that support.
debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_15

Rupa Huq:My constituent Charlie Vernon was happily benefiting from the Access to Work scheme until redundancy. He found a new job and did a fresh application last autumn, but since then, well beyond the 24-week timeframe, there has been nothing. Will my right hon. Friend look into these sorts of delays and have a more joined-up system, because assessors are apparently dealing with applications from August at the moment? \p Stephen Timms: My hon. Friend is right that there are currently delays with the Access to Work scheme, reflecting the very large increase in demand and applications for it over the past year or two. We are making changes to speed things up. We are also, in the Green Paper, consulting on the future of the Access to Work scheme. I would really welcome input from my hon. Friend, and perhaps her constituent as well, about the changes we should be making.
debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_16

Gagan Mohindra:The Government claim to be the party of business, but speak to businesses today and they are hurting. Reduced opportunities for wealth creation and entrepreneurship, employee national insurance contributions and the Employment Rights Bill are destroying opportunity. What are the Government doing to incentivise our wealth creators and encourage job creation? \p Liz Kendall: The Government are providing the stability that businesses desperately need. We are working to transform skills in this country—that is absolutely what most businesses say to me they are desperately short of. We are overhauling our job centres, so that we actually serve businesses’ needs. I would just say gently to the hon. Gentleman that it was under his party that we saw the lowest business investment in the G7. We are going to overhaul that and make this the best country in which to start up and grow a business.
debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_17

Peter Lamb:What assessment has the Minister made of the merits of increasing local housing allowance to alleviate the pressure on housing authorities? \p Stephen Timms: My hon. Friend raises an important matter. I just point out that the April 2024 one-year local housing allowance increase has cost an additional £1.2 billion in the last financial year, and it will cost about £7 billion over five years. We keep local housing allowance rates under review. He is right to stress the importance of those, but future decisions on them will need to be based on the Government’s priorities and reflect the difficult fiscal conditions that the Government are dealing with.
debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-05-12e conversation_18

Wendy Morton:Helping more people off welfare and into work will require the support and good will of employers, which I fear those on the Government Benches do not fully recognise. How will the Minister achieve that move, having clobbered businesses with the jobs tax, which covers all sectors of businesses, hospices, charities and many employers? \p Liz Kendall: As I said in response to an earlier question, we are overhauling the way that the Department for Work and Pensions supports employers. We think it is unacceptable that only one in six businesses has ever  used a jobcentre to recruit. We are changing that, including by having a single account manager for businesses, so that they do not have to tell their story time and again. We are overhauling skills in this country, reforming the apprenticeship, and extending the number of sector-based work academy programmes and short skills programmes that businesses desperately want. I know that businesses are desperately keen to engage with us, because they want to recruit, and it is about time that the right hon. Lady’s party started listening to businesses. \p Gregor Poynton: I have been asked by many of my Livingston constituents for reassurance on the Government’s proposed welfare changes. Can the Secretary of State assure the House that these reforms will genuinely help people into decent, secure work, all the while protecting those who clearly cannot work due to ill health or disability? \p Liz Kendall: I absolutely reassure my hon. Friend that that is what we intend to do. Our employment Bill is about ensuring that we improve the quality of jobs, give greater security to people and bring about more flexible working that will benefit sick and disabled people. We are investing £1 billion in employment support to make sure that disabled people have the chances and choices they deserve. Through our review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, we are changing the workplace to make it more inclusive, because the Labour party is absolutely about ensuring that disabled people who can work have the right to do so.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_2

Chris Hinchliff:What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the approval under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 between April and June 2025 of the use of 1,656,930 animals over the next five years. \p Dan Jarvis: The Department takes its responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act extremely seriously. Approvals for the use of animals in science are given only when no alternatives exist and where the scientific benefit justifies the potential harm. The Government will soon publish a strategy on how we will work towards phasing out the use of animals in science. \p Chris Hinchliff: More than 1.6 million animals have been approved for testing over the next five years, including through licences for invasive brain research on monkeys and for looking at different methods of killing animals in laboratories. Labour’s manifesto committed to phasing out animal testing. Can the Minister reassure me that the non-animal methods strategy will commit to Herbie’s law and provide a clear framework for phasing out animal experiments within the next decade? \p Dan Jarvis: I am grateful to the hon. Member. Herbie’s law is a proposed legislative framework to phase out animal experiments, specifically in medical research, in the UK by 2035. The Government’s commitment is clear: we will partner with scientists, industry and civil society to work towards a long-term goal of phasing out the use of animals in scientific research and testing. I will ensure that he receives a letter from the relevant Minister. \p Jim Shannon: I thank the Minister for his answer. It is quite clear that people have had their lives saved through scientific experiments with animals, and we thank the scientists for that. At the same time, a growing number of people have grave concerns, including my constituents and probably the Minister’s constituents as well. Can he assure us that when it comes to doing animal experiments of any sort, the priority will always be the people who can be saved as a result of the experiments, but it will also be the care of the animals? That is what my people want, and I think it is what everybody wants. \p Dan Jarvis: I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. The Government authorise the use of animals in science under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in  order to support critical national objectives in public health, scientific innovation and environmental protection. The authorisations provided by the regulator are not a blanket approval, but a tightly regulated process that has rigorous and robust ethical, legal and scientific scrutiny.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_5

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:What steps her Department is taking to support Ukrainian nationals with their visa applications. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the Minister—welcome. \p Mike Tapp: This Government remain committed to supporting Ukraine following Russia’s vile, illegal invasion. I acknowledge the warmth and generosity shown by so many local communities in supporting Ukrainians in the UK. Since the conflict began, more than 300,000 Ukrainians have been offered temporary sanctuary through the dedicated Ukraine schemes. Ukrainians can still apply to the Homes for Ukraine scheme with a UK sponsor and, once here, extend their stay to a total of 3.5 years, as recently announced. \p Jenny Riddell-Carpenter: I start by congratulating the Minister and welcoming him to his place. My constituent Lesley has been hosting and supporting a Ukrainian refugee, Ella, who, after months of delay and difficulty, has thankfully now received a visa extension. Ella’s case highlights the wider problems in the system: long waits, radio silence and a lack of communication, causing huge distress for the refugees and their hosts. Can the Minister set out first what is being done to improve the visa application system generally, and secondly whether the Government will consider looking again at allowing Ukrainian refugees who do not want to, or cannot, return to Ukraine the pathway and the chance of applying for indefinite leave to remain? \p Mike Tapp: I thank my hon. Friend for her congratulations and her hard work in this area. The UK Government have been clear from the outset that the Ukraine schemes are temporary and do not offer a direct route to settlement. The Ukraine permission extension scheme reflects our strong humanitarian commitment while also—this is important—respecting Ukraine’s wish for its citizens to return, when safe, to support national recovery. The long-term position is under active consideration, and further details will be provided at the earliest opportunity.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_6

Jessica Morden:What steps her Department is taking to help tackle crime in city centres. \p Sarah Jones: The United Kingdom boasts a fantastic array of cities, each of which has a unique character and appeal. In order to thrive, our city centres must be safe. That is why this Government are putting policing back on the beat and bringing in stronger powers to crack down on shop theft and antisocial behaviour. \p Jessica Morden: I was pleased to see Newport city council announce last week £300,000 for new CCTV in our city centre, and I commend the work of trading standards, whose efforts have seized almost £2 million of illegal cigarettes and vapes. While trading standards and the police are working really hard to tackle this issue, the time-limited nature of shop closure orders means that the shops often quickly reopen. What more can the Government do to strengthen powers to stop this? \p Sarah Jones: I welcome the actions in Newport city; it is good to hear. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement and crack down on rogue retailers, and a raft of other measures in the Bill will crack down on these pernicious crimes. I look forward to talking more with my hon. Friend about this. \p Dave Doogan: Sometimes crime wears a suit, as happened in Brechin in my constituency, where Mackie Motors had equity in their vehicles stolen by a French bank based in London. Then, through mendacity or incompetence or both, the bank turned off the oxygen for that business of 50 years. I have met with Home Office and Treasury Ministers to try to get around this. My constituent has been to the Financial Conduct Authority, who told them to go to the police, who then told them to go back to the FCA, who then told them to go to Citizens Advice—you could not make this cluster-fankle up. Is it not the case that in the UK today, if a small or medium-sized enterprise is in dispute with a bank, the FCA will demonstrate that it is neither use nor ornament? \p Sarah Jones: I cannot comment on the specific details, as I am not aware of that case, but I am very happy to have a conversation with the hon. Member. Some SMEs in my constituency have had similar issues, so I am very happy to take that forward.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_8

Luke Evans:What steps she is taking to help reduce levels of bureaucracy for frontline police officers. \p Sarah Jones: The Government are committed to tackling bureaucracy and are investing tens of millions of pounds this year in technology to get officers on to the frontline. That includes working with police to reduce admin, using tools such as automated redaction and artificial intelligence, and deploying cutting-edge technology such as facial recognition and video response to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. \p Luke Evans: I recently met the chief constable of Leicestershire, and he explained some of the red tape that his force faces. Between April 2024 and March 2025,

it used 14,769 “use of force” forms. These are for when people go into handcuffs. Some 6,500 of those were for people who were complicit and were happy to be handcuffed. Each time that happens, it takes an average of 23 minutes to fill in one of those forms. If that could be taken away, it would save the force about £50,000. Will the Minister look at this, and will she meet me to discuss some of the other red tape that we could remove to make policing much more streamlined? \p Sarah Jones: We need to ensure that the police are doing what we need them to be doing, and that they are out on the streets solving crime and not tied up in red tape. That is absolutely certain. The way to be tough on crime is to be smart on crime, and I am happy to look at the hon. Gentleman’s suggestions. \p Sam Carling: I recently met a police officer in Cambridgeshire who told me that that force had a policy requiring all footage from stop and searches to be reviewed by a more senior officer. Due to this, they feel discouraged from doing proactive patrols due to the extra work that it adds for already stretched supervisors. Will the Policing Minister write to Cambridgeshire’s Conservative police and crime commissioner and urge him to be more proactive on challenging these issues so that our frontline police can spend as much time as possible out in our communities? \p Sarah Jones: I am sorry that my hon. Friend’s police and crime commissioner is not doing what is needed. We need to empower the police to be out doing what they do best, not creating barriers for them to do so.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_9

Ben Goldsborough:What steps her Department is taking to help tackle shoplifting. \p Sarah Jones: Shop theft hit a record high in the last year of the previous Government, but our Crime and Policing Bill will remove the effective immunity for shop thefts under £200. We are investing over £7 million to support police efforts against retail crime over the next three years, including supporting a specialist team to target organised gangs and offenders. We also back the Tackling Retail Crime Together strategy, in which industry and police are collaborating to better target perpetrators. \p Ben Goldsborough: As a proud member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and formerly the youngest deputy store manager for Halford’s in the east of England, I know at first hand the fear that shoplifting causes to retail workers. What action is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that the police have the powers they need to use the full force of the law to tackle those who steal from our shops? \p Sarah Jones: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Every Member of Parliament hears about this issue, and knows how distressing it is. The intimidation of shop workers must stop, and the thieves who target shops and are stealing to order must be targeted. We are repealing the legislation that makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, which will send a clear message that we will not tolerate this crime. \p Liz Jarvis: Recently, A. C. Models in my constituency was targeted by a series of thefts that cost the owners, Annette and Clive, thousands of pounds, yet the shoplifter was ordered to pay them just £240 in compensation. With retail losses due to theft at record highs, what measures are the Government taking to support small businesses that are preyed on by shoplifters? \p Sarah Jones: We need to protect retail workers, and we need to do more to tackle shop theft. As I have just outlined, we are doing just that. I am very sorry that the hon. Lady’s constituents have had to suffer this terrible crime. We need to ensure that the message is loud and clear that we will not accept it.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_12

Bradley Thomas:If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. \p Shabana Mahmood: I would like to use this statement to address the subject of this weekend’s events. On Saturday, well over 100,000 protesters marched in London. Many were exercising the ancient right to peaceful protest,—but not everyone did. Some turned on the brave police officers who were there to keep the peace; 26 officers were injured and 24 protesters were arrested.  Those violent thugs will face the full force of the law. Those who turned to violence on Saturday do not represent what this country really is. When a foreign billionaire calls on our citizens to fight against our ancient democracy, I know that is met by the vast majority with a shake of the head. That is because we are in truth a tolerant country, and, yes, a diverse one, too. You can be English and have roots here that stretch back 1,000 years, but you can also be English and look like me. The St George’s cross and the Union Jack belong to us all. They are symbols of unity—a kingdom united—and must never be used to divide us. \p Bradley Thomas: I welcome the Home Secretary to her position. Does she have plans to introduce a statutory cap on in-bound migration? \p Shabana Mahmood: I have one job, and it is to secure our borders. I will do whatever it takes, but what I will never do is take the approach of the previous Government, who were led by gimmicks and false promises that were never met.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_13

Bayo Alaba:Antisocial behaviour, including cars producing excessive noise along the Southend seafront and Westcliff roads, has long affected my constituents. Southend city council, Essex police and I are working hard to address those issues. Will the Home Secretary set out how the Government are going further, faster, in tackling antisocial behaviour, and how delivering on our commitment to have a named neighbourhood police officer in every community will directly benefit residents? \p Sarah Jones: This year, £200 million has been made available to forces to kick-start the delivery of 13,000 more neighbourhood officers across England and Wales. I would be very happy to talk to my hon. Friend about the issues that he is facing. We must tackle antisocial behaviour. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the shadow Home Secretary. \p Chris Philp: Does the Home Secretary accept that her predecessor was moved because this Government are failing on immigration? Indeed, 75% of the public think that the Government are failing. Illegal migration is up 38%, making this the worst year in history. Let me try again: will the Home Secretary take this opportunity to commit to real action, back our plans to disapply the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to all immigration matters, and immediately remove every illegal immigrant upon arrival? \p Shabana Mahmood: I will take no lessons from anyone sitting on the Conservative Benches. Their Government utterly failed on both legal and illegal migration. This Government, and this Home Secretary, will clean up their mess. \p Chris Philp: The Home Secretary has some brass neck. This has been the worst year in history, with illegal migration up by 38%. Press reports this week suggest that a handful of illegal migrants might be removed to France—she has been silent about that so far—but that amounts to only 5% of people crossing. Does she  accept that allowing 95% of illegal immigrants to stay will be no deterrent, and will she commit to publishing full data on a weekly basis? \p Shabana Mahmood: On the subject of brass neck, I will have to buy the shadow Home Secretary a mirror, so that he can stare at one. As I said, I will not take any lessons from him or any Conservative. This Government have got removals up to 35,000, got asylum decisions moving again, and struck an historic agreement with France. We are working with our partners in France to get flights off the ground.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_14

Peter Dowd:Will the Minister give an update on the work of the defending democracy taskforce, please? \p Dan Jarvis: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the question, because the targeted intimidation and harassment of elected representatives is completely unacceptable. The defending democracy taskforce works to ensure the safety and security of all electoral processes and democratic institutions, and to strengthen democratic society. We are conducting a review of the harassment and intimidation faced by elected representatives. The taskforce has also concluded a review of transnational repression, and we have updated Parliament on that. I hope this will be a shared endeavour, right across the House. \p Lindsay Hoyle: I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. \p Lisa Smart: This weekend, as the Home Secretary said, Elon Musk used a rally to call—alongside convicted criminal, so-called Tommy Robinson—for the Dissolution of Parliament, and to incite violence on our streets. Given the seriousness of a high-profile figure apparently urging attacks on our democracy, what assessment has the Home Office made of these statements, and what steps are being taken across Government to respond to them, and to protect our democracy? \p Shabana Mahmood: There is both a legal question here and a political question. On the legal question, in all cases, including the one that the hon. Lady raises, it is for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to decide independently whether the law has been broken and charges should be brought. We would never expect a Minister to comment on that; it would be improper to do so. On the political question, let me say this: the words that were used at the weekend are abhorrent, and I know that the vast majority of people in this country will feel the same way. Whether you are a hostile state or a hostile foreign billionaire, no one gets to mess with British democracy.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_15

Phil Brickell:Members of the all-party group on anti-corruption and responsible tax, which I chair, had the opportunity to meet National Economic Crime Centre officers last week and discuss the work that NECC is doing to disrupt money laundering and tax evasion, including through its landmark Operation Machinize. High-street money laundering is of huge concern to me, given the explosion of cash-intensive businesses over recent years seeking to hide beneath a veneer of respectability in order to conceal their dirty money. What measures is the Minister taking to empower  trading standards, local councils, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and law enforcement to tackle this issue head-on? \p Dan Jarvis: I am grateful to my hon. Friend and the APPG for their work. The Government are absolutely committed to tackling high street money laundering to deliver safer streets and economic growth working closely with partners through multi-agency initiatives like Operation Machinize. We have strengthened the powers under the Economic, Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and have funded 475 new roles under the anti-money laundering and asset recovery programme to detect and investigate offences.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_16

Susan Murray:Just over a week ago, nearly 1,000 peaceful protesters, including priests and pensioners, were arrested in a single day for opposing the ban on Palestine Action, yet over the weekend, at the Unite the Kingdom protest, 26 police officers were injured and 25 arrests were made. Does the Home Secretary agree with my constituents in Dunbartonshire that this raises serious questions about proportionality, and will she consider reassessing the proscription of Palestine Action? \p Dan Jarvis: Any attack on the police is utterly shameful. The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy—it is a freedom that we protect fiercely—but Palestine Action’s activities have met the thresholds for proscription established in the Terrorism Act 2000. The organisation has conducted an escalating campaign, involving sustained criminal damage to national security infrastructure, intimidation and alleged violence, including the use of weapons resulting in serious injuries to individuals. \p Tristan Osborne: Weaponisation of social media has become a real cancer in our society, with MPs and others being targeted. What steps are the Government taking on hostile state threats on social media that might be being used to undermine our democracy? \p Dan Jarvis: My hon. Friend is right to raise this. New and emerging artificial intelligence technology has the potential to amplify threats to democracy, including through hyper-realistic bots, which are used to spread disinformation and misinformation at speed. The Government are absolutely committed to addressing the threats, including by ensuring that social media platforms have the right systems in place to identify and tackle harmful material that breaches their terms of service.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_17

Joe Robertson:The Attorney General has claimed that we need the European convention on human rights and the European Court to solve the illegal migration crisis—an extraordinary claim. Will the Minister please explain, therefore, how Australia managed to tackle its migration problems and how the US is managing to implement our Rwanda plan, all outside the European convention that the Attorney General says we need? \p Alex Norris: The hon. Gentleman heard the Home Secretary’s point on the convention, but it is clear that gimmicks such as Rwanda do not work—£700 million for merely four volunteers to go. What works is effective  processing, quick decisions and quick removals. That is what we will get under this Government, and it is what we do not get from those who carp from the Opposition Benches. \p Louise Haigh: Earlier this year, 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose was murdered by a fellow pupil when attending school. His murderer has now been convicted and a national child safeguarding review panel set up, but time and time again such panels make the same recommendations and we fail to implement the kind of learnings and culture change that would ensure that another tragedy like this does not happen. Will the Home Secretary reassure Harvey’s family that she will ensure that those panel recommendations are implemented and that we can avoid any family like Harvey’s suffering that same tragedy again? \p Sarah Jones: We offer our sympathy to the family of Harvey, whose death is a heartbreaking tragedy that has devastated the entire community. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends. Of course we recognise that pattern—I have seen it, too, in my constituency. That is why we are creating a child protection authority, as was recommended in a previous inquiry, to provide effective national oversight to ensure that lessons are learned.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_18

Jessica Brown-Fuller:Chichester city centre has seen a rise in antisocial behaviour, in particular by those on e-bikes and e-scooters. Residents are understandably concerned about such bikes, which are often modified in the speed at which they can go. What is the Minister doing to give Sussex police powers to identify, remove and, most importantly, dispose of the e-bikes that are ridden so recklessly on our streets? \p Sarah Jones: That is a concern that many Members in the House share. The Crime and Policing Bill will give the police powers to seize vehicles being used antisocially. I am happy to have a conversation with the hon. Lady about what more we need to do. \p Carolyn Harris: Last year, a report by the charity Justice and Care highlighted that a lack of regulation allows unscrupulous business owners to exploit vulnerable people. Nottingham Trent University showed that 90% of hand car wash businesses operate in a way that makes them high risk for forced or compulsory labour. Will the Government consider licensing sectors such as hand car washes to improve compliance and prevent illegal workers and modern slavery? \p Alex Norris: In the view of the Home Office, the most important safeguard is the right-to-work checks. That is why we will strengthen them under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that is making its way through Parliament, but that will have to be underpinned with rigorous enforcement. That is why I am pleased that enforcement visits are up 50% in the past year, as are arrests.
debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: debates/debates2025-09-15e conversation_19

Nick Timothy:The 2018 definition of Islamophobia by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims said that the debate about rape gangs was a form of “anti-Muslim racism”. Among other alarming things, it said that raising concerns about entryism into government by extremists, which is an established tactic of the Muslim Brotherhood, was Islamophobic. The Home Secretary endorsed that  definition. Does she still believe that addressing the religion of rape-gang members or identifying Muslim Brotherhood entryism is Islamophobic, or does she now disown that definition? \p Shabana Mahmood: That definition sought to give context to patterns of behaviour. Let me be clear for the hon. Gentleman and the whole House: there is absolutely no excuse for, or hiding of, the criminality of those who engage in heinous crimes such as those involving rape or grooming gangs. That is why the Government will take forward the Casey recommendations and have that national inquiry. He knows that the Government are working with a working group on a definition of Islamophobia. We have been absolutely clear that we will not pursue any measures that would impinge on our ancient right of freedom of speech. \p Gill German: Ensuring that our town centres are safe, vibrant and welcoming is hugely important in Clwyd North. I warmly welcome the Government’s safer streets summer initiative in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. From walkabouts I have done recently with local police, it is clear that a strong community police presence is crucial to tackling antisocial behaviour where it arises. Will the Home Secretary ensure that North Wales police have all the resources they need all year around in Rhyl, Denbigh, Abergele and Colwyn Bay to help build back our town centres? \p Sarah Jones: So far, we have had really good feedback from over 500 town centres that have taken part in the safer streets summer initiative. That initiative finishes at the end of September, so we will have proper analysis then, but it is our priority to ensure that our police have the resources they need all year round.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_1

Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,what the initial results are of the work undertaken in the eight trailblazer areas set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper; and what are the key performance indicators for this work. \p Alison McGovern: As announced in the Get Britain Working White Paper, Trailblazers to test more localised delivery of the Youth Guarantee and support for people who are economically inactive are due to launch starting from April 2025. We are working closely with the Trailblazer delivery areas to develop their plans, which includes evaluation and performance information ahead of rollout.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_2

Brian Leishman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Poverty Strategy will take into account the potential impact of the planned reforms to the Work Capability Assessment on children living in households where at least one parent or guardian is in receipt of Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity allowances. \p Alison McGovern: Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change.

The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments.

As part of the Strategy's development, the Taskforce is considering the potential impact of policies across government, including the potential impacts of the planned reforms to the Work Capability Assessment.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_3

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of trends in food bank use in rural areas over the last 12 months. \p Alison McGovern: The latest statistics on food bank usage including data at a national and regional level can be found in the household food security tables located here: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_4

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of eligible pensioners will be entitled to the new state pension; and what proportion of eligible pensioners will get the basic state pension (a) nationally and (b) in Bromsgrove constituency. \p Torsten Bell: There are two contributory State Pension systems currently operating which depend on when the individual reaches their State Pension age. The pre-April 2016 system comprised: a basic State Pension and an additional earnings-related State Pension. The new State Pension was introduced in April 2016. The amount people receive under both systems will depend on their National Insurance record.

(a) At the quarter ending August 2024 in Great Britain, 34% of State Pension recipients received the new State Pension and 66% received the pre-2016 system.

(b) At the quarter ending August 2024 in Bromsgrove constituency, 32% of State Pension recipients received the new State Pension and 68% received the pre-2016 system.

Source: DWP Stat-Xplore.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_5

Fred Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to (a) tackle the fraudulent reporting of earnings to the Child Maintenance Service and (b) ensure that parents are paid the correct amount of maintenance. \p Andrew Western: The primary goal of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is to ensure that children receive the financial support they are entitled to. To achieve this, the CMS collaborates with HMRC and Benefit systems to accurately calculate maintenance payments. This collaboration helps prevent paying parents from misrepresenting their income. Parents can make a request to the CMS to have other forms of income not previously considered included in the maintenance calculation.

To tackle fraudulent reporting of earnings, if there is any suspicion of income misrepresentation, the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) steps in to conduct a thorough investigation. Complex income and cases where a paying parent may be responsible for declaring their own income can also be investigated by the FIU. This specialist team can request information from financial institutions to check the accuracy of information the CMS is given. When an investigation finds evidence of fraud, the FIU will seek to prosecute or forward the case to HMRC for fraud action.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_6

Clive Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking with Wokingham Borough Council to promote the uptake of pension credit. \p Torsten Bell: As part of our nationwide Pension Credit campaign, the Department has engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Wokingham Borough Council, via the regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins. In response to our call to action, 200 councils across Great Britain have supported our Pension Credit campaign either on social media, or by distributing the promotional material we have provided.

Wokingham Borough Council requested printed materials to share locally and has shared our messages through their social media channels, successfully signposting local people to Pension Credit information and resources. DWP has developed an ongoing relationship with their Communications Team and engaged with them recently, including in January as part of the Energy Savers Week Pension Credit campaign.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_7

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of weeks that people who live in supported accommodation and who have increased their working hours above 16 hours can claim extended housing benefit payments for. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Most working-age customers residing in supported housing now receive Universal Credit for their daily living costs and Housing Benefit for their rent support. Customers in receipt of Universal Credit are not eligible for extended rent support as Universal Credit is both an in-work and out-of-work benefit.

Like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit has an income taper. As Housing Benefit may be claimed by those both in work and out of work, there are no rules around the number of hours that someone may work; instead, there are income tapers which apply.

The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. However, Housing Benefit treatment of earnings is less generous than that of Universal Credit. Therefore, although customers living in Supported Housing are better off working than doing no work at all, they can be financially better off limiting the hours they work to ensure they retain a small amount of Universal Credit entitlement.

Notwithstanding these positive outcomes from work, the Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_8

Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women born (a) on or (b) after April 6 1950 have been  impacted by the changes to pension age in Waveney Valley constituency. \p Torsten Bell: As of the 2021 census, there were approximately 33,700 women who were born in 1950 or later, in the Waveney Valley constituency. Of these, approximately 6,900 were born in the 1950s.

It is not possible to accurately calculate the exact number of women born after April 6, 1950.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_9

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting military compensation as income to ensure that veterans can still qualify for Pension Credit. \p Torsten Bell: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 18 November 2024 to question UIN 14156.

The first £10 of any War Pension payment or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award made due to injury or disablement is disregarded in Pension Credit. Income is calculated on a weekly basis, so the disregard is £10 per week.

Four additions to the War Disablement Pension are completely disregarded: Constant Attendance Allowance; Mobility Supplement; Severe Disablement Occupational Allowance; and dependency increases for anyone other than the applicant or her / his partner.

War Pensions and AFCS awards are a qualifying income for the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit, which is available to those who reached State Pension age before April 2016.

Armed Forces Independence Payments are fully disregarded in Pension Credit and can also allow the recipient to qualify for an additional disability amount.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_10

John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to introduce regulations amending section 37 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 for contracted out defined benefit schemes. \p Torsten Bell: We have heard from pension schemes and industry representatives about the impacts arising from this judgment for pension schemes, their members, and sponsoring employers. Potential impacts are likely to be different for individual schemes.

Where schemes do not have a way to demonstrate that historic benefit changes met the reference scheme test, we recognise that this could lead to uncertainty and additional costs.

No final decisions have been made but we are actively considering our next steps and will provide an update in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_11

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the (a) affordability and (b) accessibility of parental leave. \p Andrew Western: Government keeps the rates of benefits, state pension and statutory pay under review.

Parental pay is reviewed annually at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. From April 2025, subject to parliamentary approval, the rate will increase by September 2024's CPI figure of 1.7%, from £184.03 to £187.18 per week

Parental pay is only one element of the support available for parents. Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support, for example, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and the Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum payment of £500) may also be available.

The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review will focus on ensuring that parental leave offers the best possible support to working families. Work is already underway on planning for its delivery.
wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-27 conversation_12

Richard Tice:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will commission an independent investigation into the mortality rates of paying parents using the Child Maintenance Service. \p Andrew Western: There are currently no plans to commission an independent investigation into the mortality rates of paying parents using the Child Maintenance Service.

The Child Maintenance Service is committed to delivering a safe service that is sensitive to the needs of all parents who use it. We recognise that some parents may face difficult circumstances, particularly during separation.

The Child Maintenance Service is well-prepared to respond quickly and effectively if it becomes aware that any customer's safety is at risk. All caseworkers receive extensive training and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support vulnerable clients, including those at risk of suicide, self-harm, or domestic abuse. Our priority is to handle these cases sensitively and ensure vulnerable customers get the help and support they need to use the service safely. This may include signposting to support organizations or reporting to the police if necessary.