Stephen calls on Prime Minister for action on pension scams

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 3rd February, Stephen questioned Prime Minister Boris Johnson about pensions scams.

The Work and Pensions Select Committee has been examining the issue through an enquiry in recent weeks. Stephen highlighted to the Prime Minister the thousands of people scammed out of their pensions and called on the government to tackle this problem in the Online Harms Bill.

Stephen said: "Good savings deals, on Google or Facebook, turn out, all too often to be scams. The planned Online Harms Bill must tackle this very serious problem."

Stephen writes to Schools Minister about laptop shortages in East Ham schools

Stephen has written to the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, asking that the Department for Education urgently look at delivering more laptops to schools in East Ham.

Earlier this week, Stephen raised the case of Kensington Primary School with Mr Gibb in the House of Commons. Kensington – which won primary school of the year at the Pearson national teaching awards earlier this year – is still to receive a large number of laptops which it had ordered from the Department for Education.

A survey sent to East Ham schools found that the distribution of laptops has been patchy. Although some have enough devices – often loaning a number of their own laptops or relying on donations – others are struggling. Some schools have only received a third of laptops ordered whilst others estimate they have hundreds pupils who are struggling to access a device at home.

Stephen said: “It is troubling that so many pupils in East Ham are at home and without laptops whilst schools remain closed.

“Every pupil must have access to the devices they need to learn. I have asked the Minister to personally look at some specific instances where the government has failed to supply an adequate number of laptops for pupils.”

To read Stephen’s letter to the Schools Minister, click here.

Stephen calls for more accessible benefits system for terminally ill people

Stephen has written a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Stephen Barclay, about benefit payments for terminally ill people.

In his letter Stephen noted that the results of the 2019 review of the benefits system were yet to be published. He raised the particular issue that terminally ill people can only fast track their applications if they can prove that they have less than 6 months to live.

Campaigners have argued that using the fast track application process is complex for vulnerable claimants. This often forces individuals to apply through the standard claims process which is unsuitable for those with a terminal diagnosis.

Stephen said “I am troubled that vulnerable claimants are being put off applying for benefits because of an over complicated and rigid system. I hope the Minister will look into this and work towards making the system more accessible.”

Stephen speaks with young people on the key issues facing future generations

Stephen has attended a meeting with two young people as part of The Big Issue’s “Wellbeing Week”, to discuss their perspectives on the major policy issues affecting their futures.

The short conversation focussed on sustainability and climate change. Both young people felt those were the key issues facing their generation, and put forward their policy ideas to tackle these challenges. They explained their passion to see a politics which is led by long-term thinking, not short-term election cycles.

The meeting was organised as the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill makes its way through Parliament. The Bill will ensure that all non-devolved public bodies, including the UK Government, work to prevent problems - including global warming and poverty - from happening. It proposes creating a ‘future generations test’ for all new policy changes, sets up a Joint-Committee on Future Generations in Parliament, and requires budgets to measure and increase their preventative spending.

At the end of the conversation, Stephen asked the young people if they were optimistic for the future. In turn, they asked Stephen the same question. He responded: “It can sometimes be hard to find the grounds for optimism. However, I am optimistic. I think that, somehow, we will be able to work together to find a way through the challenges that face us. Speaking with young people such as yourselves gives me real hope.”

Stephen makes a virtual visit to Togo

Stephen has joined Compassion UK on a virtual visit to Togo to discuss their work tackling the impact of Covid-19.

In March 2019, through a UK Aid Match Grant, Compassion were granted £1,047,000 by the FCDO. Via Zoom, Stephen could join the Compassion team in Togo to discuss the use of these funds and the impact of Covid-19. During the tour, Stephen visited a Mother and Child Centre, a Borehole and a Youth Centre.

Compassion have been working with 294 church partners in Togo to provide a variety of services. As of November 2020, 70,125 children had enrolled in Compassion’s children development programme. Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, Compassion in Togo have been able to deliver 405,467 food packs and 443,701 hygiene kits to families in addition to providing medical support to 33,732 individuals.

Stephen said about the event “I very much enjoyed my virtual visit to Togo! The projects we dropped in on show the important role UK aid fulfils by supporting developing countries and at-risk communities. “

The scale of Compassion’s work is very impressive. I hope that the Government will continue to support them.”

Stephen calls on Ministers to make £20 uplift available to those with severe disabilities

At DWP Questions on Monday 25 January, Stephen has called on Ministers to extend the £20 uplift in Universal Credit to legacy benefits.

Stephen said: “Disabled people have lost out. If they claim severe disability premium, they cannot switch to Universal Credit. They should have the £20 per week benefit increase too.”

Stephen calls on government to support touring creatives

Stephen has written to the Home Secretary outlining his support for a campaign which seeks to include creative professionals on a list of self-employed workers.

A number of groups representing creative professionals are concerned that their members are unable to travel to the EU for work purposes following Brexit. Their omission from the list of self-employed workers benefitting from visa free travel has caused huge difficulties for many working in the creative and entertainment industries. Ministers had previously suggested that mobility for creative workers would be a priority during Brexit negotiations.

In his letter, Stephen noted that a number of his constituents would be affected by the free travel permit not applying to touring creatives and artists. He reminded the Home Secretary that many in the industry are reliant on income from performing abroad, and that more support was needed, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking about the letter, Stephen said “Performers are some of the most mobile workers in our economy. The fact that they are no longer able to travel freely in the EU is a major blow to their livelihoods. It is troubling that the government reneged on a promise to ensure this group would be looked after, following our departure from the EU.

I hope the Home Secretary will look again at this issue and will continue to press on this matter.”

Stephen calls on Ministers to keep Universal Credit uplift

Conservative MPs have refused to vote with Labour to stop Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s plan to cut Universal Credit by over £1,000 a year.

Universal Credit was raised by £1,040 for the 2020/21 financial year to help with the impact of coronavirus. At the time, Ministers said that the increase would only be temporary. Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons, demanding that the government scrap the planned cut. Over 350 Conservative MPs failed to support Labour’s motion.

It is estimated that a cut of £20 to Universal Credit will hit over 17,000 families in East Ham. The Child Poverty Action Group has stated that a £20 uplift is essential to ensure that low-income families with children receive the support they need. And the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned that the cut could see another 200,000 children pushed in to poverty.

Speaking after vote, Stephen said. “It is unthinkable that Conservative MPs are pulling away support from families in East Ham in the midst of an economic crisis. This was a missed opportunity for the government to give them the certainty and security they deserve.” 

“They can still do the right thing and drop their plans to cut Universal Credit. I will continue to press Ministers to do the right thing and keep the £20 uplift and ask that those on legacy benefits – such as Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseekers' Allowance – be uprated in line with those on Universal Credit  too. The government has consistently refused to do this.”

Stephen speaks at youth worker training event

Stephen has addressed youth workers at an online training event hosted by a number of Christian organisations in the South East. He spoke commended the work of faith groups in tackling the issue of decreasing childhood wellbeing.

The event was based around new report from The Children’s Society which found that there has been a continued decrease in average happiness with life among 10-15 year olds in the UK. Youth workers, theologians, politicians and researchers came together at the event to discuss how to respond.

Stephen spoke about his experience as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee and his former role as a Treasury Minister. He highlighted the impact of high rates of child poverty on overall childhood wellbeing in the UK and expressed disappointment that there is currently no child poverty target. He told the audience that his Select Committee would shortly conducting an inquiry on child poverty in the UK.

Stephen also shared the findings of a recent report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Faith and Society, which he chairs. The pandemic led to more collaboration between faith groups and local authorities, 91% of whom had a “very positive” or “positive” experience of the collaboration.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “I was delighted to speak today. Childhood wellbeing is a hugely important topic but is often discussed only in relation to the role of schools. Today, we were able to celebrate the role of youth workers in tackling the varied issues contributing to declining childhood wellbeing, as highlighted by the Good Childhood report.

“I will be writing to Ministers in the coming days to ask for their thoughts on the report and how the government can be supporting our youth workers across the country as we emerge from this pandemic.”

Stephen questions the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee

On Wednesday 13 January, Stephen questioned the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee on key welfare issues.

Stephen asked the Prime Minister not to wait until March before letting people know of Universal Credit will be cut by £20 per week. He also asked why Jobseekers Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance haven't been increased, and about the lack of support for those with No Recourse to Public Funds.

Stephen said: "The Prime Minister said this country doesn’t allow people with "No Recourse to Public Funds" to fall through the cracks. This is untrue. Keeping the NRPF condition during the pandemic is promoting the spread of the virus, because it forces people to keep working. The £20 uplift to Universal Credit must be kept in place, and extended to legacy benefits."

Stephen joins MPs in condemning monument destruction

Stephen has joined other members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, in condemning the destruction of a monument in Sri Lanka which commemorates the tens of thousands of Tamils who died in the civil war.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had said The Mullivaikkal monument at Jaffna University was a threat to unity in the country, and had it demolished. Now the monument is to be rebuilt, said the university's vice-chancellor, who laid a foundation stone on Monday.

In a statement, the APPG for Tamils said it had called on the British Foreign Secretary to condemn the 'vicious attack' on Tamil remembrance. To read the full statement, click here.

Stephen urges NHS to open new vaccine centre in East Ham

Credit: Tirza van Dijk, Unsplash

Stephen has urged the NHS to open a vaccination centre in East Ham. His comments followed analysis by LBC which found that nearly a third (29%) of the 100 worst-hit constituencies in England have no vaccination centre.

Last week the Sunday Times identified the relative levels of vaccine provision across constituencies in England. LBC then used a method developed by statistician Dan Cookson to map local infection rates onto Parliamentary constituencies. By combining the two sets of data, they were able to pinpoint areas with high infection rates that are currently left out of the vaccine rollout.

The study found that East Ham was the second worst area of England with no vaccine centre, although it acknowledged that there are two nearby at the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Health Centre and the Greengate Medical Centre.

Speaking about the research, Stephen said: “I’m very keen my constituents should get fast and efficient access to the vaccines. Neither of Newham’s vaccination centres are in East Ham.  That means they’re not easy for my constituents to get to. But I’m assured the NHS is paying taxi fares to make sure people can reach them. I know NHS staff are also visiting care homes in East Ham to carry out vaccinations on the spot.  I definitely want to see vaccination centres in East Ham very soon.”

The Department for Health says that hundreds more vaccine sites are due to come online over the next few weeks and that where possible, roving vaccine teams will aim to visit vulnerable people at their usual place of residence.

Statement on EU (future relationship) Bill

Speaking in advance of today’s recall of Parliament to discuss the EU (future relationship) Bill, Stephen said:

“My constituents voted to remain in the EU.  That was my choice too.  Unfortunately, in the Referendum, and in last year’s General Election, we lost that argument.  The only choice now is to leave with the Deal that has been negotiated, or to leave without a Deal.  I haven’t yet read all 1200 pages of the text, but it seems clear that leaving with this Deal is preferable to leaving without one.  

“I’ve had a number of messages asking me to abstain in the vote.  That would be the right thing to do if leaving without a Deal and leaving with the Prime Minister’s Deal were more or less as bad as each other.  However, the latter is clearly preferable. 

“Concerns expressed during the Referendum campaign will now become a reality.  A massive new red tape burden will be imposed on UK businesses.  The freedom of UK citizens to travel, work and live in Europe will be restricted.  A big new barrier is being inserted between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  And there will be endless wrangling between Britain and Europe over petty details.

“But all these problems would be much worse if the Prime Minister’s Deal was rejected today.  Leaving with a Deal makes a fresh approach to our relationship with Europe, to be developed by a Labour Government, much more feasible than leaving without one.  I therefore intend to vote in favour today.”

Latest edition of Churches Update out NOW!

The Labour Party has today published its latest edition of Churches Update. In this edition, you can read about:

• Kier Starmer praising the work of churches during the Covid-19 pandemic

• Labour joining churches in criticising cuts to foreign aid

• Calls to protect low-income families

• Stephen Timms on his recent report, Keeping the Faith

To read the latest edition, click here.

Stephen meets children with sight loss

Stephen has met with children with sight loss and their families to hear about their experiences of education and specialist support at a virtual event hosted by the charity Guide Dogs.

New research from Guide Dogs has found a decrease in happiness, independence and confidence in children with sight loss over the last 12 years. It also found that more than two thirds of parents felt that there was not enough support to help parents and guardians at the point of their child’s sight loss diagnosis.

A child who can see will typically learn through watching and imitating, but a child with a vision impairment instead needs to learn strategies to gain everyday skills such as walking, dressing and navigating.

Guide Dogs knows that with the right support, children and young people with sight loss can achieve anything. Rachel, the mother of five-year-old Nell who spoke at the event, said "The early support is going to help Nell grow up to be an independent adult who is blind, and ultimately I think that is a goal for every parent.”

After hearing from Nell and other young people with sight loss and their parents about the difficulties they have faced in accessing the right support, the MP for East Ham has pledged to support Guide Dogs’ work on ensuring all children have the support they need to live an independent and active life.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “Guide Dogs is best known for our work providing life changing dog partnerships, so it was interesting to hear today of their work with children and young people with sight loss.

More needs to be done to better support children and young people with sight loss. I am pleased that a commission will be set up next year to look at this issue.”

Stephen calls for long-term funding for maintained nurseries

Stephen has urged Ministers in the Department for Education to commit to increased long-term funding for maintained nurseries, which have been hard hit by Covid-19.

In a Westminster Hall debate last week, MPs raised the issue of funding for maintained nurseries. Prior to the pandemic, early years providers contended that Government funding was not enough to support rising costs of provision and staffing. Now, according to the Early Yeas Alliance, one in six early years providers think they could close before Christmas without additional funding. In the Government’s Spending Review, £44 million was announced for early years education in 2021-22. However, Stephen called for a longer-term funding settlement to be laid out.

During his speech, Stephen praised the valuable contributions of maintained nurseries to the wider community. He paid tribute to Sheringham Nursery in Manor Park which has helped create better outcomes for disadvantaged children in the borough. It supports almost a quarter of its pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Stephen also highlighted the work Sheringham did in supporting parents to educate their children outside of nursery, and its work with one hundred private nurseries and childminders to improve education quality and inclusion.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: ”Maintained Nursery Schools - like Sheringham - have outstanding track records for improving the life chances of some of the most disadvantaged children in the borough. Despite this, every year we return to the same issue - the lack of funding.

“Ministers must finally bring an end to this uncertainty and deliver a secure, long-term settlement for Maintained Nursery Schools.”

Stephen calls for a national framework to regulate temporary accommodation

Stephen has called on the government to introduce a national framework to regulate temporary accommodation.

MPs discussed homelessness, temporary accommodation and the housing crisis in a Westminster Hall debate earlier this week. Many shared stories of constituents living in sub-standard, temporary accommodation, often for years on end. They recognised the particular challenges faced by those enduring substandard and overcrowded temporary accommodation during the pandemic.

Newham has the highest proportion of households in temporary accommodation in London. During his speech, Stephen highlighted some of the problems families living in temporary accommodation face, for example disruption in a child’s schooling. He applauded the the work of the Magpie Project - a charity based in Forest Gate - which has long campaigned to ensure local authorities work harder to find more secure properties for families who are made homeless.

Stephen urged the government to introduce a new national policy on standards in temporary accommodation, and length of stay. He also called for urgent action to safeguard children of families placed in temporary accommodation.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “The impact of the debate remains to be seen. However, it was an important opportunity for MPs to raise with the Minister the real and shocking challenges faced by their constituents in temporary accommodation.”

You can watch Stephen’s speech here.

Stephen raises benefit cap grace period at DWP Questions

At DWP Questions on Monday 30 November, Stephen raised the issue of the benefit cap grace period.

A 9 month 'grace period' on the benefit cap applies if a Universal Credit claimant (and their partner) earned at least the amount they would get for 16 hours per week at National Living Wage for the previous 12 months.

Stephen commented: "160,000 families will reach the end of their benefit cap 'grace period' in December. Unless Ministers act, many - in what is already an incredibly tough winter - will face a sudden benefit cut just before Christmas."

Stephen hosts Zoom call with local residents

Stephen has hosted a Zoom meeting for residents of East Ham to discuss the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Stephen opened by providing the party with an update on the COVID-19 crisis. He highlighted his work in Parliament as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee. He also flagged with residents that he would be holding a debate in the coming week on the issue of Kenyan state pensions not being paid to UK nationals.

The meeting then moved into a Question and Answer session, with the local residents being given the opportunity to submit questions to Stephen.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen said “It is important that I keep local residents in East Ham up to date with what I am doing in Westminster. Ideally, I would like to do these at my monthly street stalls on High Street North but for now, Zoom will have to do!”

New All-Party Group hosts meeting on No Recourse to Public Funds

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Law and Policy held its first meeting this week. It considered the government’s policy of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

The group - which was formed last month - is undertaking a year long inquiry into reviewing the compliant environment. This followed the publication of the Home Office’s ‘Comprehensive Improvement Plan’.

During the meeting the audience heard from Ramona, who herself had the NRPF condition attached to her visa for seven years. It was lifted one month into the pandemic. She described the policy as “unfair” and said it had forced her family into destitution.

NRPF condition denies people who are “subject to immigration control” access to social housing and most welfare benefits, including Universal Credit, child tax credits and child benefit, as well as support that is tied to benefits, such as free school meals. It affects undocumented migrants and most migrants granted limited leave to remain in the UK.

The meeting also heard from Caz Hattam, from the Unity Project, and Abi Brunswick, from Project 17. Both organisations have campaigned against NRPF and called for it to be scrapped. It was Project 17 that challenged the Home Office's policy of imposing the NRPF condition on migrants who are on the 10-year family/private life route to settlement. At a hearing in the High Court in May, the Judges ruled the policy of NRPF as being unlawful stating that the policy breached Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment.

Amanda Weston QC who intervened in the case also addressed the meeting. She called on MPs to take a closer look at the impact policies like NRPF have on migrants.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen, who chairs the All-Party Group said: “I am pleased our group has had a chance to consider this issue today.

“I have long called for the No Recourse to Public Funds immigration condition to be suspended for the pandemic. Some 3 million extra people have had to claim universal credit this year, but families working legally, with no recourse to public funds on their immigration status, do not have that safety net. This is not right, and it must change.”