Speeches by Hack.

“12. What progress her Department has made on providing adequate funding for local authorities as part of the fair funding review.”

“Thank you. Can you update us on the timetable for the process to increase to 68? I would have liked to have had a conversation about regional inequalities and how that time in retirement varies across the UK, but unfortunately I don’t think we have time. Can you update us on the timetable for the next increment and may…”

“Thank you, Minister. When the Secretary of State came to see us before the start of the inquiry, she told us that the level of pension credit take-up was a scandal. You have already indicated that you have seen some increases, but 60,000 extra people claiming an income floor, which I think is the position, does not fee…”

“Thank you. I am sure we will come up with plenty for you. Certainly, the witnesses we have heard on this have been excellent, in my view. One of the things we have seen is that an increase in the number of people applying has meant that the processing time has slowed. Do we have a real sense of how many people will hav…”

“It is useful to hear that we are in that position. Looking at pension credits, you have already shared a view about the stigma not being as clear in the data as what might be felt. Do you think there is a sense that the whole narrative of how social security support is offered and the way in which pensioners might feel…”

“That is very encouraging to hear. Certainly, one of the things that was frustrating through the process is to say, “There are so many questions.” That was being stoked up by the media and I felt that that was problematic.”

“Well, there are 100 questions on children and dependants, aren’t there? Thinking about barriers—not the stigma of applying for pension credits, but the stigma that it takes too long, it is too hard and it is too difficult—what work is being done to try to break down elements of the barriers that people have to applying…”

“Thank you. The Committee has had quite a body of evidence about that pre-retirement time and the sense that, if you are poorer during your working life, particularly in the time before retirement, you will be poorer in your pensionable age. We have had an increase in the state pension. We have had the increase from 65 …”

“4. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violence against shop workers in rural areas.”

“Convenience stores are at the heart of our communities and provide employment for over 700 people in shops in North West Leicestershire, but workers often face abuse. When I visited one of my local shops recently, I was told that just a few days earlier the assistant manager had been punched in the face when he was jus…”

“T7. In the light of the ban on disposable vapes, which came into force this week, will the Minister outline the measures being taken to step up the work at ports, including at East Midlands airport, to prevent counterfeit and banned vapes from being imported into the country?”

“There has been rapid expansion of new homes in my constituency. However, the development of sports facilities in areas such as Ashby-de-la-Zouch are not keeping pace, and in Hugglescote we see a fight to save the rec. How will the Minister ensure that when new homes are created, we protect and develop new sports facili…”

“We have already discussed some of the key areas of policy that have made a difference in educational, social and wellbeing terms for children, and in trying to mitigate the impacts of child poverty. I will not ask your view on the most effective policy—I think we have had that answer already—but I will look at some spe…”

“Amanda Hack, Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire.”

“We have already discussed some of the key areas of policy that have made a difference in educational, social and wellbeing terms for children, and in trying to mitigate the impacts of child poverty. I will not ask your view on the most effective policy—I think we have had that answer already—but I will look at some spe…”

“That is a useful point to go on to the next question, which is about how you pull together Government Departments to have more impact. Going back to Sure Start, there were some real signs, such as reductions in accidents and attendance at A&E among nought to fives, their development age at the point at which they went …”

“I want to move back to education and the types of policies and interventions that have been the most important to help children in poverty remain accessing education. Could you give me a view on those policy measures?”

“Amanda Hack, Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire.”

“That is a useful point to go on to the next question, which is about how you pull together Government Departments to have more impact. Going back to Sure Start, there were some real signs, such as reductions in accidents and attendance at A&E among nought to fives, their development age at the point at which they went …”

“I want to move back to education and the types of policies and interventions that have been the most important to help children in poverty remain accessing education. Could you give me a view on those policy measures?”