Home Secretary on TOEIC students: not just clarification, but justice needed

Under questioning from Tim Loughton at the Home Affairs Select Committee on Wednesday 24 February, Home Secretary Priti Patel set out the need to bring justice for international students unfairly caught up in the 'TOEIC' scandal.

A significant number of international students in 2014 lost their right to live and study in the UK after being falsely accused of cheating in the 'TOEIC' English language test. These students have now been in limbo in the years ever since, not allowed to study or work, many unable to afford to clear their names in the courts.

The Home Secretary recognised: "We still have a number of people - too many people, I don’t have the figures at hand– who were caught up in this and we need to find a resolution, and actually to bring not just clarification but also some justice around what has happened."

After the 'TOEIC' court cases due at the Tribunal next week, the Home Secretary agreed to come back to the Committee with what action her department will take.

Stephen said: “Ministers now need to create a mechanism – which can be done within existing Home Office systems – to end the misery for the hundreds, if not thousands, of student victims of Toeic stuck in limbo.”

Stephen pledges support for local pubs in East Ham

Credit: Amie Johnson, Unsplash

Stephen has today pledged his support for the Long Live the Local campaign to help pubs in East Ham. He joins over 500,000 people who have signed the petition so far, including 267 in East Ham alone.

Stephen is calling on the Government to cut beer tax at the Budget. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on brewers and pubs throughout the UK. In 2020 beer sales in pubs fell by 56%, which amounts to £7.8bn in lost sales. The sector needs an immediate boost and the fact that seven in ten alcoholic drinks served in pubs are beer underlines how directly a cut in beer duty can help pubs.

Brewing and pubs in East Ham supports 491 jobs and contributes £19.2m to the local economy. With £1 in every £3 pounds spent in UK pubs going to the taxman, British drinkers pay more in beer duty each year than those in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland combined.

Commenting on the campaign, Stephen said: “Pubs are at the heart of communities across East Ham, but with pubs bearing a disproportionate burden as a result of the pandemic the Government should consider a cut to beer tax. I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the Chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s Budget to support pubs in our local communities.”

David Cunningham, Programme Director, Long Live The Local said: “Beer duty has increased by 60% over the last 17 years and now the UK has one of the highest rates of tax in Europe. When over two thirds of all alcoholic drinks purchased in the pub are beers, a cut in beer tax would go a long way to protecting pubs across East Ham that have suffered so much in the last year. We are very grateful to Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP for their support for the Long Live the Local campaign, and hope that the Government listens to MPs across Parliament and the thousands of people across the country who are calling for a cut in beer tax to protect our pubs.”

Stephen backs call for action on climate change on Fairtrade Fortnight

Stephen is backing this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, which is highlighting how the climate crisis is threatening the future of food and those who produce it.

In a show of support for Fairtrade, Stephen participated in a virtual parliamentary event alongside other politicians to mark the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 22 February to 7 March.

Hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fairtrade, the online event featured talks on climate change from Kenyan Fairtrade tea producer Patrick Kaberia Muthaura, chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation Michael Gidney, and APPG co-chairs Holly Lynch MP and Jason McCartney MP.

Stephen said: “I am delighted to show my support for Fairtrade Fortnight this year, and to back Fairtrade’s call for action to protect rural communities on the front line of the climate crisis worldwide. Climate change is the biggest threat facing farmers today: droughts, floods, storms and other disasters are threatening their livelihoods and their food crops, which many of us here in the UK depend on.

“Buying Fairtrade products is one simple way we can all help to ensure these farmers have the funds they need to tackle the changing climate and protect their crops from weather-related disasters. That’s why it is wonderful to see so many local residents here in xxx committing to using Fairtrade products and to supporting Fairtrade as a key solution for making trade fairer for farmers and workers in lower-income countries.”

Stephen joins call for disabled people to be given £20 lifeline

Stephen has heard how a decision to deny some disabled people £20 per week to help to survive the COVID-19 crisis has left growing numbers unable to pay for rent, food and heating.

For ten months the Government has refused to give emergency funding to over 2.2 million people on legacy benefits – including those on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseeker’s Allowance. This is despite the fact that Universal Credit claimants in the same circumstances are receiving a financial lifeline of an extra £20 per week.

The launch of the report ‘Pandemic Poverty: Stark choices facing disabled people on legacy benefits’, was hosted by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) –  a network of over 100 organisations including the MS Society, Z2K, Disability Rights UK, MND Association, and Inclusion London, which has been campaigning on this issue for ten months.

To date, the Government has given a number of excuses for not extending the £20 uplift to those on legacy benefits, but they are at best feeble and at worst actively insulting to the people involved. Excuses have ranged from blaming the computer system for making it hard to process an uplift, to saying that people have had an uplift of 35 pence per week already and implying that should be sufficient.

Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “Disabled people in East Ham have told me how they are bearing extra costs in the pandemic, but are getting no extra help.  For people claiming Universal Credit, the £20 per week uplift has been a lifesaver.  The uplift needs to be maintained, and extended to people claiming the legacy benefits too.”

Stephen leads adjournment debate on "Keeping the Faith"

Stephen has led a debate in the House of Commons on the response of faith groups during the covid-19 outbreak.

In his speech, Stephen drew on the findings of the Keeping the Faith report which was conducted by the Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, and commissioned by the APPG on Faith and Society. Support was also received from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, the Trussell Trust and the Good Faith partnership. Stephen referenced some of the report’s key findings in his contribution:

• More than two thirds of the councils surveyed reported an increase in partnership working with faith groups.

• 91% described their experience with faith groups as “very positive” or “positive”.

• Nearly 60% of councils have been working with church-based food banks during the pandemic, 24% with mosque-based food banks, 11% with food banks in Gurdwaras, and 10% with food banks in Hindu temples.

• Only 1% expressed “concerns about the possibility of proselytization in the context of partnership working”.

Stephen also urged the government to encourage nationwide adoption of the Faith Covenant – a framework that reflects shared values to foster trust and promote effective collaboration. Interest in the Faith Covenant had continued to accelerate during the past year.

In his closing remarks, the Minister, Eddie Hughes, commended the response of faith communities to the pandemic and the findings of the Keeping the Faith report. He later endorsed the Faith Covenant saying “...such initiatives can help to encourage collaborations that bring about huge benefits for communities. I encourage all councils to look at the faith covenant and take up the challenge to work constructively with faith groups.”

Speaking after the debate, Stephen said: “I was encouraged by the Minister’s comments about the continued roll-out of the Covenant.

“We need our public institutions to be able to work confidently with people whose starting point is religious faith. This has not always happened in the past. This is a shame as many have experience of running very successful practical initiatives that support their local communities.”

Stephen urges Government to keep the £20 a week uplift and extend to legacy benefits

In a debate on the Social Security Uprating Order 2021 on Tuesday 9 December, an annual routine order uprating in line with inflation, Stephen urged the Government again to keep the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit and extend it to legacy benefits.

In his speech Stephen drew attention to a report from the Disability Benefits Consortium released this month which has found that 82% of disabled claimants have had to spend more money than they normally would during the pandemic.

It comes as the Work and Pensions Committee has today called in a new report for a year-long extension of the £20 a week increase ‘at the very least’. The report has argued that its removal in April while the pandemic still being felt would plunge hundreds of thousands of families into poverty.

Stephen said: "Removing the extra payment in March would represent a failure by Government – failure to recognise the reality of people struggling. Without regular support, hundreds of thousands of families will be swept into poverty or even destitution. Government must end the uncertainty and commit to extending this lifeline."

Stephen unites with Cancer Research UK for World Cancer Day

Stephen has showed his support for all those working to ensure more people survive their cancer during and after the pandemic at a virtual Cancer Research UK event to mark World Cancer Day.

Taking place on 4 February each year, World Cancer Day is an international initiative which inspires individuals and communities to unite against cancer. With the pandemic meaning in-person events aren’t possible, Stephen logged on to link up with Cancer Research UK to learn about the charity’s latest research and show his support for protecting cancer services at this crucial time.

Though survival has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK, there is still much more work to do – and the pressures of COVID-19 have had a huge impact on cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Stephen said: “Cancer unfortunately doesn’t stop during the pandemic, and events like this are an important reminder that, however tough things are right now, we all still have a part to play to beat the disease.

“We all want cancers to be caught as early as possible and the best outcomes possible for patients. It’s amazing to see the advances we have made, and I hope people in East Ham show their support however they can as we all work together to ensure our NHS can help those who need it most.”

Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least a decade. Among its calls to help patients and research, Cancer Research UK is urging the Government to use the forthcoming Budget to clarify how they will target funding announced last year to clear the cancer backlog.

Stephen urges support for international students left destitute by pandemic

In an Urgent Question brought by Paul Blomfield MP on Wednesday 3rd February about support for students in coronavirus, Stephen raised the plight of international students left destitute in the pandemic.

Many international students have been forced into hardship because of the pandemic, having lost jobs which they were using to support themselves. Newham Community Project in East Ham currently provides food to more than 1,700 international students living in East London every week. Aside from difficulties in affording food, many live in cramped, unsuitable accommodation whilst having to study online.

Stephen said: "Newham Community Project is doing superb work providing weekly food parcels. But who in authority has the duty of care for destitute overseas students?"

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.