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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 26 Feb 2019
Department for Education

"Will the hon. Lady give way?..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Department for Education
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 08 Jan 2019
Universal Credit: Managed Migration

"Piloting managed migration for universal credit is an entirely sensible approach, as it means that lessons can be learned, but can the Minister assure me that, when learning those lessons, he will consider the evidence from charities and other experts so that the best possible evidence base is available and …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit: Managed Migration
Written Question
Bereavement Benefits
Tuesday 4th December 2018

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to make widowers aware of their potential entitlement to bereavement allowance.

Answered by Justin Tomlinson

From 6 April 2017 we replaced the previous suite of bereavement benefits, which included bereavement allowance, with a single benefit known as Bereavement Support Payment.

The Department has worked with funeral directors, Registrars and voluntary groups to ensure that bereaved people are fully informed of the action to take following a death. Further information about the benefits to which they are entitled and how to claim them can be found on the government services and information website at www.gov.uk.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 17 Oct 2018
Universal Credit

"I went along to the Jobcentre Plus in Cheltenham and I had the same experience as my hon. Friend. Staff were enthusiastic about the benefits that it was creating, and crucially, people in work were, on average, receiving an additional £600 a year. Does he not agree that that important …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit
Written Question
Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
Wednesday 17th October 2018

Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will provide an update on plans to roll-out video recordings of assessments for personal independence payments; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Sarah Newton

As part of our commitment to improve the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process we are progressing options to video record PIP face to face assessments. Over the summer we have gathered views on video recording from claimants, charities and other representative bodies, and from Health Professionals. These views will inform the design of a live pilot. We are designing a live pilot, due to begin later this year. The pilot will inform any wider full roll out decisions.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Sep 2018
Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the enforcement of equalities legislation relating to guide dogs.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. Enforcement of the laws we enact in this place matters. Without a robust and credible enforcement system, statutes risk becoming dead …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Sep 2018
Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs

"The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Raising awareness is crucial, but where efforts to raise awareness have been unsuccessful, we need a process that is proportionate, streamlined and victim centred to ensure that justice is done in a way that is not as hit-and-miss and patchy as it is now.

…..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Sep 2018
Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs

"I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that full intervention. I agree with everything she says. To pick up that point, which was also made by the hon. Member for Torfaen (Nick Thomas-Symonds), training and awareness are critical, but there is a disconnect with the enforcement regime in respect …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Sep 2018
Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs

"The hon. Gentleman is right. There is a wider point here about access to justice—a point made by Lord Reed in a recent Supreme Court case in the context of employment tribunals. He said that unless there is proper access to justice, the whole process of election of MPs to …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Sep 2018
Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs

"I entirely agree with my hon. Friend and I commend her council for taking those enlightened steps. The problem is that geographically the approach taken is a bit hit and miss. It is patchy, so someone with disabilities might find that one year they live in a local authority that …..."
Alex Chalk - View Speech

View all Alex Chalk (Con - Cheltenham) contributions to the debate on: Equalities Legislation: Guide Dogs