Written Question
Wednesday 17th September 2025
Asked by:
Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reinstate in-person interviews for all applicants for sickness benefits.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock
- Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We already undertake a number of face-to-face health assessments for people applying for sickness benefits. However, as announced in Pathways to Work Green Paper, we are planning to increase the number of face-to-face assessments. We will preserve alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require a different channel, for example as a reasonable adjustment.
Written Question
Monday 16th September 2024
Asked by:
Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sherlock on 3 September (HL Deb col 1046), what aspects of domestic law have been in breach of the provisions of the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter and the Revised European Social Charter 1996, preventing their ratification; and what is the legislative timetable for correcting these breaches.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock
- Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Additional Protocol 1995 provides for a collective complaints mechanism. Member States who choose to accept this mechanism are not assessed on their conformity with the process. The UK has not accepted the mechanism because, like the majority of member States, the UK believes the existing supervisory mechanisms of the European Social Charter are adequate.
The new Government is embarking on an extensive programme of reforms, including our Employment Rights Bill which will change our position on provisions within both the 1961 and Revised Charter. The Government will, therefore, consider our position on the Revised Charter in due course.
A summary of the latest assessments of the UK’s conformity with the European Social Charter 1961 was published by the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe also published the UK’s report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter and the Revised European Social Charter earlier this year. I will place a copy of both of these documents in the House of Lords Library.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 12 Oct 2020
Covid-19: Over-60s
"The Question actually refers to
“the advice by the World Health Organization that people over 60 should be treated as vulnerable to COVID-19”.
Some 24.1% of the British population is aged over 60—most of this House is aged around 70. The average age of Covid deaths is 82. Does the …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 30 Jun 2020
Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
"In my last speech I omitted to declare my interests, not only those recorded in the register, but also as chair of the European Parliament’s Members’ pension fund—which has a number of beneficiaries in this House—and as manager of the House of Commons fund for former Members of the European …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 30 Jun 2020
Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
"My Lords, this is the first time for two months that I have been in this Chamber. It is a bit emptier than normal but it is good to be back.
I hoped to speak after the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, because I want to say a few words about …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 29 Jun 2020
Universal Credit: Court of Appeal Judgment
"My Lords, people made severe criticism of the digital system of universal credit when it was introduced, but it seems that this design has enabled it to support an unprecedented number of people in recent months—the huge increase the Minister referred to. Would she agree that we could not possibly …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 13 May 2020
Universal Credit
"My Lords, I point out that, as far as I am aware, Labour is not committed to ending the benefit cap; let us start by saying that. It seems that we can never do enough, but would the Minister agree to look very carefully at the situation as it unfolds …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 30 Apr 2020
Covid-19: People Living in Poverty
"My Lords, I thank the Minister for all the hard work that she has been doing. I note that her team of civil servants have dealt with 1.5 million claims and 250,000 claims for other benefits. They must have been working around the clock and they are to be commended.
…..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Grand Committee - Wed 04 Mar 2020
Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
"..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
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Speech in Grand Committee - Wed 04 Mar 2020
Pension Schemes Bill [HL]
"This is a rather technical amendment in many ways. I declare my interest as the president of the British Airline Pilots Association, one of the unions that would be affected by a change in the law such as is suggested here.
Members generally pay into pension schemes on the basis …..."Lord Balfe - View Speech
View all Lord Balfe (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill [HL]