Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she plans to revise the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments in light of that report.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and giving everyone a better future, and that is at the heart of our welfare reforms. We are ensuring that our welfare state is there for people who need it now, and can be there for those who need it long into the future too.
Our intention is that the PIP changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026. This means there will be no immediate changes, and we are consulting on how best to support those impacted by the new eligibility changes.
The changes to PIP will help better target support towards those with the highest needs. This includes introducing a new requirement that, in addition to existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score at least four points in one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP.
We have launched a review of the PIP assessment to ensure it is fair and fit for the future and we are working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on consistency across Government in the treatment of people affected by (a) current and (b) historical maladministration .
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Although schemes to redress the treatment of people affected by maladministration (for instance: Windrush, Post Office, Infected Blood) have department leads, the government's response is always made through a process of collective agreement, via write-round processes inviting views across departments.
The Cabinet Office plays a key role in this process, ensuring coordination between government stakeholders. HM Treasury views are sought on any proposals with spending implications, to promote consistency on government approaches to compensation, in particular. Sign-off is sought either through the Chancellor, or delegated to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in these cases.
Absolute consistency is not possible or desirable. In each of these examples, the government was responding to very different circumstances behind calls for redress. Answering to the specific recommendations from the inquiries, and developing policy through sensitive engagement with victim groups, takes primacy over standardising our responses. Nevertheless, officials also continue to engage across Whitehall to learn lessons from other compensation schemes.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to use data from the eVisa system to aid immigration enforcement operations.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Immigration Enforcement already uses information contained in relevant visa applications and interactions when taking enforcement action against suspected immigration offenders – this will continue to be the case with eVisas.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she will publish (a) an updated version of her Department's report entitled Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts, updated on 28 March 2025, (b) a full impact assessment of the proposed reforms to disability benefits in light of that report.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. Where relevant, findings included in the report Triggers to claiming Personal Independence Payment - GOV.UK, as well as the numerous other pieces of research and analysis commissioned or undertaken by the Department, have been factored into the impacts analysis already published, and will also feed into future analytical work.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contingency measures are in place for people who are unable to access their eVisa due to (a) technical issues and (b) administrative errors.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
We are committed to ensuring that the transition to eVisas is as smooth as possible for all status holders. The Home Office has a significant support model in place to facilitate the transition to eVisas.
Our online immigration status services are designed to be highly resilient, with rigorous testing and concurrent services to ensure that if one fails, another will take over. We consistently monitor our online services to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.
We are also taking further steps to reduce the number of circumstances where people need to provide evidence of their immigration status, by developing services to make the relevant immigration status information available automatically through system to system checks with other government departments and the NHS. This means at the point at which a person seeks to access public services such as NHS healthcare and DWP benefits, the service provider will check status directly with the Home Office, removing the need for people to prove their status themselves.
We have also put in place the systems and services to allow carriers, such as airlines, to automatically check immigration status via system-to-system checks and those systems are working well for millions of people. If for any reason the carrier does not receive confirmation of the passenger’s immigration status, they will be able to check this using the ‘view and prove' service, or the carrier can contact the 24/7 Carrier Support Hub for advice.
If people do have any issues, they can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. The UKVI Resolution Centre assists users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enables peoples’ status to be verified through alternative means.
If someone cannot see their eVisa details after creating their UKVI account, or believes there is an error in their status information, they can report this to the Home Office via the form at Report an error with your eVisa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), which is available 24/7. Any reported issues with eVisa are being prioritised. Once a person has submitted the report an error with your eVisa form, they will receive an email notification when the error or issue has been resolved.
If a person needs to prove their right to work or rent while the issue is being resolved, employers can use the Employers Checking Service (ECS) and landlords can use the Landlord Checking Service (LCS).
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 47556 on Animal Housing, what his Department's planned timeline is for sharing the findings of their review into banning the use of cages.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a multifaceted issue with many factors that need to be carefully considered.
The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters near Malta on 2 May 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of the serious incident involving a ship off the coast of Malta early last month. We have been in contact with local authorities and understand that no UK citizens were on board and there were no casualties. The Foreign Secretary continues to reiterate to Israel that they must lift the block on aid to Gaza, including with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the NGO taxation bill which has been proposed in the Israeli Knesset.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply troubled by the proposed non-governmental organisation (NGO) taxation bill which threatens to undermine the ability of NGOs to operate effectively and continue their important work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). We continue to raise these concerns with the Israeli government.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason her Department will not review the decision to provide full compensation to victims of the Equitable Life.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Equitable Life Payment Scheme has been fully wound down and closed since 2016 and there are no plans to reopen any decisions relating to the Payment Scheme or review the £1.5 billion funding allocation previously made to it. Further guidance on the status of the Payment Scheme after closure is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equitable-life-payment-scheme#closure-of-the-scheme.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the role of naloxone in preventing opioid-related deaths.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone. The legislation means more services and professionals can supply this medication without prescription, which in turn means easier access to it for people at risk, and for their loved ones. The Department has recently published guidance that sets out essential practical information such as who can supply naloxone, the products available, how to use naloxone and other basic lifesaving tools, and the training required. Additionally, guidance is also available for local areas to prepare for potent synthetic opioid incidents and to strengthen their preparedness.
Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug treatment services as part of their public health responsibilities, and they provide funding for naloxone supplied through drug treatment services based on their assessment of local need. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Department is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol services and recovery support, including naloxone provision.
Raising awareness of naloxone and its lifesaving potential amongst the general public is important. The Government has a drug and alcohol information and advice service called Talk to FRANK which aims to reduce drug and alcohol use and their harms by providing information and increasing awareness for young people, parents, and concerned others. This website has a page providing detailed information on when and how to use naloxone, which is available at the following link:
https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/what-to-do-in-an-emergency
Department of Health and Social Care and Home Office ministers have written to festival organisers, asking them to work closely with police and health partners on their harm reduction and first aid measures, which includes ensuring that naloxone is readily available. The Department has also worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on a joint letter and advice for the police and local authorities about festivals, drugs, and alcohol, to minimise the risk of harm to individuals at these events. The advice highlights that naloxone remains an effective, life-saving tool in the face of a synthetic opioid overdose.