Speeches by Hack.

“When we look at getting people who are unemployed into work, there is generic support for all ages; do you think we need to improve support for older workers? What limitations do you think that might have?”

“Thank you for coming to speak to us today. The Health Foundation said that the failure to address the factors contributing to the low employment rate for people with health limitations would undermine the long-term viability of a higher pension age. To what extent do you agree with that statement?”

“We are going to move on to the impact of pensionable age on mixed-age couples. The previous Government introduced the policy that benefits would be dependent on the working-age person in a couple rather than on those people of pensionable age. Independent Age told us about a 79-year-old who was on universal credit due …”

“One of the things that is problematic about the hon. Gentleman’s line of questioning is that one in 10 people in Leicestershire are on an NHS waiting list. In order to increase economic productivity, we need to make sure that people of working age are well enough to work. Does he agree that investment in health is also…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I thank my hon. Friend and neighbour the Member for Rushcliffe (James Naish) for securing this incredibly important debate. My colleagues will all agree that the east midlands is a region with so much to offer. We have two local mayoral authorities, which are fant…”

“The way in which the Secretary of State has spoken so far reflects the way we all felt post-Grenfell. We must ensure that the communities feel they have somewhere to go, somewhere to grieve. Does the Secretary of State agree that the work relating to who was responsible for the tragedy needs to continue, alongside the …”

“I welcome the speed with which this Government have listened and responded to those households whose homes are heated by heating oil. I also thank the ministerial team for their engagement with MPs across the House. As many people on heating oil in North West Leicestershire may not previously have accessed support via …”

“Since covid. Blake was talking about productivity; if we recognise that the 25-day target has not been hit since covid—it has been five years, and we are only expecting to see improvements by the summer—what work has been done before now to start that improvement? One of the frustrating things, and something we have ta…”

“The backlog has not appeared overnight; it has been coming for some time. Again, as an employer before I came here, the performance was not great in previous years. When was the last time that the 25-day target was hit?”

“When you want to start a claim and you would like to start work within 28 days—four weeks is pretty normal—I suppose that voicemail must be really hard to take. That is not a great start to the relationship with DWP and an Access to Work claim. I would really plead that you change that opening gambit with a member of t…”

“Thank you, Sir Geoffrey; that is very kind. Thank you for allowing us to join the Committee for today, and I also thank the panel for coming along. It is very hard not to be distracted by the 37 weeks figure—I had my first baby quicker than 37 weeks. We do not really appreciate the fact that, behind the figure, there i…”

“This question moves smoothly on from Clive’s. Understanding all the changes and reviews that are coming forward—we are undertaking an inquiry on supporting disabled people into employment at this moment—how do you envisage the Access to Work scheme fitting in to that new changing environment? How do you see the role ch…”

“Yes.”

“I want to come straight back to you, Tim. I worked at the Learning and Skills Council in the back end of the 1990s. Construction trades were in shortage two decades ago and we are still in a skills shortage. I had a quick look last night at how many apprenticeships were available in my local area. Thankfully, lots of t…”

“Dave, the young person’s guarantee has been in place in Scotland for five years. What has worked well, what has been challenging and how can we replicate the learning in Scotland to those areas that might be able to use your experience?”

“Jan, like you, I am in a non-devolution area—a shire county with very similar experiences to what you explained in your opening statement. What would you like to see from central Government for areas like the one I represent and where you are working to see that benefit of the trailblazers reaching areas like ours?”

“Thank you for joining us. I have three questions, one for each of you, so I will ask them individually. How do we ensure the success of the youth guarantee? David, you obviously explained the work that you have been able to do being within a combined authority, which is useful. But how easy do you some of this will be …”

“We have heard many moving speeches today. I pay tribute to my hon. Friends the Members for Warrington North (Charlotte Nichols), and for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet), for sharing their personal experiences. Jury trials are a really important mechanism in the British legal system, and should not be taken for granted, so I w…”

“This is the crux of the issue that we are discussing today: how do make sure that justice is given to victims as quickly as possible? Does my hon. Friend agree that the Bill enables us to do that?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I thank John, Lyla’s father, for starting the petition. It was signed by 227 of my constituents in North West Leicestershire, and I would like to share as many of their experiences as I can in the time available. Throughout these stories, I heard over and over a…”