Speeches by Baxter.

“I will be quick because we are out of time already. Many people have criticised the Disability Confident scheme as a box-ticking exercise. What future do you see for it?”

“Employers will not wait that long, is my guess.”

“I have a quick follow-up, if I may. How long does it take for Access to Work to process those claims, and is that an issue?”

“The Government have said that it will introduce an additional premium for those with more severe lifelong conditions who would never have to face reassessment. What is your understanding of how that will happen or how it will work?”

“Do others have a view? No. I am just trying to understand if this is the territory most Governments get into in trying to define that level of severity. Do you think there is a danger that, over time, that group just expands again?”

“I think you answered one of my other questions, which was about your understanding of how the proposal would impact those with high-risk pregnancies and also those at substantial risk.”

“Many thousands of my constituents in Paisley and Renfrewshire South work in and rely on public services that are on their knees after 18 years of under-investment by the SNP Government at Holyrood. Will my right hon. Friend set out how the views of my constituents will be reflected in the spending review?”

“I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement and for all the work that he has done so far in negotiating an economic partnership with the United States. He will appreciate that the lower levy applied to the UK will be of cold comfort to my constituents, who will see their bills rise. Can he assure me that he will res…”

“I recently had the honour of attending Renfrewshire council’s provost community awards to celebrate the incredible contribution that many make to our communities. Will the Leader of the House join me in congratulating the winners from Paisley and Renfrewshire South—Jean Gallagher, who has volunteered for 25 years at th…”

“10. What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the potential impact of defence expenditure in Northern Ireland on defence supply chain companies in the rest of the UK.”

“The UK defence industry supports hundreds of thousands of good jobs and represents UK manufacturing at its best. Will the Secretary of State outline what the Government are doing to support the defence sector in Scotland and in Northern Ireland?”

“Thanks for your time for the Committee this morning. I think you have answered most of my first question, so I will progress to the second. What can the DWP learn from efforts here to support people progressing from insecure employment into good quality work?”

“Good morning, Andy.”

“Can you tell us a little bit about the ways in which the support your organisation provides is particularly important for our minority communities and how that cultural link benefits the communities that you serve?”

“Thank you both for your time this morning. What is unique or particular about the role your organisations can play in encouraging pensioners to take up benefits that they are entitled to?”

“The LGA called for local welfare support to be put on a more sustainable footing. What amounts, timeframes and distribution mechanisms are needed?”

“Good morning. Thank you for coming this morning. The household support fund is funded until the end of March 2026. You have quite articulately explained the importance of it. Can you perhaps talk a little bit more about the impact if that funding is not continued?”

“If I can just have a very quick follow-up—I am conscious of time: when you were talking about the perception of jobcentres, and you did not say it but perhaps the Department itself, do you think that rebranding that you alluded to earlier to rename jobcentres as Living Well centres, albeit that is your term, or somethi…”

“What risks do you see in combining career support with jobcentre services?”

“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s commitment to improving the experience of people going through the assessment process, as I am regularly shocked by some of the experiences of my constituents. Can he say a little more about how he will improve claimant experience, particularly for the most vulnerable claimants?”