Department for Work and Pensions

Does the Chair of the Select Committee agree that the Government need to resist the temptation to...

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and I very much value his contribution to the work o...

It is a pleasure to follow the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, the right hon. Member fo...

The hon. Lady made a good point about benefits and the key role that they play in creating a weal...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that contribution. Absolutely; I think we all look to the Scandina...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain). I find myself...

Order. For clarification, I am not putting the hon. Lady under any pressure. As far as I am conce...

Well, that is an offer that I definitely will refuse this time. As I said, poverty and inequality...

I call the SNP spokesman.

2.21 pm

May I start, as others have, by sending my thanks to the Chair of our Select Committee, the right...

Is not another problem the insane part of the system where people pay back money because of advan...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for putting that point on the record. He was my predecessor on th...

indicated dissent.

The Parliamentary Private Secretary is shaking his head at that, but probably because he is so em...

The hon. Gentleman has campaigned on this issue, as have I. Does he agree that the response I rec...

That is right. It was not unusual for the previous Secretary of State to say things which, after ...

The hon. Gentleman is making such important remarks. Does he agree that the impact of sanctions i...

The hon. Lady is spot on. Sometimes, Ministers overlook when they take those decisions—yes, they ...

The hon. Gentleman is being generous. Does he agree that the issue of poverty is so concerning fo...

I am proud that the Scottish Government invest in things such as the best start grant, the baby b...

I call the shadow Minister.

2.39 pm

This has been a good, important and timely debate. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member...

It is an honour once again to present the case on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions ...

Will the Minister give way?

No.

The Government have never paid more for the pensions that we support in this country, w...

Some universal credit claimants can apply to have the housing elements of their universal credit ...

I will ask the Minister who is responsible for that to write to the hon. Lady. However, her inter...

Will the Minister give way?

No, I will not. I have already given way to the hon. Lady.

Let me say something about cost ...

Will the Minister give way?

There are about a dozen points made by the right hon. Gentleman to which I was going to respond, ...

I am grateful to the Minister. When does he expect to make a decision on whether the cost of livi...

Because the right hon. Gentleman and I have worked together for many years—and I emphasise “toget...

To conclude, I call Sir Stephen Timms.

3.6 pm

Let me reiterate my thanks to the Backbench Business Committee for enabling us to hold the debate...