Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Steve Double

Monday 27th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

I often have constituents come to see me who suffer from ongoing conditions that might be considered invisible disabilities. They tell me that the current assessment process does not accurately capture their conditions. Will the Minister continue to keep the assessment process under review, to ensure that it is fit for purpose in assessing people with invisible disabilities?

[Justin Tomlinson]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. As we have seen under PIP, 32% of claimants now access the highest rate of support, compared with just 15% under DLA. It is the hidden disabilities that have seen the most significant growth in that regard. For example, with mental health, 33% of claimants now get the highest rate, compared with just 6%—that is five times less—under the legacy benefits.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Steve Double

Monday 7th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

11. What steps the Government are taking to increase support for disabled people.

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson)]

We have made significant progress to improve support and have seen the number of working age disabled people in employment increased by over 1 million in the last six years. However, we continue to focus on improving our services for those who use them. This includes the current consultation on measures aimed at reducing ill health-related job losses.

[Steve Double]

I thank the Minister for that answer. What specific help is available to young people with disabilities to support them into work?

Local Government Finance Bill (Fourth sitting)

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Steve Double

Thursday 2nd February 2017 Public Bill Committees

[Justin Tomlinson]

I would not dare to incur the wrath of the Chair of the Committee, Mr Gapes, who has made it clear that this is not the time to discuss coastal matters, although I am sure that by the end of the 10 sittings we would all welcome a day trip to some of those coastal constituencies to see them at first hand.

I felt I had addressed the point about landlocked areas. Although some areas will find it easier to attract additional large-scale developments, such as the warehouses I mentioned, this is also about maintaining and protecting industries that are already there. That may be a case of lobbying national legislators not to make changes, in order to protect them. It is also about expanding microbusinesses to tip them into a size at which they have to pay business rates, having grown sufficiently and increased their headcount. Not every element of additional revenue will be raised purely by big expansion; it will also be done by speeding up organic growth that delivers income and jobs.

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

I represent a coastal area; in fact, mine is one of only three constituencies that have two separate coasts. We see the coast and the sea as assets, not barriers to economic growth. They can drive economic growth through fishing, tourism and many other sectors.

[Justin Tomlinson]

That is exactly the enthusiasm and innovation that we need to unleash across local authorities. I have every faith that our elected local authority leaders will seize the opportunity with exactly the same enthusiasm as my hon. Friend, taking advantage of it to deliver extra income and jobs.

Under-occupancy Penalty

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Steve Double

Thursday 28th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson]

It is not cruel to provide support to the most vulnerable in society. It is also sensible, as there would be a £2.5 billion extra cost if Labour were to abandon this policy.

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that not only is the discretionary housing payment the right way to address this issue, but the fact that so many local authorities are not spending their full allocation is evidence that the Government are fully resourcing this matter?

[Justin Tomlinson]

I thank my hon. Friend. Not only is £870 million proving to be the right amount of money for local authorities, but awareness continues to increase year on year.