Speeches by Milne.

“The Liberal Democrat essential energy plan is an immediate way to address electricity affordability, but in the long term the solution must lie in more renewables, as I think the Secretary of State agrees. However, the Government’s failure to make the case effectively is now becoming a serious problem in itself. Does t…”

“10. Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an essential energy guarantee.”

“Our military personnel risk life and limb every day to keep the country safe, and they deserve the best support that we can give them, so it is shocking that for many of our veterans, military compensation received counts as income when local means-tested benefits are assessed. Will the Minister commit to ending that p…”

“I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about access to matured child savings accounts in the name of a young person who lacks capacity; to require the Secretary of State to review savings provision for children and young people with disabilities including those who lack capacity; and fo…”

“Right now, it is hard to get through a day without someone, somewhere, saying that welfare spending is ballooning out of control. For example, the Conservatives’ alternative King’s Speech tells us: “For the first time ever, the total welfare bill is now higher than total receipts from income tax.” Western civilisation …”

“7. What progress his Department has made on the “identifying local vulnerability” project.”

“As the Minister knows all too well, the DWP’s shortcomings can end in tragedy. Errol Graham was a benefits claimant who starved to death without heating, electricity or adequate food. His local council, his housing association, his GP and the DWP all held information highlighting risk, and if only they had been able to…”

“As the Minister knows, I sit on the Work and Pensions Committee. About a year ago, we heard evidence that in fact there was little statistical difference between the approval rates for face-to-face interviews and for remote interviews. The figures may have been updated since, but that is the evidence we heard then. I a…”

“I agree with the hon. Member and entirely accept that the issue is not of this Government’s making, although as ever it is this Government’s obligation to sort it out. The regulations are a positive move in the right direction, but I am lamenting the state of affairs in general, not necessarily blaming it on Labour Mem…”

“We hear lots of talk in politics and the media right now about the need to cut benefits. Of course, control of spending is always a priority, but the first question that we should ask about any benefit is whether it is doing the job it is supposed to. A PIP is a lifeline, not a luxury. It is designed to support disable…”

“In my constituency, Chess Dynamics, part of Cohort, is a world-leading developer of counter-drone and air defence technology, yet like much of the defence sector, it has been left waiting for clarity on future investment. Given the recent turmoil at the top of the Labour party, can the Minister assure us that the vital…”

“This application is co-presented with Helen Grant. Dr Susan Michaelis was an extraordinary woman whose contributions spanned aviation, scientific research and public health campaigning. Despite coping with serious illness herself, she spent the final years of her life fighting for everyone living with lobular breast ca…”

“Yes. If her name is still in there, that is fine.”

“Yes, we would.”

“In my constituency, scammers have managed to impersonate the council to demand bogus penalty charges from vulnerable residents. Meanwhile, the world’s leading deepfake expert, Hany Farid, says in The New York Times that he can no longer trust his own eyes. If he cannot, what chance do the rest of us have? Does my hon. …”

“I take it that there is nothing really specific in train right now. One solution to the problem could be data sharing. You have plans for better data sharing of universal credit with local authorities, and that would really help them to target support. However, those plans seem to have slipped the ILOV programme. Can y…”

“On the timeline—by 2027?”

“Will you have rolled out the ILOV programme by that time?”

“But nothing specifically planned right now.”

“On pension credit, the take-up remains at about two thirds, despite lots of effort and promises to boost it by your predecessor. It is a scandal that we have not managed to do better, isn’t it? What ideas do you have to improve the situation?”