Speeches by Egan.

“Are there any issues or insights from the testing you have done that you can share with us?”

“I appreciate it is not really early days, but it is early days. How do you see the site developing and evolving over time; for example, the things we have talked about in terms of whether you could get to a stage where people could increase their contributions through the site?”

“The issue of collaboration and infiltration between Hamas and some UNRWA officials is well documented. Clearly, people in Gaza need aid, so can the Minister update us on how we are monitoring the work being done to restore neutrality and confidence in UNRWA?”

“I have two points on the roles of the ACCSLs themselves. Are they required to share their contact details with key partners like local welfare—”

“I am glad you pronounced “ACSSLs” because that is my next question. How does the Department get the balance right between allowing the ACSSLs to work flexibly and giving that consistency across the country?”

“Do you think it should be a requirement?”

“Yes, a quick one. It actually builds on that very point. Are there opportunities around—obviously not something you would want to rely on—technology and AI in terms of identifying people with additional support needs? I suppose that would work only for people who do not have regular contact with frontline workers if ot…”

“Fantastic. Then the other bit is: is the Department undertaking work to make it easier for those partners to feed into the ACCSLs and to report concerns?”

“I have questions about how DWP works with the safeguarding adults boards. Last year, you had the agreement of a memorandum of understanding. There are two parts of this question. How is the Department ensuring that it complies with the memorandum of understanding? The other element to it is your thoughts on whether it …”

“23. What steps he is taking to protect critical undersea infrastructure.”

“Our undersea cables are critical to the economy, public services and social order in this country. Given the hostile activity undertaken—the surveying of our cables—can Ministers give assurances that the full needs of our Navy will be reflected in the strategic defence review, so that we can defend our homeland securit…”

“Have there been any studies into the impact on people’s mental health in working from home and the ability or right to switch off?”

“I want to ask a follow-up to Gill’s question, but before I do, I have appreciated doing the research before this session. I am a newish MP and it has opened my mind to extent of the work that the Health and Safety Executive does and the impact that you have had. You have said already that you are always thinking about …”

“Finally, in your latest annual report and accounts you assessed the risk of there being a “failure to identify and implement effective measures to reduce work-related ill health” as likely to be major. Why is that assessment so negative and what are you doing to address that problem?”

“During covid, assessments for personal independence payments were moved either online or to over the phone. Today less than 5% of those assessments have returned to face-to-face, so what assessment have Ministers made of that change and are there any links with the rise in fraud?”

“I have been twice to my local jobcentre in the last few weeks. The first time was a general visit, but I went back a second time because the work coaches were keen for me to come in. They were talking about fraud—I was speaking to women who had been working at the jobcentre, one for 45 years and one for 41 years—and sa…”

“It must be a blessing.”

“We all know about the increase in the number of people on health-related benefits, and that is projected to increase further. The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee did a short study, and as part of that there is a UK household longitudinal survey. That says that although health benefits have gone up, there is n…”

“Can I ask about the PIP assessments? My understanding is that, before covid, they were face to face but are now overwhelmingly virtual. I think that in October 2024 just 2% were done face to face. Is that having an impact?”

“I will move on to a question about the “Get Britain Working” White Paper. What can we expect to see by this time next year, particularly in terms of what a customer can expect to change?”