Stephen presses Government on changes to the asylum system

On Monday 19 July, Stephen spoke in the debate following the Second Reading of the Nationality and Borders Bill.

Earlier in the year, the Government announced several proposed changes to the UK’s asylum system including differentiated treatment based on how an asylum seeker arrives in the UK, harsher sentences, and plans to hold asylum seekers in offshore hubs. The Government has introduced the Nationality and Borders Bill to implement these proposals.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen urged MPs to vote against the Bill, arguing that it fails to fix the “broken system.” He spoke out against the Government’s plans to judge asylum cases based on the applicants’ routes to the UK and to process claims overseas.

Stephen also raised the increasing number of asylum processing delays in the Home Office, where the number of people waiting over a year for a decision has risen tenfold since 2010. He said “the current gross inefficiency helps nobody. I hope the House will reject this Bill.”

You can watch Stephen’s speech below.

Stephen writes to Health Secretary about NHS reforms

Stephen has written to the new Health Secretary, Sajiid Javid, outlining a number of concerns about the the Health and Care Bill which passed its second reading in the House of Commons last week.

The Health and Care Bill is part of the government’s NHS long-term plan. It aims to expand the powers of the Secretary of State and establishes the Health Services Safety Investigation Body. Critics have argued that the changes will erode local accountability for NHS services and give major contracts to the private sector, without adequate scrutiny. 

In the last week a number of constituents have contacted Stephen arguing that now is not the time to embark on a major NHS reorganisation,. They note that staff are demoralised and exhausted from the pandemic. In his letter, Stephen expressed his worry that scrapping the local authority obligation to carry out a social care needs assessment before discharge will leave vulnerable patients at risk. He also raised concerns that the bill will allow contracts to be awarded to unaccountable private healthcare providers.

Having sent the letter, Stephen said “The NHS and its staff have been vital during the pandemic. Now is not the time to force through damaging changes that make their work more difficult, and reduce the quality of care for patients and their families.”

Stephen leads debate on alternative student finance

Stephen has pressed the Universities Minister on why the Government is yet to follow through on its promise to deliver a sharia-compliant student loan system.

In an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, Stephen set out how little progress had been made since David Cameron made a pledge in 2013 to introduce an alternative model of student finance for Muslim students since then. This was despite a government consultation in 2014, which found:

• 94% of the respondents believed there would be demand for a sharia-compliant loan.

• 81% believed that the model proposed was acceptable.

Stephen highlighted the impact the delay has had on the British Muslim community. Many Muslims were – and still are – effected by interest-bearing loans. Despite wanting to attend university, many students are choosing between their faith and their education.

Stephen urged the Minister, Michelle Donelan, to introduce a sharia-compliant model in time for the 2022-2023 academic year. Although she did commit to this, she did offer Stephen a meeting to discuss the matter further.

Speaking after the debate, Stephen said: “I am pleased the Minister agreed to meet m. I hope I can persuade her to keep the promise her government made eight years ago.”

Stephen speaks at launch event for report on assistive technology

Today, Stephen spoke at the launch of the APPG on Assistive Technology’s report, Talent and Technology.

Assistive technology includes devices and systems that help individuals with disabilities to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. A great deal of assistive technologies are already present in commonly used software, such as Microsoft Word, but they also exist in mobile devices, such as scanning pens.

The report, which was commissioned by both the APPG and thinktank Policy Connect, explores the current systems of provision for helping disabled people access technology in the workplace. It found that, whilst 82% of online advertised roles in the UK require a certain level of digital skill, only 38% of people with a physical impairment meet this requirement. Talent and Technology argues that the Government needs to be more ambitious in delivering a framework that guarantees access for disabled people.

In welcoming the recommendations of the report, Stephen spoke about the importance of assistive technology in tackling digital barriers to work. He also spoke about his work as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which published a report last month on the DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work. The Committee have discovered a concerning lack of data about the pace of accessible technology adoption by employers in the UK and has urged the Government to develop a strategy in response to the impact of new technology on jobs.

Speaking at the event, Stephen said “we need to work with disabled people for an inclusive society, where no one is held back from fulfilling their potential and realising their aspirations. Government needs to recognise that digital access is a key enabler to employment and needs to work hard so that disabled people can access and use technology. I applaud the work of this APPG and welcome the support of Policy Connect in compiling the report.”

Stephen opposes foreign aid cuts

On Tuesday in the House of Commons, Stephen urged MPs to vote against Government cuts to international aid.

MPs debated a motion to reduce overseas aid spending from the legally binding target of 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5%. Stephen argued against the cuts, drawing on the work of the Christian charity Compassion UK and their Child Survival Programme. With the help of UK aid, this programme has supported over 4,000 people in extreme poverty.

Speaking in the debate, Stephen said “even a small amount of aid saves lives. The cuts to UK aid put thousands of projects, like those run by Compassion UK…at risk.”

After the debate, MPs backed the bill to reduce international aid by around £4.4 billion by 333 votes to 298, making the UK the only G7 nation to cut its aid budget this year.

You can watch Stephen’s speech below.

Stephen questions the Prime Minister on Universal Credit cuts

On Wednesday 7 July, the Prime Minister appeared at the Liaison Committee to answer questions from Committee chairs. Stephen, who is chair of the Select Committee for Work and Pensions, pressed him on Government plans to cut Universal Credit.

Earlier that day, the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions - Thérèse Coffey - confirmed to the Select Committee that the Government were continuing with plans to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week in September. This means six million families are set to lose £1,000 a year.

At the Liaison Committee, Stephen asked Boris Johnson to respond to the Committee’s recommendation to scrap the cut. He also explained that all six of the former Conservative Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions since 2010 have made the same call. The Prime Minister responded by saying “the emphasis has got to be on getting people into work.” He did, however, assure Stephen he would keep this issue under review.

You can watch a clip of Stephen’s question below, as well as his other questions to the Prime Minister around online scams.

Stephen presses Education Secretary on free school meals

On 30 June, during an urgent question to the Department for Education, Stephen raised with the Minister the possibility of children missing out on food support during the holidays due to pandemic restrictions.

Data released by the Department for Education has shown that around 5.1% of all pupils in state-funded schools did not attend class for Covid-19 related reasons last week – a total of 375,000 children. This increased from 3.3% on 17 June and 1.2% on 10 June.

Many are worried that this will continue into the summer, preventing children from accessing activity programmes and free school meals over the holidays.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, “can the Secretary of State give an assurance that, whatever happens, children who are entitled to access food support over the summer will still be able to do that?”

In his response, Gavin Williamson said the Government will look to ensure that funding is made available to local authorities so that they can continue to provide free school meals.

You can watch the full clip below.

Stephen speaks in Parliament on building safety

On 29 June, Stephen spoke in the Building Safety debate in the House of Commons. He raised the plight of leaseholders in housing affected by cladding and other fire safety defects.

Nearly four years after the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017, around 700,000 people are still living in high-rise blocks with flammable cladding. Leaseholders in blocks with combustible cladding and other dangerous materials have experienced problems in selling their homes and many have been expected to pay for interim fire safety measures.

In his speech, Stephen explained how the problem is rooted in the Conservative party’s deregulation agenda and the failure of big housebuilders. He referenced David Cameron, the former Conservative Primer Minister, who - in 2012 - made it his “new year’s resolution to kill off the health and safety culture for good” to demonstrate the urgent need to tighten up regulation in this area. In his concluding remarks, Stephen said “Government must now finally side with leaseholders and would-be home owners and take on, not the building products industry, but the house builders.”

You can watch the full clip of Stephen’s speech below.

Stephen presses Government to maintain £20 Universal Credit uplift

On 28 June, Stephen urged the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions to commit to supporting those most affected by Covid-19 past the cut off date this Autumn.

In the Government’s 2021 Budget, delivered on 3 March, the Chancellor announced that Universal Credit will be reduced by £20 a week from the end of September. If the reduction goes ahead, it will cost six million families an estimated £1,000 a year.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen explained the impact this will have on households across the country, including those with children. Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that the cut will pull 400,000 people below the poverty line.

Stephen asked the Minister, Will Quince, “what assessment will he make of the impact of that cut on child poverty, before the cut goes ahead?” In his response, Will Quince said “it is our expectation that this additional financial support and other direct Covid support will end once our economy has opened.”

You can watch Stephen’s full contribution below.

Stephen calls on government to deliver on promises to Muslim students

Last week, Stephen tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons. It called on the government to introduce a Sharia-compliant funding system for Muslim students.

The former Prime Minister David Cameron told the World Islamic Economic Forum in 2013 that he would introduce an alternative student finance scheme for Muslims wanting to go into Higher Education. A government consultation, which concluded the following year, suggested that a Takaful fund be put in place. Despite its commitment, the government has not taken any action.

A number of Muslim students in the UK cannot access higher education because they are unable to take on interest from traditional student loans. The proposed “Takaful” fund would not be interest based, but would result in identical repayments to the current student loan system.

Stephen, who is keen that a new system be put in place prior to the 2022-23 academic year, said: “The traditional finance system is unfair on some Muslim students as they are prohibited from taking on interest-based loans to fund their tuition fees.

“Our education system must provide equal opportunities for all students. I hope my Early Day Motion will help persuade the government to act on their promise.”

To read the Early Day Motion, click here. You can also read a letter Stephen wrote to the Education Secretary about this here.

Stephen attends the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast

On 25 June, Stephen met with local church leaders in his constituency to watch the breakfast, which was streamed online.

Usually, over 700 parliamentarians and church leaders meet in Westminster for the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast. Whilst this was not possible this year, over 3,500 people were able to join in online.

The breakfast focused on life beyond Covid-19 and included prayers and words of encouragement from various parliamentarians. There was also a time of worship and Rt Revd Prof NT Wright spoke on renewed hope as the nation recovers from the pandemic. MPs and leaders paid tribute to the work of churches and charities throughout lockdown, such as Christians Against Poverty.

Stephen met with local leaders to take part in the breakfast at Manor Park Christian Centre. After the screening, the group discussed ways they could work together to serve the needs of the local people.

Speaking after the breakfast, Stephen said “David and Jean Foster at Manor Park Christian Centre made us very welcome this morning.  I enjoyed meeting local church leaders to celebrate the important role that Christian faith plays in communities across the UK. Churches – alongside other faith groups – have stepped up throughout the pandemic to serve their communities. They have been a lifeline for many in East Ham.

The huge interest in the breakfast this morning reflects appreciation for churches’ responses to Covid-19. I look forward to working with local faith groups in the future as we plan for recovery.”

Stephen presses the Prime Minister on climate action

Today in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Prime Minister to ensure COP26 tackles the devastation of the climate crisis in vulnerable countries.

Stephen’s question followed the Prime Minister’s statement on the G7 summit, in which world leaders met in the UK. Stephen highlighted concerns over the G7 failing to commit to greater spending on climate action. He pointed to the COP26 summit - the annual UN climate change conference, which will also be held in the UK this November - and pressed Boris Johnson to use this as an opportunity to help the countries most affected by the climate crisis. These adverse impacts include wildfires, severe flooding and devastating draughts across the world.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen asked “what steps will the Prime Minister take between now and COP26 to ensure that summit does deal effectively with the challenge of loss and damage in the countries most at risk?” Boris Johnson responded by saying “we will continue with our efforts” and added that he thought the G7 was a success.

You can watch the full clip of Stephen’s contribution here.

Stephen urges Government to protect workers rights

On Tuesday 8 June, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets gave a statement to the House of Commons on employment rights. Stephen spoke in the following debate about workers in the gig economy.

Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers must be treated as workers rather than self-employed, making them entitled to basic rights such as the national minimum wage and holiday pay. The Government have said that the courts are independent and that it will not intervene in their rulings.

In the debate in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Minister – Paul Scully – when the Government is likely to bring forward the “long promised” Employment Bill, so that legislation can be implemented to provide security to all workers. The Minister responded: “the Employment Bill will come forward when Parliamentary time allows.”

Speaking after the debate, Stephen said “the Supreme Court’s ruling was a victory for working people and testament to the hard work of the GMB union. However, the Government should not leave it to workers to fight for their basic rights through the courts.

I hope the Government brings forward the Employment Bill urgently, to ensure protection for the millions of people in the gig economy in insecure work.”

You can watch Stephen’s full contribution below.

Stephen calls for action on inpatient care units

Stephen has written to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, asking why the government has failed in publishing its action plan to transform care.

Ten years ago, undercover filming by BBC Panorama exposed horrific abuse at Winterbourne View hospital, an ‘assessment and treatment unit’ near Bristol. Patients with a learning disability and/or autism were repeatedly pinned down, slapped and taunted by staff. Four people were arrested and a further 13 employees were suspended. The hospital was later closed.

After the abuse was exposed, the government said hospitals were not homes and promised to “transform care”. Ministers said people placed inappropriately in inpatient units should move out of these settings and get the right support in the community. In his letter to the Prime Minsiter, Stephen noted that little has – seemingly – changed. According to statistics from the charity Mencap, there are currently over 2,000 people with a learning disability locked away in inpatient units. 355 of these have been there for ten years or more.

Speaking about his letter Stephen said “The in-patient model of care is inappropriate. It is deeply troubling that so many vulnerable people are still at risk of chemical and physical restraint and being kept in solitary confinement, often many miles from their families. The government must now publish its cross-government action plan on impatient units, and must do so without delay.”

Stephen attends event on child food poverty in East Ham

Stephen met with End Child Poverty to discuss the rate of child food poverty in his constituency and hear from young people about their experiences.

End Child Poverty is a coalition of organisations, charities and local groups, campaigning together for a UK free of child poverty. Their recent publication of the latest estimates of child poverty after housing costs found that 20,173 children in East Ham are in poverty. As a whole the figures show the growing scale of child poverty across the UK, even before the pandemic hit.

Speaking after the event, Stephen said: “It is deeply troubling that 50% of children in East Ham are in poverty.

I applaud the tireless efforts of local faith groups, community organisations and charities to meet the needs of hungry families in the borough. They have been a lifeline for many throughout the pandemic.

However, if we are to live in a society where every child has the chance to succeed, we need to see greater commitment from the Government. Ministers must make their plans for ‘levelling up’ a reality by urgently introducing a credible plan to end child poverty.”

Stephen meets students at Oasis Academy Silvertown

Stephen virtually met with Oasis Academy Silvertown for a Q&A workshop about his role as the Member of Parliament for East Ham.

The group consisted of three year eight classes at Oasis. They asked questions such as “how did you become an MP?” and “do you like your job?” Stephen described his journey to becoming an MP and the work he does in both East Ham and Parliament.

During the session, the students also raised questions on issues such as crime and the environment. Stephen expressed his concerns on these important matters and explained his plans to tackle local violence and climate change.

Speaking after the workshop, Stephen said “I enjoyed meeting with the students of Oasis Academy Silvertown and answering their questions. They are clearly enthusiastic about politics and social issues in Newham. I thank them for their interest and look forward to visiting the school soon.”

Stephen speaks in child food poverty debate

On Monday 24 May, MPs debated Marcus Rashford MBE’s petition on ending child food poverty, which received over 1 million signatures. It calls on the Government to support vulnerable children by widening access to free school meals, stopping holiday hunger and expanding the Healthy Start scheme.

In the Westminster Hall debate, Stephen highlighted evidence given to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which he chairs, demonstrating the sharp rise in relative child hunger. The Committee’s inquiry into children in poverty has already found that food bank usage has doubled during the pandemic and that 18% of schools have started their own food bank since the first lockdown.

Stephen also raised the plight of families with No Recourse to Public Funds and highlighted the urgent need to ensure children affected by this condition do not go hungry. He welcomed the Government’s decision to expand free school meals to children from families with No Recourse to Public Funds and urged the Minister to make this change permanent.

Speaking at the debate, Stephen said “we need a clear Government focus on tackling this growing problem of child poverty. Extension of free school meals at the start of the pandemic for families with No Recourse to Public Funds was exactly the right thing to do. I hope that will be made permanent.”

Stephen meets students at Dersingham Primary School

Dersingham students virtually met with Stephen for a lively Q&A session about his work in Parliament and the local area.

The students, aged 7 to 10, form the school’s cabinet. Stephen congratulated them on their appointments. They asked questions such as “how many meetings do you have in the House of Commons?” and “what are the future plans for London?” They spoke about the history of Dersingham school and Stephen revealed he had first visited in 1979 – and countless times since.

The school cabinet also announced their plans to plant more trees in their local area and introduce more recycling bins in their classrooms.

Speaking after the Q&A, Stephen said “I very much enjoyed answering the students’ questions and hearing about their excellent plans to plant more trees and encourage recycling in their school. I thank them for the work they are doing on behalf of their fellow pupils and look forward to visiting Dersingham Primary School this summer to see the changes their cabinet have put in place.”

Stephen urges Government to tackle online scams

Stephen spoke in the House of Commons on Monday 17 May and pressed the Government to include protection against harmful scams in the Online Safety Bill.

A new version of the Online Safety Bill was introduced in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May. Whilst the Bill seeks to combat online fraud through user-generated content, it does not address scams through advertising, emails or cloned websites. This includes ads on Google or social media, such as fake investment opportunities.

In the debate, Stephen raised the case of a recently bereaved woman, who was scammed out of £200,000 after finding a fake site on Google in September. Google had been alerted of the fake site the previous May, but failed to remove it. The omission of legislation against online investment fraud in the Online Safety Bill means that cases like this are likely to reoccur.

Stephen said, “in letting crooks and scammers continue to ruin people’s lives, Ministers are being abjectly soft on this appalling crime. They could still do the right thing and legislate in this Bill. I urge them to do so.”

Stephen calls on Government to support families with no recourse to public funds

On Monday 17 May, Stephen urged the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Work and Pensions to provide further support for those with no recourse to public funds, as we approach the end of the Job Retention Scheme.

No recourse to public funds is a condition that applies to most migrants granted limited leave in the UK. It prevents people from accessing the majority of benefits like Universal Credit. The pandemic has been particularly difficult for families with this condition, as many have lost hours or income. Some have been eligible for furlough, which has been a lifeline for many.

However, the Job Retention Scheme is due to end this September. Many of those who have been able to benefit from furlough are worried about how they will be able to stay afloat when the scheme ends.

At the Department for Work and Pensions Oral Questions in the House of Commons, Stephen shed light on the difficult situation many families with no recourse to public funds will face as the Job Retention Scheme comes to a close. He asked the Minister, Will Quince, to lay out plans for how these families will be supported come the winter. Will Quince acknowledged that the Government were restricted by what they can do to help those with no-recourse condition on their visas. He did, however, assure Stephen that he would raise it with the Immigration Minister

Speaking in the House of Commons, Stephen said “Hard-working, law-abiding families without Indefinite Leave to Remain haven’t had as much support as others during the Covid-19 outbreak because of the no recourse to public funds condition.

Some of those families have been able to benefit from the Job Retention Scheme, so how will they be supported after that scheme closes in September?”