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Tag: 2022

  • Liz Twist – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Cost of Energy for People with Disabilities

    Liz Twist – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Cost of Energy for People with Disabilities

    The parliamentary question asked by Liz Twist, the Labour MP for Blaydon, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)

    What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of levels of benefit payments to support people with disabilities with the cost of energy.

    The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Tom Pursglove)

    Ministers across Government, of course, discuss policy proposals. The Government are spending £37 billion this year to support people on low incomes and disabled people with rising costs of living and energy prices. On top of that support, which includes cost of living payments, we have committed to a further £26 billion in cost of living support in 2023-24.

    Liz Twist

    Earlier this year, 300,000 disabled people were taken out of eligibility for the warm home discount scheme, causing them huge worry. What does the Minister say to those 300,000 worried disabled people, who lost £150 because of his Government’s decision to remove them from the warm home discount scheme?

    Tom Pursglove

    I am happy to raise with Ministers across Government the hon. Lady’s point about eligibility for the scheme, but I would make the argument that this Government have put in place a comprehensive package of support that is worth £37 billion this year and £26 billion next year. It is comprehensive support, meeting a number of needs. Of course, there is also discretionary help to meet particular needs where they exist in particular households.

  • Mark Pawsey – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Universal Credit Taper Rate

    Mark Pawsey – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Universal Credit Taper Rate

    The parliamentary question asked by Mark Pawsey, the Conservative MP for Rugby, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)

    What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the universal credit taper rate on the levels of people’s incomes.

    The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)

    We reduced the earnings taper to 55% last December and we increased the work allowance by £500 a year. As a consequence, 1.7 million households will benefit from these measures, which mean that they keep, on average, around an extra £1,000 a year. That encourages in-work progression as claimants are clearly better off in work.

    Mark Pawsey

    The claimant rate in Rugby is just 2.8%, and I hear regularly from employers about the workforce challenges that they face. The low rate in Rugby has arisen in part because of the cut to the taper rate that the Minister referred to, which was extremely welcome to working people on universal credit. Will he set out what further steps his Department can take to encourage claimants—those who can—to increase their income by taking on more and better-paid work?

    Guy Opperman

    My hon. Friend will be aware that Rugby jobcentre is doing a fantastic job locally; I look forward to visiting in 2023. Since April 2022, we have been rolling out the new in-work progression offer, which will support approximately 2.1 million working universal credit claimants to progress into higher-paid work. They will also be supported by progression champions, of whom we have 37 across the country, including in Mercia.

  • Wera Hobhouse – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Universal Credit and the Death of a Child

    Wera Hobhouse – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Universal Credit and the Death of a Child

    The parliamentary question asked by Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)

    Whether his Department is taking steps to support parents in receipt of universal credit with the financial transition when a full-time caring role changes following the death of a child with a life-limiting condition.

    The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)

    The answer is yes. We want universal credit to provide support to claimants even where they have suffered bereavement of a child. Where a bereavement happens, we seek to ensure that the child element, disabled child element, childcare, carer element and housing element with the run-on provisions will all continue, notwithstanding the loss.

    Wera Hobhouse

    I am not entirely certain whether the Minister just announced a change in what the Government are doing, but may I press him on the issue affecting my constituents? The loss of these benefits places a heavy financial strain on parents who are already suffering from overwhelming grief. One of my constituents knows this. I have asked the Minister and his predecessor on several occasions for a meeting to see how to mitigate that. If he has just announced a change, I would be happy if he could explain what has now changed. Will he please meet me to explain what the changes are?

    Guy Opperman

    The hon. Lady may not know, but I lost twin boys and fully understand the difficulties her constituent faces in terms of bereavement. It is clearly the case that there are the run-on provisions, but I would happy to sit down with her to explain the run-on provisions and the extent to which there is ongoing support for the bereaved.

  • Gerald Jones – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Local Housing Allowance

    Gerald Jones – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Local Housing Allowance

    The parliamentary question asked by Gerald Jones, the Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab)

    What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of real-term reductions in local housing allowance rates on levels of poverty.

    The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride)

    First, on behalf of the whole House, may I welcome the hon. Member for City of Chester (Samantha Dixon) to this House, and wish her every happiness and a productive time in the House?

    The Government have maintained the uplift they provided in the local housing allowance in 2020, at a cost of almost £1 billion, targeting the 30th percentile of rents. Those who need assistance with housing costs also have recourse to the discretionary housing payments administered by local authorities.

    Gerald Jones

    I welcome the Secretary of State’s comments about my new colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Samantha Dixon), but that is as far as I can go.

    The local housing allowance is a lifeline for tenants to access the private rented sector. The Government have accepted the need to uprate most benefits in line with inflation, so why have they chosen to freeze the local housing allowance, which will have a disproportionate impact on constituents in my constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? Will he commit to reviewing that situation urgently?

    Mel Stride

    As the hon. Gentleman will know, annually I review all benefits, including LHA—indeed, around this time next year, I will do precisely that. It has to be borne in mind that we are currently spending almost £30 billion a year on housing allowance and that figure is expected to increase to around £50 billion by 2050, so there are cost considerations.

  • Dehenna Davison – 2022 Statement on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

    Dehenna Davison – 2022 Statement on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

    The statement made by Dehenna Davison, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    Today, my Department is announcing the outcome of the UK shared prosperity fund—UKSPF—investment plan validation process: the approval of plans for England, Scotland and Wales, and the publication of the UKSPF investment plan for Northern Ireland.

    When we launched the UKSPF prospectus in April, my Department outlined the ambition of the fund to invest in domestic priorities and target funding where it is needed most: building pride in place; growing pay, employment and productivity; supporting high-quality skills training; and increasing life chances across the UK. This announcement represents a significant step in delivering on this ambition.

    Councils and mayoral authorities across England, Scotland and Wales have worked with the private sector, civil society and others, as well as the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales, to develop local investment plans. These plans set out how funding will be targeted on local priorities, against measurable goals. All investment plans for England, Scotland and Wales have now been validated and approved, unlocking three years of investment, and we now expect UKSPF delivery to commence in earnest.

    In Northern Ireland, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for delivery of the UKSPF. My Department has worked closely with key partners and other stakeholders to develop the UKSPF Northern Ireland investment plan, ensuring it reflects the needs and opportunities of Northern Ireland’s economy and its people. The plan published today outlines the specific interventions that will be supported, and how these will be delivered. Information regarding project funding, including commissions and our plans for project competitions, will be announced shortly.

    The delivery of the UKSPF, worth £2.6 billion including Multiply, is a central pillar of this Government’s levelling-up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. As such, today’s announcement reaffirms our manifesto commitment to match EU structural fund receipts in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all areas of England.

    The approval of investment plans kickstarts delivery in every part of the country and will lead to visible, tangible improvements to the places where people work and live. Alongside investment in skills, supporting those furthest from the labour market and promoting community cohesion, this will give individuals right across the UK even more reasons to be proud of their area.

  • Michael Gove – 2022 Statement on the Homelessness Prevention Grant

    Michael Gove – 2022 Statement on the Homelessness Prevention Grant

    The statement made by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    The Government understand the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and have taken decisive action to support households. This includes the energy price guarantee, to support households with their energy bills over the winter, and a further £37 billion of support for the cost of living this year. At autumn statement the Chancellor also unveiled £26 billion of support to protect the most vulnerable households in 2023-24.

    I recognise that some vulnerable households may find themselves at risk of homelessness and may need additional support. The Government want to make sure councils are able to respond effectively to support households and prevent homelessness.

    Homelessness Prevention Grant—winter 2022 financial support

    I am therefore announcing an additional £50 million that will be made available to local authorities in England in 2022-23 through a top-up to the homelessness prevention grant. The additional funding will support local authorities to help prevent vulnerable households from becoming homeless. Local authorities will target this funding to those who need it most to help manage local homelessness pressures.

    The details of individual local authority allocations can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-prevention-grant-2022-to-2023. This additional £50 million investment builds on the £316 million in funding already available to local authorities through the homelessness prevention grant for 2022-23, bringing total spend through that grant to £366 million. This is part of £2 billion of Government funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years.

  • Kevin Hollinrake – 2022 Statement on the Government Response to the Flexible Working Consultation

    Kevin Hollinrake – 2022 Statement on the Government Response to the Flexible Working Consultation

    The statement made by Kevin Hollinrake, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the House of Commons on 5 December 2022.

    The Government have today published their response to the consultation on flexible working. This delivers on our manifesto commitment to encourage flexible working, and represents an important part of our drive to deliver growth by helping people to access and stay in work.

    Flexible Working Consultation Response

    In 2021, the Government consulted on changes to the right to request flexible working. This right currently supports all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service to make applications to change their work location, working hours and/or working pattern. The legislation enables employees and employers to find arrangements that work for both sides. The consultation proposals were intended to help ensure it remains fit for purpose.

    The response, published today, states that the Government will legislate to:

    Make the right to request flexible working a day one right. This will bring an estimated additional 2.2 million people into scope of the legislation and encourage early conversations about flexibility in the job design, recruitment and appointment phases. Supporting employees and employers to agree flexible working arrangements from day one will be an important measure in the context of a tight labour market, as it will assist those who wish to return to work but can only do so on certain patterns.

    Introduce a new requirement for employers to consult with the employee when they intend to reject their flexible working request. This will enable both parties to explore the types of flexibility that may be available within the specific role before reaching a conclusion.

    Allow two statutory requests in any 12-month period, rather than the current one request. This will help to ensure that individuals do not feel “trapped” in certain work arrangements they know are not sustainable for them, particularly in the event that their circumstances change within 12 months.

    Require a decision period of two months in respect of a statutory flexible working request, rather than the current three. This acknowledges that long delays in responding to requests can lead to negative outcomes for both employers and employees, for example where a response is needed quickly, and the alternative is the person dropping out of work.

    Remove the existing requirement that the employee must explain what effect, if any, the change applied for would have on the employer and how that effect might be dealt with. This will create a level playing field among those making requests as it will mean the legislation no longer favours those with more experience or better writing skills.

    The first of these measures will be delivered through secondary legislation. The other measures require primary legislation, and the Government are pleased to support the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Bolton South East (Yasmin Qureshi).

    The response also commits to non-legislative action: developing guidance to raise awareness and understanding of how to make and administer temporary requests for flexible working; and launching a call for evidence to better understand how informal flexible working operates in practice.

    As a package, these steps will encourage better two-way conversations about flexible working and prompt both the employer and employee to focus on identifying an arrangement that works for them both.

    The review of the Flexible Working Regulations 2014 showed that flexible working can reduce vacancy costs, increase skill retention, enhance business performance, and reduce staff absenteeism rates. In the current context of a tight labour market, flexible working can also play a key role in attracting people into work. Research conducted by the Behavioural Insights Team has shown that offering flexible working can attract up to 30% more applicants to job vacancies, and a recent Office for National Statistics publication revealed that older workers working flexibly would be more likely to say they were planning to retire later. Strengthening the legislative framework will therefore help to ensure that those who are under-represented in the workforce have access to more employment opportunities.

    The Government recognise there is no one-size-fits-all approach to work arrangements since the needs of businesses and individuals will differ in each circumstance. It is therefore important that the legislation remains a right to request, not a right to have, and that employers continue to be able to refuse requests for specified business reasons.

    The territorial extent of the proposals included in the Government’s consultation response extends to Great Britain—employment law is devolved to Northern Ireland.

    I will place copies of the consultation response in the Libraries of the House.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rail Mission showcases UK innovation, expertise and opportunity [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rail Mission showcases UK innovation, expertise and opportunity [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 December 2022.

    The UK government and the Railways Industry Association have brought 11 leading UK rail companies to Australia and New Zealand to explore significant market opportunities and showcase UK innovation and capabilities ahead of AusRail, Australia and New Zealand’s premiere rail conference.

    AusRail is an international rail conference and exhibition, with attendees from across Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe. The event, held in Brisbane from 5 to 7 December, will highlight nationwide opportunities in Australia’s rail sector.

    The UK delegation will take part in an exclusive programme in Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They will participate in roundtables, hear directly from and tour City Rail Link, Auckland Light Rail, KiwiRail, Melbourne Metro Station, Invest Victoria, Austrade, Sydney Metro, NSW Rail Operations Centre, Queensland Rail and Trade and Investment Queensland.

    The UK is a leading innovator in creating modern, metropolitan spaces of the future.

    Here to explore the significant ANZ pipeline of over £100billion invested in transport infrastructure, the UK rail mission cohort will showcase the UK as a leading innovator in creating metropolitan spaces of the future and the partner of choice for clean growth projects in the rail sector. The cohort will also highlight the UK capabilities in market ahead of Australia and NZ’s premiere rail conference, AusRail.

    The Australian & New Zealand rail ecosystems are thriving. There is a twofold focus, heavy rail for freight and suburban metro systems, and investment heading into light rail. This mission provides a tailored opportunity for UK companies to explore the Australian and New Zealand markets and connect with key rail sector decision makers and industry stakeholders.

    Louise Cantillon, British Consul General and UK Deputy Trade Commissioner, Australia and New Zealand said:

    Rail made the UK’s industrial revolution possible and rail can lead the green industrial revolution. The UK is a world leader in rail innovation and we are capitalising on our expertise to drive clean growth and investing in the industries of tomorrow.

    Free Trade Agreements have been negotiated in Australia and New Zealand, so the timing of this in-person trade mission is ideal. Through these agreements, companies will be able to make contacts, build relationships and maximise opportunities.

    UK rail companies
    The 11 companies on the mission are: Railway Industry Association (RIA), AMCL, AssessTech Ltd, CU Phosco Australia, Dura Composites, First Class Safety Control, GOS Tool and Engineering Services, Hird Group, IPEX Consulting, PriestmanGoode, Resonate, VIP Polymers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Investment to shield schools from high energy bills and boost to budgets [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Investment to shield schools from high energy bills and boost to budgets [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Department for Education on 6 December 2022.

    Schools and colleges in England will be allocated a share of £500 million to spend on energy efficiency upgrades, helping to save on bills during the winter months and manage energy consumption.

    This will not only help them save money, but it will make them more energy efficient during the cold period and increase winter resilience for future years.

    Estimations show that on average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000, a secondary school will get £42,000 and a further education college group will benefit from £290,000.  Improvements could include installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes or switching to energy efficient lighting.

    This builds on the Government’s Energy Relief Scheme which is supporting schools and colleges this winter, and will run until the spring.

    On top of this, as announced in the Autumn Statement, the Government is investing an extra £2 billion funding for schools next year and the year after. This is the highest real terms investment in our schools in history.

    This £2 billion of new money will be allocated between mainstream schools and high needs funding. Local councils will get an extra £400 million for high needs budgets, to help support children with special educational needs or disabilities. Academies, maintained mainstream schools and special schools will all be guaranteed a funding boost, which will arrive from April next year.

    This means average funding per pupil for mainstream schools will increase by approximately five percent overall, in the next financial year compared to 2022-23.

    A typical primary school with 200 pupils will get approximately £28,000, and secondary schools with around 900 pupils will receive approximately £170,000. In total schools will be receiving £58.8 billion in 2024-25 – meaning in real terms we are putting more into schools than ever before.

    Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

    Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine is driving up energy prices worldwide, so it is important to look at the things we can do to make classrooms more energy efficient and resilient to price fluctuations.

    We’re putting this cash in the hands of school and college leaders quickly, so they can decide what work is needed and so that our brilliant teachers can focus on teaching in a warm and safe environment.

    Education is rightly a top priority for this Government and we will continue to strive to provide every child with a world-class education.

    New guidance has also been published today (Tuesday 6 December) to support schools to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability and resilience this winter and beyond.

    This funding comes on top of £1.8 billion of capital funding already committed this year for improving the condition of school buildings. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is also investing over £1.4 billion in public sector buildings, including schools over the next three financial years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Supporting OPCW as it seeks to resolve outstanding issues in Syria’s declaration [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Supporting OPCW as it seeks to resolve outstanding issues in Syria’s declaration [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2022.

    Statement by Thomas Phipps, UK Alternate Political Coordinator to the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Syria’s chemical weapons.

    Thank you President, and I would like to join others in thanking High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing, and OPCW Director-General Arias for his latest monthly report.

    Colleagues, let us remind ourselves why we continue to discuss this agenda item.

    In the early hours of 21 August 2013, the Syrian regime targeted its own citizens in three suburbs of Damascus with rockets containing the nerve agent sarin. As many as 1500 people died.

    Following these attacks, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2118, which called on Syria to cooperate fully with the OPCW and eliminate its chemical weapons programme and stockpile.

    As we are reminded each month, Syria’s initial chemical weapons declaration, upon which the destruction of its chemical weapons stocks depended, was and remains inaccurate and incomplete. When evidence of Syria’s retention of chemical weapons has proved too compelling, the regime has changed its story.

    It has now amended its declaration 17 times.

    We know, by the regime’s own admission, that at least one chemical weapons production facility, four laboratories, five previously undeclared chemical warfare agents, hundreds of tons of chemicals, and thousands of munitions were omitted from its initial declaration.

    President, these issues are not academic.

    Independent investigations have shown that the Syrian regime went on to use chemical weapons in further attacks against the Syrian people, even after they had claimed they had given up all their chemical weapons.

    Several of these attacks have involved the use of chlorine dropped onto civilian centres from helicopters, in particular by a division of the Syrian Armed Forces, known as the “Tiger Forces” under the control of Brigadier-General Suhail al-Hassan.

    The OPCW Investigation and Identification Team found the Tiger Forces responsible for a chlorine attack on Saraqib in February 2018. But the Assad regime has not limited its attacks to chlorine. On 4 April 2017, a Syrian S-22 aircraft delivered an aerial bomb filled with sarin into the centre of Khan Shaykhun, an attack for which the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism has attributed responsibility. As the OPCW reported in April 2020, the attack in Khan Shaykhun was preceded by two sarin attacks carried out by the Syrian Arab Air Force in Ltamenah in March 2017.

    Colleagues, sarin, as I am sure we all know, is a nerve agent that suffocates people to death as their muscles spasm into paralysis.

    The chemical profile of the sarin used in all these attacks bears the unique signature of the sarin production process declared in this declaration by Syria.

    President, these Syrian attacks are all a matter of record, established by detailed and thorough investigations by the OPCW and the JIM. The OPCW has found Syria responsible for multiple chemical weapons attacks and other serious failures to meet its obligations as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

    As my US colleague said, during last week’s Conference of States Parties, 57 countries joined a French-led statement unequivocally condemning Syria’s use of chemical weapons and its refusal to live up to its obligations as a State Party.

    The scale of support for this statement speaks to the overwhelming desire of the international community to uphold the collective progress that we have made in recent decades towards a world free of chemical weapons.

    It is our responsibility as members of this Council to continue to support the OPCW as it seeks to resolve outstanding issues in Syria’s declaration. As High Representative Nakamitsu also said, we must also not forget the victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. And the UK continues to stand in solidarity with them and we will continue to pursue justice for them and their families.

    I thank you President.