Stephen questions the Government about its treatment of disabled benefit claimants

Today in Parliament, 23 May, Stephen questioned the Government about its treatment of disabled benefit claimants, after the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched an investigation into the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) yesterday.

The EHRC is the UK’s independent human right’s regulator. Yesterday, it launched an investigation into the DWP over suspicions that the Government had broken equality law by failing to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people with learning disabilities and long-term mental health conditions during health assessments.

The EHRC first began investigating the DWP in 2021. It initially tried to sign a legally binding agreement with the DWP to address its concerns. However, negotiations to bring about an agreement failed, leading to yesterday’s announcement.

Stephen questioned the Government about the investigation and the negotiations. He pointed out that, now the negotiations had ended, the Government is free to share information about the negotiations.

“Confidence of disabled people in the department is at a terribly, terribly low ebb,” Stephen said. “At the very least, we need some explanation of the department’s view of why it has not been possible to reach an agreement [with the EHRC].”

Stephen urges the Government to bring forward proposals on WASPI compensation

Last week, Thursday 16 May, Stephen spoke in a parliamentary debate about the Parliament Health and Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) investigation into the increase in the women’s State Pension Age. He called on the Government to bring forward proposals for a compensation scheme before summer.

In 1995, the Government legislated to equalise the State Pension age for men and women by increasing the State Pension age for women born in the 1950s from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. However, many women were unaware of the change - only 43% of women reported knowing of it in 2004 - leading to them suffering financial hardship.

The Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman (PHSO) conclused its investigation into the women’s State Pension age on 21 March 2024. The investigation found maladministration in how the Department for Work and Pensions had managed the change.

In particular, the PHSO decided that the DWP failed to provide targeted and tailored information to ensure women were aware of how the increase would impact them. The PHSO called for the Government to compensate affected women.

Stephen spoke in a debate on the PHSO’s investigation last week, following his committee’s one-off hearing about the report on 7 May. He reflected on his own experience as Pensions Minister in the last Labour Government and argued for the Government to bring forward proposals for compensation.

“We need to find a resolution to this issue, and to find it quite quickly, because it has dragged on for a very long time,” Stephen said.

Stephen visits the Isaac Newton Institute at the University of Cambridge

On Thursday 9 May, Stephen visited the Isaac Newton Institute at the University of Cambridge to learn about their research and work promoting mathematical sciences.

The Isaac Newton Institute was founded in 1992 to be an international hub for mathematical sciences. The institute attracts leading researchers as well as running workshops, one-off events, and long and short thematic programmes.

Stephen visited the institute to learn more about their work to support the mathematical sciences throughout the UK.

Speaking after his visit, Stephen said, “I am delighted to have visited the Isaac Newton Institute. The mathematical sciences are key to understanding our world better and, of course, they benefit the UK’s economy too! I am grateful for all the work the Isaac Newton Institute does to promote its research.”

Stephen's committee calls for the Government to tackle Carer's Allowance overpayments urgently

Last week, the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which Stephen chairs, called on the Government to improve how it monitors and communicates Carer’s Allowance overpayments, as unpaid carer’s are being forced to repay the DWP £250 million.

Carer’s allowance is a benefit given by the Government to people unable to work due to caring responsibilities. People who care for someone for at least 35 hours per week can receive £81.90 per week.

However, there is a strict earning’s limit on Carer’s Allowance that prevents anyone earning over £151 per week from receiving it. People who earn above the limit while claiming Carer’s Allowance must repay the difference.

Stephen’s committee found that many carer’s unwittingly earn above the limit - for example, due to uncertain working hours. The DWP often fails to alert carer’s that they have been overpaid, meaning they accrue large debts to the Government without realising. In 2022/23, 7,300 carer’s were repaying debts of over £2,000.

Stephen wrote to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride, on 15 May to urge him to improve the Government’s systems for preventing overpayments.

Speaking as chair of the committee, Stephen said, “the Government has known for years about flaws that have plagued the payments system for Carer’s Allowance but has just allowed many unpaid carers to unwittingly rack up unmanageable levels of debt.”

“The DWP must now move without delay to get a grip of the problem and ensure carers are no longer subjected to the distress that such overpayments can cause.”

Stephen supports Alzheimer's Society during Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action Week 2024 was last week, 13 to 19 May. Stephen joined a drop in hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society in Parliament to support the charity’s call for action to improve dementia diagnosis.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and a third of people born today will develop the condition. Though almost one million people in the UK have dementia, a one-in-three have not been diagnosed.

At the drop-in, Stephen learned about the importance of a dementia diagnosis in giving people the care and support they need, as well as helping them plan for the future. Early and accurate diagnosis also helps identify people eligible for potential disease-modifying treatments.

The Alzheimer’s Sociey is calling for new dementia diagnosis rate targets, action to address regional variation in diagnosis rates, and investment into the workforce and equipment needed.

“Too many people are missing out on a vital early dementia diagnosis,” Stephen said. “I am grateful the Alzheimer’s Society is bringing attention to this issue. The Government must do better.”

If you’re worried about yourself, or someone close to you, then check your symptoms today using Alzheimer’s Society’s symptom checklist.  Visit alzheimers.org.uk/checklist or call the Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.

Stephen raises awareness of local Big Help Out opportunities

Last Tuesday, 14 May, Stephen attended a parliamentary drop-in to learn more about the Big Help Out, which is taking place between 7 and 9 June.

The Big Help Out is the biggest mass volunteering event of the year, encouraging millions of people across the UK to give their time to support local community groups. Any organisation or individual can join or register an event on the Big Help Out platform.

Last Tuesday, Asda and the /together coalition hosted an event in parliament to raise awareness about the Big Help Out. Asda’s 390 community champions are organising many of the events. Devina Ruchaya is the community champion at the Asda in Beckton - she is on the left in the picture below. Asda plans to hold 350 litter picks and run local food drives from 17 to 19 May.

“I am grateful to the /together coalition and Asda for supporting the Big Help Out,” Stephen said. “I hope everyone in East Ham uses this opportunity to help out in our local community.”

Stephen with Asda community champions. Devina Ruchaya, the community champion for Asda Beckton, is on the left.

Stephen speaks in favour of free school meals

Yesterday, Tuesday 7 May, Parliament debated the provision of free school meals. Stephen spoke in the debate to advocate for using free school meals to help reduce child poverty.

Free school meals are only available nationally to children from households who earn less than £7,400 per year and receive certain benefits, such as universal credit. In London, however, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has provided free school meals to all children in primary schools since February 2023.

On Tuesday 7 May, MPs debated the provision of free school meals in the UK. Stephen argued that free school meals are a vital for tackling child poverty. In 2022/23, child poverty was at its highest since 1998/99. 4.3 million children were in relative poverty after housing costs, and 23.4% of children were in moderately or severely food insecure households according to the Food Foundation.

Stephen also noted that Newham was among the first local authorities to introduce free school meals, as part of a pilot programme in 2009. “The assessment of the pilot showed that it led to improvements in classroom behaviour, concentration and attainment,” he said.

“Free school meals help alleviate poverty and improve children’s health and educational attainment. Let us use this lever much more widely to tackle the scourge of child poverty.”

Stephen tells ministers to fix overpayments of carer's allowance on BBC's Money Box

On Saturday 27 April, Stephen spoke to Money Box on BBC Radio 4 about the Government fining carers who are unwittingly overpaid carer’s allowance. Stephen urged the Government to raise the limit and to notify carers when they breach it.

People who care for someone for at least 35 hours per week can receive £81.90 per week in carer’s allowance so long as they do not earn over £151 per week. However, The Guardian this week revealed that over 156,000 carers are being fined by the Department for Work and Pensions for unwittingly earning above the £151 limit.

Speaking to Money Box on BBC Radio 4, Stephen highlighted that the Department for Work and Pensions is often notified when someone breaches the £151 per week limit, through its Real Time Information system, but leaves carers to incur the debt without warning them. In dozens of cases, carers have built up debts worth over £20,000.

“The Government policy is to encourage carers into work but this system and this danger of overpayments makes it very risky to be working while claiming carer’s allowance,” Stephen said.

“[The Government should] uprate the carer’s allowance earnings limit in line with the national living wage, so someone claiming carer’s allowance in a fixed hours minimum wage job wouldn’t be pushed over the earning limit just earning a living wage.”

Stephen welcomes the Buckland Review into Autism and Employment

On Thursday 24 April, Parliament debated The Buckland Review into Autism and Employment. Stephen welcomed the review and many of its findings while urging the Government to go further in helping people with autism into work.

People with autism have one of the lowest rates of employment of any group in the UK. Only three-in-ten autistic people wanting to work are in employment. This is despite the enormous contribution that people with autism can make - some statistics show autistic people can be between 45% and 145% more productive in the workplace.

The Buckland Review of Autism and Employment, led by Sir Robet Buckland KC MP, was released on 28 February. The Review investigated how the Government could boost the number of autistic people in work, make workplaces more friendly to them, and better harness their skills.

Parliament debated The Buckland Review into Autism and Employment on Thursday 24 April. Stephen spoke in the debate.

While welcoming the Review and its conclusions, Stephen urged the Government to go further, by aiming to increase the employment rate of people with autism to the employment rate of people with disabilities. He also pointed out flaws in Government programmes - like Disability Confident - that undermine the Government’s attempts to help autistic people in the workplace.

“The report rightly highlights the huge size of the autism employment gap,” Stephen said. “But, my fear is that a lack of ambition has regrettably marked the Government’s efforts on disability employment for some time.”

“As [Sir Robert Buckland] spells out with passion in his foreword, at the moment, we are ‘missing out on the skills and energy that autistic people could be contributing, to the detriment of us all.’”

Stephen urges the Government to reform carer's allowance

On Monday, Stephen spoke in a debate about Carer’s Allowance in Parliament, urging the Government to reform it.

On Monday 22 April, MPs debated e-petition 640062 that calls for Carer’s Allowance to be increased to match the earnings of someone working 35 hours per week at the minimum wage. The petition received 13,914 signatures. Stephen spoke in the debate.

Stephen noted that the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which he chairs, called for an overhaul of carer’s allowance as far back as 2008. He noted that his committee is still waiting for the Government to release a report on Carer’s Allowance that it promised in 2019.

Stephen urged the Government to consider increasing Carer’s Allowance, pointing out that it is £10 per week less than Jobseeker’s Allowance. He also argued that the earnings limit - which prevents anyone earning more than £151 from receiving Carer’s Allowance - prevents many carers from working.

“For the best part of two decades now the Work and Pensions Committee and its predecessors have been calling on the Government to reform carer’s allowance,” Stephen said. “Challenges raised in [the 2008] report remain unaddressed 16 years later.”

Carer’s allowance is a benefit given by the Government to people unable to work due to caring responsibilities. People who care for someone for at least 35 hours per week can receive £81.90 per week.

Stephen argues against increasing minimum income requirements on family visas

Last year, the Government announced plans to increase the minimum income requirement on visas for people bringing their spouses into the UK to £38,700 by 2025. Stephen argued against this increase on Tuesday 23 April in Parliament.

The Government plans to raise the minimum amount a person must earn to get a visa for their family to £38,700 by 2025. On Tuesday 23 April, MPs hosted a debate about the increase in Westminster Hall. Stephen joined the debate to speak against the change.

In his speech, Stephen pointed out that 70% of UK citizens would not meet the new requirement. He noted that the Government’s own data shows family visas were only 5% of total entry visas. Stephen argued that increasing the minimum income requirement would barely reduce immigration, while separating couples from each other and their children.

“The increase in the minimum income requirement”, Stephen said, “will be ineffective, it will be unfair, and it will be harmful. It should be scrapped.”

The Government originally planned to raise minimum income requirements to £38,700 from this April. The Government delayed the increase under pressure from MPs, including Stephen asking the Prime Minister about the issue directly. Instead, the minimum income requirement was increased to £29,000 in April and the Government pledged to raise it further to £38,700 by 2025.

Stephen backs Vera Lynn memorial campaign

On Tuesday 16 April, Stephen signed a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to provide funding for a memorial to Dame Vera Lynn CH DBE OStJ. Dame Vera Lynn was born in East Ham in 1917 and famously sang “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs of Dover”, raising morale in World War Two.

Dame Vera Lynn was born in East Ham in 1917 and lived with her parents on Ladysmith Avenue from 1921 to 1938. She bought her parents a house in Barking after her musical success, and stayed in touch with Brampton Primary School, where she was a pupil, until she died in 2020 aged 103.

During the Second World War, Dame Vera Lynn recorded several morale boosting songs, including “The White Cliffs of Dover”, bringing her to fame. After the war, Dame Vera Lynn contributed tirelessly to charitable causes, helping ex-servicemen and disabled children, and combatting breast cancer. She was voted the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century in 2000.

Speaking about the campaign for a memorial to Dame Vera Lynn, Stephen said, "Vera Lynn was born and bred in East Ham, and played a unique role in Britain's history - lifting morale at one of our darkest points.  Her long and fruitful life richly deserves to be commemorated with a statue, and I hope the campaign is successful."

Stephen nominates Healthier Wealthier Families Newham for the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2024

Today, Stephen nominated the Healthier Wealthier Families programme in Newham for the Health Equalities award in the 2024 NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Healthier Wealthier Families programme was launched in February 2023. It aims to improve the financial wellbeing of children and their families supported by Specialist Children & Young People’s Services (SCYPS).

Many parents looking after children with complex medical needs are unable to work, because of their caring responsibilities. Working in partnership with Our Money Newham, the programme offers families free debt, budgeting, and benefits advice, helping families receive more than £4,500 extra income each.

One family helped by the programme said, “Now we get the foodstuff. We can get bulk shopping… the money can go further. We can eat properly.”

The NHS Parliamentary Awards were set up in 2018 to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday. Members of Parliament can nominate NHS staff, teams, and programmes from their constituency to recognise their contribution across ten categories. This year, Stephen nominated Healthier Wealthier Families for the Health Equalities award.

“I am delighted to nominate Healthier Wealthier Families for the NHS Parliamentary Awards,” Stephen said. “They have helped many families across Newham through the worst of the cost-of-living crisis. Their hard work deserves recognition.”

Stephen urges action to reduce pensioner poverty alongside Independent Age UK

Yesterday, 16 April, Stephen spoke at Independent Age UK’s event “Pensioner Poverty: What the next Government should do.” Stephen urged the Government to raise awareness of Pension Credit to help reduce poverty.

Independent Age UK is running a campaign called “two million too many” to raise awareness of the 2.2 million pensioners in relative poverty. Yesterday, as part of the campaign, Stephen spoke about pensioner poverty on a panel organised by Independent Age.

Stephen argued that the proportion of pensioners living in poverty is too high. He noted that pensioner poverty had, until 2015, been declining for over a decade. Stephen urged the Government to make greater use of Pension Credit to tackle poverty.

“The tools to reduce pensioner poverty are available to the Government,” Stephen said after the event. “Sadly, the DWP is not making enough use of them. If everyone who was eligible for Pension Credit received it, pensioner poverty would be much lower than it is now. The Government must increase up-take.”

Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for low-income pensioners. However, data from the Department for Work and Pensions shows only 63% of those entitled to Pension Credit receive it. Research from Loughbrough University found that, if everyone who was eligible for it received it, pensioner poverty would be at least five percentage points lower than it is now.

Last year, 2.2 million pensioners - 19% of all pensioners - were in relative poverty before housing costs. This is the highest proportion since 2008/09, when it was 20%. Pensioners are still less likely to be in poverty than children (22%) or people with disabilities (20%).

Stephen asks Ministers to ban imports of dogs with cropped ears

Stephen has written to the Environment Secretary, Steve Barclay, asking him to introduce a ban on the importation of ear-cropped dogs.

A number of residents in East Ham have been in touch with Stephen in recent weeks about the trade of domestic pets. They have asked him to support the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets Bill).

The Bill was introduced by Selaine Saxby last month, despite calls that measures be brought forward sooner. The legislation has passed its second reading in the House of Commons and MPs are now considering it at Committee stage.

In his letter, Stephen noted that existing legislation had failed to address the problem of ear-cropping, which can have long-lasting health implications on animals. There is widespread support for a ban on this practice, with many of Stephen’s constituents noting that “…it will give a significant boost for animal welfare.”

Having sent the letter, Stephen said, “I share the concerns of my constituents about this issue. It is clear existing legislation does not go far enough to protect these animals.

“It is puzzling as to why ministers have been so slow in introducing safeguards that are so desperately needed.”

Stephen marks Wold Parkinson's Day

On Wednesday 20 March, Stephen attended a drop-in for World Parkinson’s Day hosted by Parkinson’s UK.

Parkinson’s disease is a disease in which the brain becomes progressively more damaged over the years. It is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain. The disease mostly affects over 50s. World Parkinson’s Day is held annually on 11 April to raise awareness of the condition.

Parkinson’s UK hosted a drop-in session in parliament on 20 March to brief MPs ahead of World Parkinson’s Day. They shared stories from people suffering from the disease as well as updating MPs on the latest research and treatments against it. Stephen attended the drop-in.

“Parkinson’s is an awful disease, and I am grateful for all the work that Parkinson’s UK do to support those suffering from it,” Stephen said after the event. “I hope World Parkinson’s Day will continue to raise awareness of the disease.”

Stephen calls for UK Government to do more to support children in need of palliative care

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children Who Need Palliative Care hosted a reception on Tuesday 19 March ahead of releasing their report Short Lives Can’t Wait: the state of children’s palliative care in 2024. Stephen attended the reception to hear about the current state of children’s palliative care.

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with serious and life-threatening diseases. The APPG for Children Who Need Palliative Care is a cross-party group in parliament that seeks to inform MPs and Peers about children’s palliative care.

At the event on Tuesday, the charity Together for Short Lives spoke about the current state of the children’s palliative care sector and the barriers preventing children accessing high quality care. The event comes ahead of a report that the APPG will publish on Friday, called Short Lives Can’t Wait: the state of children’s palliative care in 2024.

“I was grateful to hear from Together for Short Lives and the APPG for Children Who Need Palliative Care,” Stephen said after the event. “Too many children are being denied the high quality palliative care they deserve. The Government must act to support them.”

The number of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions has trebled in the last 20 years and is set to rise further due to advances in medical technology.

Families that care for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening illness can call the Together for Short Lives helpline on 0808 8088 100 Mon-Fri 9am-4pm for emotional, practical, and financial support or visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/get-support.

Stephen attends drop-in session uncovering the hidden challenges of vascular and venous disease

Yesterday, 19 March, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Vascular and Venous disease hosted a drop-in session in Parliament to launch their report on the challenges that people living with such diseases face. Stephen joined the session to learn about how he can support people with vascular and venous diseases in East Ham.

Vascular and venous disease include any disease that affect the system of blood vessels that circulate blood around the body. For example, venous thromboembolism (VTE) affects 1-in-20 people in the UK and occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein and partially or completely obstructs blood flow. If left untreated, VTE can lead to disability and even death.

On Tuesday 19 March, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Vascular and Venous diseases launched their report Preventing the Preventable, which explores the hidden challenges that stop people with VTE being treated. Their report points out that nearly two-thirds of VTE are preventable with the right risk assessment and administration of thromboprophylaxis.

Stephen joined the report launch and drop-in session to hear how these challenges affect people in East Ham.

“Many people in East Ham either live with vascular and venous diseases, or will experience them throughout their life,” Stephen said after the event. “It is essential we get procedures right in our health service so they are well treated. The APPG for Vascular and Venous disease’s report shows how we can do that.”

Stephen celebrates five years since CAR T-Cell therapy was approved in the UK

January 2024 marked five years since NHS England became the first health system in Europe to approve the groundbreaking cancer treatment, CAR T-Cell Therapy. Stephen joined Gilead Sciences at a parliamentary event to celebrate.

CAR T-Cell therapy re-engineers a person’s own immune system to detect and destroy cancerous cells in their body. The therapy produces chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enable T cells to identify and attack cancer. It is mainly used to treat children with leukemia.

The UK was the first country in Europe to approve the use of CAR T-Cell therapy, in January 2019. This week, Gilead Sciences hosted a parliamentary reception to celebrate five years since the treatment was approved. The event was hosted in partnership with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres Network.

Speaking after attending the event, Stephen said, “I am proud that the NHS was the first health system in Europe to approve CAR T-Cell Therapy. It shows the important role the NHS can play in encouraging new innovations in medical research, while providing the best possible care to everyone who needs it.”

Stephen writes to Foreign Secretary about Pakistan elections

Stephen has written to the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, about the recent election in Pakistan.

A number of constituents have been in contact with Stephen in recent weeks outlining their concerns about how the elections were conducted. They allege that the Pakistani authorities manipulated votes against Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf Party. Mr Khan has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison. His supporters claim that the charges against him are politically motivated.

The Commonwealth Observer Group visited Pakistan at the end of February at the invitation of the Election Commission of Pakistan. In its interim statement, the group noted several concerns including the restriction of internet and mobile phone access on election day. The report is due to be shared with the Pakistani government shortly.

Having sent his letter, Stephen said “I am aware that there are concerns surrounding the recent election in Pakistan. I am grateful to the Commonwealth Observer Group for visiting the country and will certainly read their report once it is published.”

“I will be sure to send the Foreign Secretary’s reply to my constituents who have been in touch about this once I have received it.”