Debates between Rosie Cooper and Simon Hart during the 2019 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rosie Cooper and Simon Hart
Wednesday 14th October 2020

(3 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
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Absolutely. I agree with my right hon. Friend and neighbour’s assessment of the situation. We were all encouraged by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary’s comments just now in that respect. I can, I hope, encourage my right hon. Friend by saying that I am meeting the Crown Estate the day after tomorrow, I think, to discuss the potential delays, which at the moment look like being its problem, and we need to unblock that.

Rosie Cooper Portrait Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)
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What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people in Wales whose employment has been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Simon Hart Portrait The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)
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I have frequent discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. At least 510,000 people in Wales have been directly supported by the measures we have so far put in place. However, the best possible support we can provide is to get behind the national effort and public health guidelines to ensure that we overcome this crisis sooner rather than later.

Rosie Cooper Portrait Rosie Cooper [V]
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With the UK’s unemployment rate at its highest level in three years, it is clear that many workers in Wales will need to rely on social security in order to get back on their feet. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is only fair to update legacy benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance to match the increase in universal credit that was announced earlier this year?

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
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I thank the hon. Lady for her comments. Conversations I have had with the Department for Work and Pensions, and indeed the Chancellor, have touched on this very issue. This is why the arrangements on universal credit have been as flexible as they can be. The Department is making an effort to ensure that everybody is accounted for and that those who might fall into the gaps we referred to earlier are properly looked after. That is very much uppermost in the minds of Cabinet and ministerial colleagues. I can give her that assurance.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rosie Cooper and Simon Hart
Wednesday 8th July 2020

(3 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Wendy Chamberlain Portrait Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)
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What recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the covid-19 outbreak.

Simon Hart Portrait The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart)
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The Under-Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with the First Minister of Wales and his ministerial team on the response to covid-19, totalling 124 meetings and calls since the pandemic began.

Rosie Cooper Portrait Rosie Cooper [V]
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As the Secretary of State knows, the Welsh Labour Government are making a thank-you payment of £500 to every social care worker in Wales. Does he agree that it is a kick in the teeth to those workers that the Treasury intends to tax that bonus payment, and will he join me and the Welsh First Minister in urging the Chancellor to think again?

Simon Hart Portrait Simon Hart
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We have discussed this at Wales questions before. It is disappointing that the Welsh Government did not discuss this in greater detail with the Treasury earlier on, because we could have found a way around it. Those discussions are ongoing, and there is a reasonably positive dialogue, but as I say, the answer to this would have been found in earlier engagement, rather than by making an announcement that they knew required primary legislation for which there was not time.