Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 26 Nov 2020
Coronavirus Outbreak: DWP Response
"It is good to follow the hon. Member for Devizes (Danny Kruger), although of course in the 1600s this Parliament did not exist, so those laws would not have applied in Scotland, thankfully.
I thank the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, the right hon. Member for East Ham …..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 04 Feb 2020
Universal Credit: Delayed Roll-Out
"Although I would visit jobcentres in my constituency on a more regular basis, it does not help when the Department shuts them, as it did the one in the Vale of Leven. Given a substantial increase in the uptake of support through the two food banks, Food for Thought and …..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 27 Jan 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
"The Scottish Government have used 15% of social security that has been devolved to Holyrood to exempt the war disablement pension from the assessment of income, meaning that our veterans get the full worth of that pension in Scotland. When will the Department and the Secretary of State make the …..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Written Question
Monday 9th September 2019
Asked by:
Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have an asbestos-related disease other than mesothelioma who are unable to claim compensation due to the fact that a liable insurer cannot be identified.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Department does not hold this information.
Written Question
Monday 9th September 2019
Asked by:
Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
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 sufferers of asbestos-related diseases other than mesothelioma who cannot identify a liable insurer are able to claim full compensation.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Anyone who contracts Pneumoconiosis, bilateral diffuse pleural thickening, or primary carcinoma of the lung when accompanied by asbestosis or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening, through work may be eligible for compensation under the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 scheme.
This scheme is open to current and former employees, including those who cannot identify a liable insurer. Information on eligibility is provided on gov.uk.
Written Question
Monday 9th September 2019
Asked by:
Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report, Estimates of the impact of extending the scope of the payment scheme in the Mesothelioma Bill to include other asbestos related diseases and other non-asbestos work related diseases, published in June 2013, if she will review and update that report.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Mesothelioma Act 2014 established the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS). The DMPS makes lump sum payments to people who contract diffuse mesothelioma from negligent exposure to asbestos in the workplace, but are unable to pursue a civil claim because their former employer no longer exists and their former employer’s insurer cannot be traced. The DMPS is funded by a levy paid by insurers who are active in the Employer’s Liability insurance market.
This Scheme makes payments to eligible sufferers of diffuse mesothelioma only. Since this disease is always fatal and always caused by asbestos, it has been possible to implement DMPS as a simple payment scheme. Other asbestos-related diseases and other non-asbestos work related diseases have more uncertainties regarding cause, severity and aggravation by other factors and this complexity is not compatible with a straightforward tariff-based scheme such as the DMPS. The report published on 6 December 2013 highlighted the adverse impact on the amount of the levy should the scope of the Scheme be widened, which would also require a re-designing of the scheme, the legislation, and the commercial requirements.
There are no plans to update the 2013 report or extend eligibility to the DMPS.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 02 Jul 2019
Unemployment and Autism
"Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the major concerns for many people relates to workplace assessments and their effectiveness, or ineffectiveness, whether for those with autism or other disabilities? Does she agree that the Department really should consider how it measures the effectiveness of workplace assessments—say, for those …..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 02 Jul 2019
Unemployment and Autism
"Will my hon. Friend give way?..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 02 Jul 2019
Unemployment and Autism
"In relation to PIP and reconsiderations, does my hon. Friend recognise that, as I said to the Minister yesterday, 85% of all considerations were overturned in April 2019? Rather than that type of bureaucracy, we should be investing in the frontline, as my hon. Friend is saying...."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"rose—..."Martin Docherty-Hughes - View Speech
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