Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Monday Volume 563 20 May 2013 No. 8 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 20 May 2013 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2013 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 881 20 MAY 2013 882 Ann McKechin: The Minister will be aware that the House of Commons rate of successful appeals has actually increased, which would appear to suggest that the reforms to the system Monday 20 May 2013 are not yet working. Does he intend to investigate the claims made by Greg Wood, a former medical assessor for Atos, who said that the system was skewered against The House met at half-past Two o’clock the claimant and made several serious allegations about how people’s claims were assessed? PRAYERS Mr Hoban: As I said, we are in the process of implementing Professor Harrington’s recommendations. I would make the point to the hon. Lady, however, that [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] when her party was in government, one in 10 people received the full employment support allowance, but as Speaker’s Statement a consequence of our reforms, three in 10 people now receive it, which demonstrates that the system is an 2.34 pm improvement on the one that we inherited. Mr Speaker: I wish to report to the House that the Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): I thank the Minister rooms of a Member were searched yesterday pursuant for that answer. Does it not indicate that the Government to a warrant issued by the circuit judge in Preston take ESA very seriously and are being diligent in providing Crown court on 16 May. The warrant related to the unconditional support to those who need it? investigation of a serious arrestable offence. I should remind Members, as did my predecessor in Mr Hoban: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I want 2008, that the precincts of Parliament are not a haven a system that gives the right support to the people who from the law. In accordance with the protocol issued by need it the most. We should also recognise that because my predecessor on 8 December 2008 on the execution of our reforms and improvements to the process, only of search warrants within the precincts of the House of 15% of fit-for-work decisions are successfully overturned. Commons, I considered the warrant personally and was advised by Officers of the House that there were no Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East) (Lab): lawful grounds on which it would be proper to refuse its Will the Minister explain the successful appeals? What execution. In addition, as provided for in paragraph 6 factors underlie the success rate? of the protocol, I consulted the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General, who concurred in this advice. I Mr Hoban: The tribunal has published a list setting am very grateful to them. The Clerk of the House was out the reasons why appeals are successful. In most kept fully informed throughout, and also concurred. cases, it is a consequence either of oral evidence presented The Serjeant at Arms and Speaker’s Counsel were at the tribunal or newer evidence being presented. present when the search was conducted. Undertakings have been given by the police officers as to the handling Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): The Minister of any parliamentary material until such time as any will be well aware that there have been issues of public issue of privilege is resolved. The investigation is continuing confidence in Atos ever since it was first commissioned and it would not be right to comment further. I will not to do this work by the last Government. Are the take questions on my statement. Government looking into and making progress on Professor Harrington’s alternative assessment process for those with hidden and fluctuating conditions, which is a very Oral Answers to Questions important area? Mr Hoban: My hon. Friend raises an important issue. As a consequence of Professor Harrington’s recommendations, we are considering a range of different WORK AND PENSIONS descriptors. We are working closely with medical experts and charities to assess those descriptors and will report later in the year on the effectiveness of the programme. The Secretary of State was asked— Work Capability Assessment Enterprise Allowance 1. Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab): What steps 2. Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): he plans to take to implement the recommendations What recent assessment he has made of the new enterprise made by Professor Harrington in his final report on the allowance. [155860] work capability assessment in November 2012. [155859] The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Mr Mark Hoban): I believe that the new enterprise (Mr Mark Hoban): As with each of Professor Harrington’s allowance has been very effective in helping people reports, we have adopted all recommendations to set up their own business. As at the end of November improve the process we inherited from the previous last year, 31,540 have received or are receiving Government. We are in the process of implementing support from a mentor, and more than 15,000 have those recommendations. commenced trading. As my hon. Friend knows from his 883 Oral Answers20 MAY 2013 Oral Answers 884 own experience, self-employment not only enables people Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): Does my hon. to take responsibility for themselves and their family’s Friend agree that, as well as providing opportunities to welfare, but gives others the chance of a job as the get into self-employment, the small businesses generated business grows. are potential generators of many jobs? Has he seen the academic work showing that in business cycle after Paul Uppal: Does my hon. Friend agree with me— business cycle, small businesses created during a recession I speak as somebody who ran their own business for have a much higher chance of survival than those 20 years before coming to this place—that the role of created at other points in the cycle? volunteer business mentors is crucial in that step between the classroom and self-employment? Mr Hoban: That is a very good point. When I have visited jobcentres, I have seen examples of people who have created employment opportunities for themselves Mr Hoban: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I and others as a consequence of setting up their own congratulate the voluntary mentors who are taking business. That is a testament to the strength and resilience their role seriously, helping people to get into work and of the sector. identify ways of setting up their own business. On Thursday, I was in Bradford talking to a group called Inspired Neighbourhoods, which promotes self-employment Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Does in its area and provides many voluntary mentors to help the Minister realise—I tell him this as someone who has people take advantage of those opportunities. employed a lot of people in social enterprise—that social enterprise is also a good destination for entrepreneurs? Is he aware of the critical importance of high-quality Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): Given the difficulties mentoring? I know he went to Bradford; he could have and challenges in setting up a business, does the Minister come to Huddersfield to see the Enterprise Foundation. agree that it is essential that the advice given ensures The quintessential success of that operation was down that people can succeed, so that they do not end up in a to good mentoring and trained mentors who carry on worse situation than if they had not gone down that mentoring over the long term. route in the first place? Mr Hoban: Indeed. I went to Portsmouth last month Mr Hoban: The hon. Gentleman is right. That was to see the Cathedral Innovation Centre, which was one of the lessons from Inspired Neighbourhoods, which working with people from the Royal Society of Arts sat down with people and said, “This is the amount of and Portsmouth university business school, as well as money you need to make from your business to ensure volunteers, to provide the right sort of mentors to you become free from benefits and help your family to enable social enterprises to get set up and be successful. look after themselves.” Employment and Support Allowance (Appeals) 21. [155879] Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): I am sure my hon. Friend will join me in welcoming last 3. Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): What financial week’s employment figures, which show that the number support his Department makes available to sick and of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Reading disabled people while their claim for employment and East is now at its second lowest level since February support allowance undergoes mandatory reconsideration 2009. Given Labour’s poor track record of securing prior to the formal appeal. [155861] sustainable employment, does he agree that the Opposition’s proposed job guarantee would fail to provide as many positive outcomes as the new enterprise allowance? The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Mr Mark Hoban): Jobseeker’s allowance is available to those found fit for work. Alternatively, employment and Mr Hoban: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to support allowance can be paid for those who subsequently highlight the fact that the number of people claiming decide to appeal. ESA can be backdated to include the JSA fell by 7,000 last month, which also saw the reconsideration period. Those who are put in the work- 11th consecutive monthly fall in the number of young related activity group, but appeal because they want to people claiming jobseeker’s allowance.