Summary

  • MPs debated new figures on homeless deaths in England and Wales

  • They also debated a UN report on the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar

  • Earlier: Andrea Leadsom outlined parliamentary timetable for after Christmas

  • She said MPs' debate on the Brexit deal will resume on January 9th

  • The House of Lords debated Islamophobia in the UK

  1. 'Government has created hostile environment for disabled people'published at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Marsha de CordovaImage source, HoC

    Summing up the debate for Labour, shadow work and pensions minister Marsha de Cordova says the UN report described the disability support system as "callous and punitive" and demands that the government own up to the effects of £14bn of cuts to disabled people's social support since 2010.

    "In the last eight years disabled people have been forced to bear the brunt of the Tory austerity programme," she says. "Disabled people have been hit nine times harder than the rest of the popularity - punished by the introduction of PIP."

    Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without the support they need, she adds, noting that disabled people are losing six months worth of income under changes imposed by the government.

    "There are structural problems inherent in Universal Credit," she says.

    Ms de Cordova says the government "has created a hostile environment for disabled people, and turned their lives into a living hell".

  2. 'Disability support is not working as well as it should be' - SNPpublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Angela CrawleyImage source, HoC

    SNP MP Angela Crawley says "the disabled and the vulnerable will be the hardest hit by Brexit" and that the government "must acknowledge that disability support is not working as well as it should be".

    Ms Crawley adds that the government have put "a rose tinted gloss" on Universal Credit and disability support reforms.

    She says a theme of many assessments is that "judgements are made based on assumptions and not evidence" which is not in the best interests of disabled people.

    Many disabled people want to get back in to work, Ms Crawley says, questioning whether it is right that families with a disabled individual are struggling to sustain a living.

  3. DUP: 'Clear we are failing the most vulnerable in our society'published at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The DUP's Jim Shannon says the government says they will continue to pay the old benefits until the new ones under Universal Credit kicks in but "currently this system is failing people".

    He says vulnerable people are not receiving the money they are entitled to and that he has seen an increase in the numbers of people coming to his office with benefits related problems.

    "People are sick with worry and do not understand what is happening to them," he adds.

    Mr Shannon says "it is clear that we are failing the most vulnerable in our society."

  4. UC 'not supporting disabled people'published at 20:48 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ruth GeorgeImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Ruth George says the government's claim that it "supports the most vulnerable in society" is not accurate as Universal Credit is not supporting disabled people.

    Ms George says there is not enough support for disabled people applying to Universal Credit, and that "people with disabilities are not being treated in the way that they should be treated".

    Eight out of ten people who undergo PIP assessments feel that it made their health worse, she adds, noting that more emphasis needs to be on mental health as well as physical health.

    "My constituent has been left on the brink of suicide from that decision," she adds, asking for the government to ensure that assessments are "more sensitive".

    Ms George says the changes in the Budget to Universal Credit do not affect disabled people and that she hopes the government will offer these vulnerable people more support.

  5. 'Government must no longer put their heads in the sand'published at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen KinnockImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Stephen Kinnock says 75% of PIP decisions were overturned on appeal in Wales in 2017, which is "symptomatic of the fundamental flaws in the process".

    He says the UN rapporteur rightly said the social security system is failing, and calls for an assessment in the changes to disability support.

    "The government must no longer put their heads in the sand on this issue," he concludes.

  6. 'We must ensure money goes to the right place' - Tory MPpublished at 20:22 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP Luke Graham says assumptions are being challenged as a result of the government's benefit reforms, with a considerable amount of money being spent on support for disabled people.

    "We are spending the money but we need to ensure it goes to the right place," he says, noting that for too long the issue has been "one of party politics" but he hopes that members can work together in the interest of disabled people.

  7. Disabled people 'face barriers of employment and education'published at 20:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen LloydImage source, HoC

    Independent MP Stephen Lloyd - who until recently represented the Lib Dems - says he wants to improve disability support and supports the debate, but does note that "progress has been made".

    He says if you are disabled, the challenge of getting in to work is very difficult as "you face barriers of employment and education".

    "There is such a long way to go - because people don't understand the barriers," he explains, suggesting that businesses need more support and incentives to employ disabled people.

  8. Government 'has a strong track record on disability support'published at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Giles WatlingImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Giles Watling says it's important to recognise that "this government has a strong track record on disability support", with spending increasing every year since they came into power.

  9. 82% of ESA decisions were overturned when appealed in 2017 - Labour MPpublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Helen GoodmanImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Helen Goodman says the cuts to disability benefits have affected lots of her constituents. The benefit system for disabled people is "too complex" and can result in "financial burden" as benefit freezes adversely affect this group of people.

    She cannot think of a worse named benefit than PIP (Personal Independence Payment) as "there's nothing personal about it."

    82% of ESA decisions were overturned when appealed in 2017, she says, whilst there are "few incentives" for companies to employ disabled people when they have to pay higher liability insurance for workers.

    "If schemes to get disabled people into work were so good, the number of disabled people in work would have rocketed right up, but that number has not gone up one jot in eight years," she adds.

  10. UK spending on disability support second highest in G7 - Tory MPpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Bill GrantImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Bill Grant says there has been too much focus from Labour MPs on the negative consequences of recent benefit reforms, "I cannot support that, however well intended".

    He has heard many positive experiences of universal credit, he explains.

    It is right that disability benefits are not subject to the benefits cap, he adds, with UK spending on sick and disabled support the second highest in the G7.

  11. Labour MP: 4.3 million sick and disabled people in UK live in povertypublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Impact of Changes to Disability Support Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Debbie AbrahamsImage source, HoC

    MPs are now taking part in a debate on the cumulative impact of changes to disability support. The topic for this debate has been selected by the backbench business committee.

    Opening the debate, Labour MP Debbie Abrahams says it is clear how negative an impact austerity has had upon disabled people.

    HMRC figures suggest that by 2021, households with at least one disabled adult and a disabled child will lose up to £6,500 a year, "that's 30% of their income". She explains that disabled lone parents with at least one disabled child lose up to £10,000.

    She suggests the government will claim their welfare reforms get people into work, but just over 51% of disabled people are in work, compared to 81% of others, a gap which has not declined since the Conservatives pledged to halve in it their 2010 manifesto.

    4.3 million sick and disabled people are living in poverty, she says, with national and international organisations both appealing to the government to act on the impact of cuts on disabled people.

    "Disabled people have been at the back of the queue in spending terms since 2010", she says, "there is a need for radical reform of the British security system and a new social contract with the British people".

  12. Case of death of homeless man raisedpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Roberta Blackman-Woods raises the case of the homeless man who died outside Parliament last night as a point of order. She asks for a Minister to come to the despatch box about it.

    Dame Eleanor Laing, Deputy Speaker, thanks Ms Blackman-Woods for raising the case of a man who has lost his life to sleeping rough.

    She adds that a minister may be forthcoming to speak on it.

  13. Debate on no deal Brexit preparations concludespublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Planning Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Keir Starmer says the government has not been convincing in its defence of no deal planning, "we shouldn't be wasting the money".

    No deal is not in the national interest, he says, nor were the prime minister's red lines, nor was her failure to put forward any proposals until June this year.

    Throughout the Brexit process, he says the prime minister and the government has not been prepared to seek consensus, to consider any alternative points of view, or to act in the national interest.

    No deal must be ruled out, he says, and the withdrawal agreement must be put to MPs as soon as possible.

  14. This is not Deal or No Deal - Labour MPpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Planning Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dr Paul WilliamsImage source, HoC

    Labour's Dr Paul Williams says "this is not Noel Edmonds' game show" and accuses the government of "playing politics" with people's lives.

    He says that the money set aside for no deal is a "grotesque waste of money" as no deal is something which Parliament "must not allow to happen".

    "The increased costs now for our businesses do not bear thinking about," he adds.

    This is the final deal, he says, but he adds that the prime minister is trying to "bully" Parliament into agreeing to it.

    He says that the deal does not allow the UK to join the EU Medicines Agency, which allows the UK to receive cancer drugs on average 6 months early.

    "This is reckless," he states.

    "What responsible government spends millions on fridges, external for political reasons?" he asks.

  15. 'My constituents did not vote to be worse off, cut off and to lose jobs'published at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Planning Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mike HillImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Mike Hill says a hard Brexit does not offer what people voted for when they voted for Brexit; it does not protect jobs and does not provide new opportunities for the UK

    The clock is ticking, but the government is "dithering" and wasting money that could be better spent elsewhere. It could be put back into public health budgets, into "ending the blight of poverty", or increasing funding for schools.

    His constituents voted to leave because they wanted a brighter future, he says, they did not expect to be "worse off, cut off and to lose jobs".

    Parliament must be given the meaningful vote so they can take back control and decide what happens next, he says.

  16. No deal will cause 'shock' to UK - Labour MPpublished at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Planning Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen KinnockImage source, HoC

    Labour's Stephen Kinnock says it is "vital" that Parliament rejects the prime minister's "scaremongering and empty threat". He says there is "no way" that no deal will be allowed to happen.

    He says that no deal would cause such a "shock" to the country that it will have an "impact on people's lives".

    Businesses do not currently have to complete customs declarations forms, but every business will "need to know how to complete a range of complex customs declarations" in the event of no deal, he says.

    The permanent secretary to the health department has warned him that there are no reciprocal arrangements for health come March 2019, meaning people will need private insurance when in Europe.

    "It is vital that Parliament holds its nerve," he states.

  17. Plaid Cymru MP: No deal Brexit risks 10% hit to Welsh economypublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ben LakeImage source, HoC

    Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake says it is the government's responsibility to rule out no deal, which would risk a loss of up to £5bn to the Welsh economy, roughly 10% of the total.

    It is "utterly inconceivable" that a government would be so irresponsible to inflict this on the UK, he says.

    The government has a "duty" to rule out no deal, he says, and "dissipate the unnecessary uncertainty" the prospect has generated.

  18. Former foreign secretary warns of 'stumbling into no deal'published at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Margaret BeckettImage source, HoC

    Former Labour foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett says there is a risk the UK could "stumble into no deal" as a result of the prime minister's actions.

    The deal on the table is not a good deal, she says, and would not put the debate about Brexit to an end.

    If it were to pass there would still be high levels of immigration, the UK will still make payments to the EU and it will still have links to the European Court of Justice, she says.

    She calls for Article 50 to be extended to allow a further referendum, which she calls a "people's vote".

  19. Tory MP: 'Not realistic' that Corbyn would get better dealpublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Planning Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Charles WalkerImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Charles Walker questions "what on earth the Labour Party is doing with the national interest?"

    He says Theresa May is "breaking herself, duty bound" to get a decision in the interest of the country, yet Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will vote against anything she brings back and that no deal is not an option.

    "The people in this country will work out who is responsible for where we end up," he says, adding: "the benches opposite will pay the political price".

    He says the idea of Jeremy Corbyn going to Brussels and getting a better deal is "not realistic - and the British public know it".

    He calls for Labour to be honest and admit they want a second referendum to "thwart the nation's opinion".

  20. SNP: Ministers must rule out no-deal Brexitpublished at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    No Deal Brexit Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Peter GrantImage source, HoC

    SNP Europe spokesman Peter Grant says the government did "next to nothing" for two years to prepare for no deal, despite warning the whole time how dangerous it would be.

    He says ministers are now "setting out to scare business and institutions" in an attempt to force MPs to support the deal.

    He criticises Labour for supporting for the triggering of Article 50, and accuses the prime minister of being "too blinkered" to acknowledge proposals from the Scottish government.

    "No deal can be ruled out and should be ruled out", he says, but it is not up to MPs to do that, it is up to the government, he adds.