Stephen calls for more funding for schools in East Ham

Earlier today Stephen wrote to the Chancellor demanding that more money be made available to local schools in East Ham.

A number of constituents contacted Stephen in advance of the Autumn Statement later this week. They cited research published by SchoolCuts, which show that 92 per cent of mainstream school face real term cuts from April. The data suggests that nearly 18,500 schools across the country will be unable to cope with the cost increases in 2024/2025 without making cuts to education provision.

In July, schools had been told to expect a 2.7 per cent funding increase per pupil. This has now been revised down to 1.9 per cent. For primary schools this means £45 less per pupil, whilst for secondary schools it is £55 less per pupil. The situation in East Ham is particularly concerning with 37 out of 37 schools facing cuts to funding next year.

Speaking about the research, Stephen said: "I am deeply concerned by these figures. Its a desperate situation that every school in East Ham will face real term funding cuts next year.

“Ministers need to re-consider the funding model for schools and provide much needed investment to ensure pupils get the best education possible.”

Stephen's committee calls for reform of cost of living support

Yesterday, the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which Stephen chairs, released its report on cost of living support payments. The report found that the payments were not enough and only offered recipients a short-term reprieve from hardship.

The Government introduced a package of measures to support vulnerable people through the cost of living crisis in 2023. The package included payments to those in receipt of certain benefits to help them face rising costs.

Stephen’s committee commissioned a survey of 2,000 recipients of cost of living support. They found that payments had not reached all low-income households and were often too little. Additional payments to disabled people, for example, amounted to only £150 despite many people with disabilities facing soaring energy bills to use assistive technologies. Families with children were also offered the same flat rate as childless couples.

The Committee did praise the Government for the speed it delivered the cost of living payments at. The payments were automatic, removing a key barrier to access for many recipients. However, the Committee recommended increasing Universal Credit in future to avoid the complexities and flaws of adding a new system.

“While the support payments have made an important impact in helping those most in need during these difficult times, the overall package has offered just a short-term reprieve for many, while others have slipped through the safety net altogether,” Stephen said.

“It is vital that the Government listens to those with every day experience of support payments so it learns important lessons should a new package of support be required in the future.”

Stephen speaks in the King's Speech debate

Yesterday, Stephen spoke in the debate on the King’s Speech delivered on Tuesday 7 November. Stephen criticised the Government for failing to bring forward promised reforms on pensions, welfare, and worker’s rights. He also criticised Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, for calling homelessness a “lifestyle choice” and protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign “hate marches”.

The King’s Speech, delivered on Tuesday 7 November, set out the Government’s plans for the new Parliamentary session. Following the speech, there are ten days of debate on the Government’s plans. MPs debated the topic “breaking down barriers to opportunity” yesterday, Wednesday 8 October.

Stephen spoke in yesterday’s debate. He criticised the Government for omitting any mention of several promised bills from the King’s Speech, saying he was “struck by omissions from the King’s Speech.”

The King’s Speech did not include an Employment Bill to clarify the status of so-called gig economy workers, despite it being promised in a review six years ago, nor did it include a Pensions Bill to introduce reforms promised by the Chancellor in his Mansion House Speech in July.

Stephen also challenged divisive comments made by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, about homeless people and pro-Palestine protests. Suella Braverman recently described homelessness as a "lifestyle choice” and called the protests “hate marches”.

“It is hard to understand how somebody holding such a crucial role in the government of this country can have no grasp of the harsh realities facing far too many people during the current crisis,” Stephen said of the Home Secretary’s comments on homelessness.

Challenging the Home Secretary’s comments about pro-Palestine marches, Stephen pointed out that the constituents he has spoken to “have no truck at all with the appalling massacre and hostage-taking by Hamas” and are “motivated by distress and compassion”. He concluded,“[The Home Secretary] has no right to impugn their motives so unfairly.”

Stephen challenges Suella Braverman's description of Palestine marches

On 30 October, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, described pro-Palestine marches as “hate marches”. Stephen twice spoke in Parliament today to challenge her comments.

Since the start of the conflict in Gaza, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has held weekly marches to protest for an end to the war. Last week, the Home Secretary characterised these marches as “hate marches”. Her comments have been widely condemned, including by Conservative MPs.

Stephen spoke in Parliament twice today to challenge her comments.

During a statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Stephen asked Andrew Mitchell, the Minister of State for Africa and Development, if he would distance himself from Suella Braverman’s comments, saying “constituents I’ve been talking to are decent, law-abiding citizens with no truck at all with Hamas, but horrified by the scenes they are seeing.”

Andrew Mitchell replied that “we are all responsible for what we say, and [the Home Secretary] said it in the way she did.”

Later, Stephen spoke in a debate on the King’s Speech. He criticised the Home Secretary again and asked her to apologise for her comments. Stephen stated that constituents he has spoken to are “motivated by distress and compassion” and that “[The Home Secretary] has no right to impugn their motives so unfairly.”

Stephen discusses employment disparities with Action for Race Equality

On Thursday 2 November, Stephen chaired a discussion on bridging the employment gap for young Black, Asian, and mixed heritage people. Speakers at the event included the Shadow Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP, the CEO of Action for Race Equality Jeremy Cooke OBE, and Tammy Fevrier, the Deputy Director for Youth and Skills at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Young Black men, aged between 16 and 24, are three times more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts, regardless of qualifications. A 2022 Youth Futures Foundation survey found that over a third of ethnic minority young people had experienced discrimination when applying for a job while 55% of Black young people feel employers underestimate their abilities because of their race.

Action for Race Equality used the event to launch its Positive Action Guide for London’s Chief Executives, which gives them clear steps to improve young ethnic minority employment opportunities in their companies. They also revealed key policy asks, including asking the Government to set a national target to close the unemployment disparity between young Black men and their counterparts from other races.

“I am delighted to have chaired such an important conversation,” Stephen said after the event. “It is important that we close the unemployment gap between young people of Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds and their white counterparts. Economic opportunity should be open to all.”

Stephen writes to the Chancellor about benefit uprating

Last week, Stephen wrote to Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, following reports that the Government is considering freezing working-age benefits. Stephen urged the Chancellor to uprate benefits in line with inflation, noting that benefits are already at historically low levels in real terms.

The basic rate of working-age benefits are usually increased (“uprated”) every April in line with the last September’s inflation rate. However, the Government is reportedly considering committing not to increase benefits next April.

Basic working-age benefits are already at historic lows. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that Universal Credit’s standard allowance is £66 per week too low for a couple to afford essentials like food, utilities, and toiletries. If the Government freezes benefits, the Resolution Foundation predicts that 400,000 more children will grow up in poverty as a working couple with two children would lose £1,241 per year in income.

As Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Stephen wrote to the Chancellor to urge him not to freeze working-age benefits, saying that “all working-age benefits… should be uprated consistently in line with inflation”. Stephen also called for a rise in the Local Housing Allowance, which limits the support that households can receive toward their rent, noting that “freezing housing support has forced households to become homeless, imposing very large costs on local authorities.”

The Government responds to Stephen's Committee's inquiry into its Plan for Jobs

On 18 October, the Government published its response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s inquiry into its Plan for Jobs. The Committee, which Stephen chairs, concluded its inquiry into the Government’s Plan for Jobs and employment support in July.

The Government responded positively to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s recommendation to pilot a person-centered approach to employment support, but rejected most of the Committee’s other recommendations.

The Department for Work and Pensions provides employment support, mostly through Jobcentre Plus, to help people who are unemployed and economically inactive back into work. There are several different schemes that aim to help different groups, including the Youth Offer for those aged 18-24 and the Work and Health Programme for people with disabilities.

Stephen’s Committee investigated the effectiveness of the DWP’s employment support programmes in the first half of 2023. While the inquiry praised certain programmes, like Kickstart, the Committee made multiple recommendations for improving the Government’s approach. These included greater transparency, integrating mental health support into Youth Hubs more widely, and introducing new schemes to tackle ageism and support older workers.

“I welcome that the Government has accepted one of our key recommendations to trial a person-centred Jobs Plus approach to employment support,” Stephen remarked. “But it is disappointing that the Government has rejected many of our other suggestions.”

“Effective help for people struggling to find and stay in work benefits individuals, employers and the wider economy so we will continue to press the Government to ensure the help on offer is effective.”  

Stephen visits Versus Arthritis at Labour Party Conference

During Labour Party Conference earlier this month, Stephen visited the Versus Arthritis stand to hear more about the impact of arthritis on his constituents and how Government policy can help them.

Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in people’s joints. Versus Arthritis - which is the UK’s largest anti-arthritis charity - estimates that there are over 10 million people in the UK suffering from arthritis. Arthritis causes pain and can reduce dexterity making everyday activities a struggle.

Versus Arthritis highlighted that over one million people are waiting for trauma and orthopaedic treatment because of NHS backlogs.

People with arthritis are also less likely to work than those without the condition - 34.9% of people with a musculoskeletal condition are economically inactive. Versus Arthritis are advocating for the Government to promote its Access to Work programme, which offers grants for specialist equipment to help people work. The Work and Pensions Committee, which Stephen chairs, has made similar recommendations in the past.

“I was delighted to meet with Versus Arthritis to discuss the challenges that people with arthritis face,” Stephen said. “I agree with them that the Government must do more to promote the Access to Work scheme to people with musculoskeletal diseases and, indeed, all people with disabilities.”

Stephen asks The Pensions Regulator for updates on Wilko's Pension Scheme

Last Wednesday, as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Stephen wrote to The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to confirm the steps it is taking to make sure the Wilko Group supports its pension scheme. Stephen has previously met TPR in September to discuss the impact of Wilko’s collapse on the members of its pension scheme.

Wilko entered administration in August 2023 following problems with its finances and supply chain. The collapse of the retail chain put 12,500 jobs at risk. As of April 2023, Wilko’s pension scheme also has 1,878 members: 1,062 of whom are deferred members and 816 are pensioners.

Wilko had previously struggled to fund its pension. Wilko was paying £8.8 million per year into its pension scheme to reduce its funding deficit. The collapse of Wilko puts those payments at risk.

In his letter, Stephen asked TPR if it would issue a contribution notice or financial support direction against the pension scheme. Either would require Wilko - which has relaunched as an online retailer since its collapse - to financially support its pension scheme with further payments. Stephen also asked TPR for details on the impact on its funding of the investment strategy, known as Liability Driven Investment (LDI), that the scheme had adopted.

Stephen asks about humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza

Yesterday, the Prime Minister delivered a statement to the House of Commons about Israel and Gaza. Stephen spoke in the discussion that followed to ask how the UK would ensure compliance with international law and how soon humanitarian assistance would reach civilians.

On Saturday 7 October, Hamas launched a series of attacks on Israeli citizens. Israel has since besieged Gaza and is - reportedly - planning a ground assault to remove Hamas and rescue its citizens taken hostage.

In his statement, the Prime Minister made clear that Israel must avoid harming civilians in its response. The Prime Minister also announced a £10 million of support for Palestinians, stating that the Palestinian people “are victims of Hamas too.”

Stephen has condemned the barbaric and appalling attacks by Hamas. Stephen emphasised that Israel’s response must be constrained by international humanitarian law. Following yesterday’s statement, Stephen asked the Prime Minister how the Government would monitor compliance with international law and how soon British aid would reach civilians in Gaza.

Stephen talks about poverty premiums with the Centre for Social Justice

During the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool last week, Stephen spoke on a panel about poverty premiums. The panel was sponsored by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) to explain what poverty premiums are and how a Labour Government could eliminate them.

Poverty premiums are the extra cost that people in poverty pay for essential products and services. For example, most people in poorer households pay for their electricity using a pre-payment meter, which costs more than paying via direct debit. The CSJ estimates that poorer households lose £478 per year on average due to poverty premiums.

Stephen spoke about the causes of poverty premiums - which include digital and financial exclusion - and proposed ways to address poverty premiums, such as better advertisement of social tariffs for broadband and utilities. The panel also included political editor of the Daily Express David Maddox, Matthew Greenwood of the CSJ, Tamara Dewhirst from Virgin Money, and Helen Milner OBE from the Good Things Foundation.

Stephen discusses the price of poverty with Islamic Relief

On Tuesday 10 October, Stephen spoke on the costs poverty has for UK society at a panel sponsored by Islamic Relief. The panel was part of the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool. Tufail Hussain, the director of Islamic Relief, Ali Gourley of FareShare UK, and Phil Gray of the Felix Project also spoke.

There are 14.4 million people - 22% of the UK population - living in relative poverty in the UK. Of these, 4.2 million are children and 8.1 million are working-age adults. Poverty fell during the last Labour Government - especially among pensioners 29% of whom were in poverty in 1997/98 but only 15% of whom were in poverty by 2010 - but has remained persistent at around 22% since 2010.

The panel, sponsored by Islamic Relief, discussed the costs that poverty has for society in everything from individual’s lost potential to increasing crime and reducing community cohesion. They also discussed routes to alleviating poverty, with Stephen particularly urging the Government to uprate benefits in line with inflation.

“We really need to spread this message and a recognition of just how heavy a price all of us are paying for living in a society where there is so much poverty and destitution,” Stephen said. “[We] need to make really big changes to turn that around for the future.”

Stephen speaks on barriers to employment at Labour Party Conference

Stephen spoke on the barriers to finding a job that the elderly, young people, and those with disability face at a panel sponsored by the Shaw Trust on Tuesday 10 October.

Though the UK has relatively high employment, there are particular demographics in UK society who struggle to find employment. Economic inactivity - when someone is neither employed nor looking for work - is high among people aged 16-24 (at 39.7%), people over 50 (at 26.8%), and those with a disability (at 42.3%). People with disabilities especially struggle to find jobs well adapted to them.

Stephen argued for several changes to support more people into work. He urged the Government to reform the Disability Confident Scheme - a scheme that accredits firms for how well they treat disabled employees - to focus on outcomes instead of process. A firm can presently achieve the highest accreditation without employing any disabled people! He also argued for a similar accreditation for elderly employment to lessen ageism.

Stephen also noted that the Government does have some good schemes for supporting people into work. However, these are poorly advertised - for example, few disabled people know about the Access to Work scheme that helps fund workplace adaptations - or closed to anyone not claiming benefits. Stephen suggested advertising these schemes more and opening them to everyone.

Stephen speaks against asbestos at Labour Party Conference

Last week, on Sunday 8 October, Stephen spoke on a panel about the dangers of asbestos and the need for a Government plan to remove it. The panel was sponsored by the Trade Union Congress at the Labour Party’s Annual Conference.

Asbestos-related diseases are the primary cause of workplace deaths in the UK, approximately 5,000 people die every year as a result of exposure to asbestos. The Work and Pensions Select Committee, which Stephen chairs, has urged the Government to set a 40-year deadline to remove asbestos from all non-domestic buildings and to create a central register of asbestos.

At the panel event, Stephen detailed his committee’s inquiry into the Government’s approach to managing asbestos. He argued that the Government should adopt the committee’s recommendations.

The panel was led by journalist Steve Boggan, who is instrumental in The Times’ Act Now on Asbestos campaign. Also on the panel were Imran Hussain MP, Shadow Minister for the New Deal for Working People, the General Secretary of the National Education Union Daniel Kebede, and Harminder Bains, a leading campaigner against asbestos.

Asbestos is a material that was widely used for fire resistance and insulation in buildings until it was banned in 1999. Asbestos fibres can cause several cancers including mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Stephen attends the opening of UCL East

University College London (UCL) launched the biggest expansion in their near 200-year history on Monday 18 September, opening a new UCL East campus in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Stephen was delighted to attend.

The new campus is spread across One Pool Street and Marshgate. It offers accommodation for 500+ students alongside multi-disciplinary research labs, fabrication workshops, lecture theates, a library, a shop, and a cafe. It is sustainable and open to the public, with exhibitions from local artists. It will offer new cross-disciplinary courses.

The new campus was opened by Olympic champion and UCL alumni Christine Ohuruogu MBE and the London Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries Justine Simons. Guests were treated to a tour of the new facilities after speeches by Christine and Dr Dania Posso and Peter Kanyike - two of the first students to study at UCL East.

“UCL’s investment in East London is a great sign of confidence in our area,” Stephen said after the event, “It was fascinating to see the facilities they have developed. I hope we will continue to see organisations like UCL invest in Newham.”

Stephen visits East Ham Care Centre

Last week, Stephen visited East Ham Care Centre to hear about the work of the Community Health Newham Team.

Stephen was shown around two of the site’s wards, Fothergill and Sally Sherman, and met many of the centre’s staff.

The visit began with an introductory talk by Ben Braithwaite, the centre’s Medical Director. Happy Khatun and Magg Mbelo then spoke with Stephen about person-centred occupational therapies before Ward Matron Chantal Riverie showed Stephen around the wards. Deputy Lead Nurse Tim Hunter also introduced Stephen to the Urgent Care Response team and Clinical Ade Adeosun introduced the District Nursing Team.

Speaking after the visit, Stephen said, “It was a privilege to recently visit the East Ham Care Centre in my constituency, to learn more about the wonderful care staff provide for service users. The community care services in Newham are vital in ensuring service users are continuing to be supported throughout their complex needs, and I would like to thank staff for their unwavering dedication.” 

Stephen asks about asbestos in schools

The Government has partially or fully shut over a hundred English schools after identifying concrete in them that had passed its safe life. On Wednesday 6 September, Stephen raised the risks of asbestos exposure as schools attempt to remove the concrete.

The Government closed 104 schools after three incidents of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) collapsing over summer forced Ministers to reconsider the safety of school buildings. Schools will be partially or fully shut so that remediation works can be carried out. However, this has raised fears that remediation works will expose asbestos.

Irwin Mitchell estimates that 4,533 public buildings have asbestos, a quarter of which are schools. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause cancers such as mesothelioma. Asbestos-related illnesses cause 5,000 deaths per year in the UK, making them the leading cause of workplace-related deaths.

Stephen has campaigned for the Government to act on asbestos for over a year, since the Work and Pensions Select Committee - which Stephen chairs - published an inquiry into asbestos in April 2022.

During the debate on 6 September, Stephen again urged the Government to act on asbestos, saying, “at the current rate of progress, it will take 350 years to remove all the asbestos from schools. Does she agree that the Department must get a move on?”

Stephen argues for reforms to health assessments for disability benefits

On Monday 4 September, Stephen spoke in a debate on how claimants are assessed for disability benefits. Stephen argued for several reforms to improve the system, based on his Select Committee’s inquiry.

People with a disability that makes them unable to work must pass a work capability assessment (WCA) to access Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and equivalent Universal Credit elements. People with a disability who are able to work must similarly pass an assessment to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which help cover the costs of their disability.

However, the current system is flawed. Many claimants find the process demeaning and a large number of decisions by assessors are overturned on appeal - in 2019/20, 77% of all decisions were overturned at appeal. When a claimants turns 16, they are required to switch from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP, undergoing a full face-to-face assessment despite already receiving a disability benefit.

Stephen spoke to all these flaws in his speech. As Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Stephen also suggested several reforms based on his committee’s inquiry. Stephen recommended the Government allow claimants to have their assessment recorded, allow claimants to remain on DLA until they are 18, and give claimants more time to complete their application forms.

“The Government has recognised the need to transform the system,” Stephen said, “[but] we need to take further action, given the gravity of the problems that we have already heard about in the debate.”

Stephen calls for urgent action for terminally ill patients at home

Stephen has written to the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, on behalf of those with terminal illnesses who are facing steep bills during the current cost of living crisis. 

In the last few weeks, Stephen has been contacted by a number of constituents, who are terminally ill. They have raised concerns about running at-home medical equipment.  Many pointed Stephen towards a recent report published by Marie Curie. It found that running a hospital bed could push energy bills up 7% above the average household. A ventilator can also increase bills by 21% and an oxygen concentrator by 38%. 

In most cases, there is no support available for these additional costs. Some rebate schemes are available, but access to these can vary between NHS Trusts. 

In his letter, Stephen asked that the government look at helping terminally ill people cover their ever-rising energy costs. He noted that, without such help, patients with terminal illnesses risk further need for treatment. 

Having sent the letter, Stephen said “I am concerned that a number of my constituents in East Ham are unable to afford their energy bills because of having to run medical equipment.

“Ministers need to take urgent action to address this problem and devise a new approach to protect vulnerable patients who receive treatment at home.”

Stephen launches inquiry in Norton pension schemes

The Work and Pensions Committee, which Stephen chairs, is to look at the lessons that can be learned from the experience of the collapse of the Norton pension schemes with the aim of ensuring members of collapsed pension schemes are better protected and supported in the future.

The assets in the Norton pension schemes were invested in the Norton Motorcycle Holdings Ltd which went into administration in 2020. The sole trustee of the schemes, Stuart Garner, who was given a suspended jail sentence in March last year, was also the sole director of the company.

Whistleblowers raised concerns with the Pensions Regulator in 2013 and independent trustees were appointed in 2019. The inquiry will consider the Pensions Regulator’s approach to preventing loss of pension assets through fraud or dishonesty and whether there is scope to speed up the process of assessing eligibility for compensation and making payments. It will also examine the role played by bodies such as independent trustees, the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Regulator, the Pension Protection Fund (in its role as administrator of the Fraud Compensation Fund).

Speaking about the inquiry, Stephen said: “The collapse of the Norton pension schemes has caused a huge amount of worry and financial hardship for the members, who fear they have lost their pensions and have been left in limbo when it comes to whether they will receive any compensation at all.

“Our inquiry will look at the lessons that can be learned from this experience to ensure the right regulatory arrangements are in place both to protect pension rights better and ensure compensation is paid promptly when things go wrong.”

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