Dave Robertson
Main Page: Dave Robertson (Labour - Lichfield)Department Debates - View all Dave Robertson's debates with the Leader of the House
(4 months, 2 weeks ago)
Commons Chamber Lucy Powell
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Lucy Powell 
        
    
        
    
        I always prefer invitations that involve eating things, rather than running, but I will consider it. We have heard a lot about rugby today, but my hon. Friend raises a different kind of Rugby. I am sure that many people will be visiting his constituency.
 Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab)
    
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab) 
        
    
        
    
        I was contacted this week by a constituent whose son needs to see an occupational therapist. Her son is one year old, but because he does not yet have child disability living allowance, he cannot be given a referral. The Department for Work and Pensions says that the current wait for a child disability allowance application to be processed is 25 weeks. That is just not acceptable. Can the Leader of the House arrange for a statement to be made to this House on the steps that the Department is taking to clear the backlog it inherited?
 Lucy Powell
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Lucy Powell 
        
    
        
    
        My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the issue of the delays in applications for disability living allowance, particularly for children, which are both unprecedented and unacceptable. The Government are taking action to bring them down, but I will ensure that the case he mentions gets thought.