Speeches by Milne.

“You have said that the incapacity benefit system focuses too much on what people cannot do rather than what they can do, and that is one reason you are looking at removing the work capability assessment. However, the same could be said or is true of the PIP assessment process at the moment. Are you looking at how the P…”

“Good morning. You recently launched a PIP review. Can you give us a progress report, an update, and perhaps any ideas about the line of thought that you are minded to take, and ideas that you might follow?”

“13. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of recognising the state of Palestine.”

“What is happening in Gaza is hard enough to watch, but if we are to prevent the west bank from going the same way in a few years’ time, we must act today. Does the Minister agree that recognising the principle of a Palestinian state, without making any judgment for the moment on its borders, is the strongest and most e…”

“In her March Green Paper, the Secretary of State promised to provide an additional £1 billion in funding to help benefit claimants back into work, but only £400 million has actually been allocated, and even that will not come until 2028-29. We have heard some talk of efficiency savings, which is practically the definit…”

“Recently I met Kathryn from my constituency who had to give up a £90,000-a-year job in order to care for her husband. With 150,000 carers set to lose their allowance due to PIP eligibility reforms, some of our country’s most hard-pressed households face losing £8,000 a year. Will the Minister confirm that even if the w…”

“The Renters’ Rights Bill will come into force later this year. It will have a big impact on relationships between benefit claimants and landlords. I am interested to know what you think the impacts might be, the pros and cons. Perhaps if we start off with the landlords’ view, Ben.”

“Thank you for your succinct answers. You have enabled me to be in two places at once.”

“We have been losing more homes for social rent than we have been building ever since the 1980s, and it has now reached critical levels and is arguably having a knock-on impact on all kinds of other benefits. In that context, how effectively do social and supported housing providers assist claimants to live independentl…”

“15. When she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban conversion therapy.”

“It is good news that the rural prosperity fund has been extended for another year, but it has been reduced to £33 million this year. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need a firm, long-term commitment to solving the challenges of rural infrastructure provision?”

“Previous Governments have promised to bring forward legislation to ban conversion therapy, but it has not happened yet. Eris, one of my constituents in Horsham, tells me that recent headlines have created fear and uncertainty within the trans community, increasing their sense of isolation. Will the Minister show the LG…”

“SEND provision in our schools is in a state of deep and growing crisis. In my area, West Sussex county council is already struggling with a £130 million SEND deficit this year—a figure likely to rise to £224 million by next year. That huge figure is one of the worst in the country, but what is truly concerning is that …”

“I have one last quick question. A predecessor Committee, I think in 2019, recommended a yellow card system—like a warning, if you are not familiar with football—before you get the sanction, so before you are sent off.”

“I take it that you support sanctions; what sort of sanctions? For example, do you think the threshold for financial sanctions is set too low and that we jump to the threshold too quickly?”

“Yes. How does the thinking that the culture in the DWP has perhaps been too performative and punitive, and should place more emphasis on safeguarding, sit with maintaining sanctions and conditionality? Are they not somewhat in conflict?”

“Okay, thank you. There is a lot of emphasis now on safeguarding within DWP’s culture—a culture shift. Are conditionality and sanctions not slightly uneasy bedfellows with that new culture?”

“What changes can we anticipate seeing to the regular 10-minute appointments?”

“Thank you very much; I welcome that. The DWP is running a trial—I think you referred to it earlier—in which work coaches choose the communication channels for appointments. Just to play devil’s advocate, do you think that giving coaches that flexibility could also lead to a danger of a lack of consistency in service de…”

“I have a few questions about the sanctions regime, but don’t worry, I am not talking about the Israeli far-right Ministers; you have not stumbled into the wrong Committee. We have heard a lot of evidence about work coach appointments being undermined by the threat of sanctions, which are having a negative impact. Do yo…”