To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.

Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Social Security Benefits
Tuesday 5th November 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the length of the benefits freeze.

Answered by Will Quince

The Secretary of State announced on 4th November 2019 that the freeze to working age benefits will come to an end in April 2020. This was following her statutory annual review of benefit and pension rates to determine whether they have retained their value to the general level of prices and earnings. See written ministerial statement -

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-11-04/HCWS74/

Written Question
Affordable Housing: Scotland
Tuesday 5th November 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the affordability of the housing market in Scotland for families in receipt of benefits.

Answered by Will Quince

The proportion of Scottish private market rents that are at or below the LHA rate, by room entitlement, is set out below. This is based on rent officer data and the 2019/20 LHA rates published here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2019-to-march-2020.

Shared room

1 bedroom

2 bedroom

3 bedroom

4+ bedroom

14%

22%

17%

18%

17%

Written Question
Bereavement Support Payment
Friday 1st November 2019

Asked by: Hugh Gaffney (Labour - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that cohabiting couples with children can apply for bereavement support payments.

Answered by Will Quince

Primary legislation provides that Bereavement Support Payment can only be paid to, and for the benefit of, a surviving spouse or civil partner. The Department is ensuring that Bereavement Support Payment is being paid in accordance with that law, as it is required to do.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered child poverty in Scotland.

I thank all Members who have taken the time to come to this important debate. We all came into the House seeking to improve the lives of children and young people. That is why some of our …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"That is true. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has estimated that two thirds of children living in poverty are in households where at least one adult is in paid work. Almost 30% of children live in households where three or more children are classed as living in poverty...."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"I could not agree more. People used to think they were working to get out of poverty—not so nowadays. The figures highlight the fact that we have a real crisis with child poverty in Scotland. The Resolution Foundation has projected that child poverty across Scotland will likely rise to 30% …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"We are all here to help the children, whether in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland. That is what it is all about...."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"Yes. I will come on to two-child cap poverty.

History shows that we can tackle child poverty in Scotland. The largest falls in the poverty rate recorded in the past 20 years were among pensioners and children. From the late 1990s, child poverty across Scotland fell significantly because of the …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"I thank the hon. Lady for that staggering fact. How sad is it that, in this day and age, children are dying from poverty before they are 15?

If we are to tackle child poverty in Scotland, we must look at whether current policies help us to do so. Since …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 30 Oct 2019
Child Poverty in Scotland

"I totally agree. That is a change we can make today.

The Government decided to implement a two-child limit policy, despite warnings from this House and charities that it would worsen child poverty in Scotland. What was warned about has come to pass, and almost 4,000 low-income families in Scotland …..."
Hugh Gaffney - View Speech

View all Hugh Gaffney (Lab - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) contributions to the debate on: Child Poverty in Scotland