Today, as government borrowing costs remain punishingly high, panicked Chancellor Rachel Reeves will try to reassure the markets that the government is growing the economy and cutting the benefits bill.

We'll update this page with any information about benefits changes as soon as we get it.

Reeves is speaking now, she says:

"We will deliver fundamental reform of our welfare system.  That includes looking at areas that have been ducked for too long, like the rising cost of health and disability benefits. And the secretary of state for work and pensions will set out our plans to address this ahead of the Spring statement."

Will there be more?

No, it seems there won't. 

However, there are motions by both Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall on the welfare cap this afternoon.  Reeves  told the Sun on Sunday that she will “expose how the Conservatives lost complete control of the benefits bill – with a project overspend of more than £8 billion”.

So, there may be more on benefits to come.  We'll keep this page open for the rest of the day, just in case.

Alison McGovern minister for unemployment is standing in for Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall. 

She says she is never disappointed in her work coaches, the thing that lets them down is the system they work within.

It's on Parliament TV from 16.14 at this link:

https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e4026aea-0691-4880-8957-3db8c8d0825f

 McGovern explains that the Conservatives have breached the welfare spending cap by £8 billion.

She appears to be claiming that the move from ESA to UC is the cause of much of the rise in benefits spending, because of the hard separation between the level of benefit for those capable of work and those with LCWRA.

She also says that you cannot have a functioning social security system if the health service is not functioning.  For example being told you can only see someone for 10 minutes, having to do numerous admin checks that could be done with modern technology.

We are hearing a great deal about getting people into work, but nothing about changes to the WCA and PIP. Instead, McGovern refers once again to the Green Paper to be published in the Spring, even though Rachel Reeves has said "we’re setting out our detailed plans before Easter".

She confirms that Labour will keep the welfare cap, which is intended to limit the amount that is spent overall on social security.

 It's notable that the house is almost empty.  Jeremy Corbyn has asked questions of the minister.

She moves onto fraud.

And that seems to be it.

There's a link to the written statements by Liz Kendall here

 

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    I understand there is to be a statement in the House of Commons after PMQ's and a ten minute rule bill, so approx 1pm.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    It is not a matter of finance - whatever they change will cost more to implement and manage.

    Its demonization of a section of public in order to appease the Reform type of voters who have been encouraged to hate minorities.

    The increase in applications is partly driven by advertising with the ‘if you are depressed you can get up to £737 a month’ - hence more applications which are most likely to fail, but massages the figures.

    They don't take account of official diagnosis and effect on daily living.

    What they do is plant resentment against genuinely affected on daily living.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    I have serious OCD as well have had this for just over 30 yrs and she thinks I'd be magically cured,she thinks she's the genie from Aladdin?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Nyk I've looked for home based Data Input work online...there just aren't any
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Neil Cook Bizarrely they suggest that OCD means that you could actually benefit by a working pattern and could work from home in a non contact environment such as data input where you don't have to speak to or see anyone. You could choose your hours to fit in with OCD timings etc. so could work work zero hours one day and more the next 24/07 to suit, The same role would also be deemed doable to people with Anxiety about leaving the house or dealing with the public such and ASD persons.

      Don't shoot the messenger by the way. Its not my thoughts!

      This has been talked about in the past by both Labour and Tories. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Neil Cook wouldnt be surprised if none of these people have any experience with sickness or disability
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Even if she does say reform of sickness to save X money there will be more detail. Oh here we go already with “working people being better off” we used to be working people too!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    disgusting how the overpaid government target the most needy.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    She already knows that people who receive welfare money spend most of it in the UK economy, so it is all just red meat and pandering to petty-minded TheSun newspaper readers who know nothing about trying to stay alive in a world not adapted to deisabled-people’s needs most of the tme with ignorant and nasty employers who also are adverse to providing empathy and adaptations.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    As a disabled person am worried to Neil . It’s seem to me that Rachel reeves along with the Labour Party don’t like disabled people at all. I have epilepsy and special needs and am super worried about this. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Neil son, as long as we the vulnerable disabled speak with one voice , you won't ever be alone .. never son .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @S i'm blind, will always be blind, the equipment I will need to make a computer talk will cost thousands with all the scripting and things. I can't even renew my passport, *my only form of legal Id as a blind person* without sighted help. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Thank you really appreciate all the work you do on this for us.  I have terrible OCD around checking the news about this.  Sleep and health affected greatly.  If only they knew how there communication strategy is affecting our health.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @CaroA I've been up most of the night, the rhetoric around al this from a Labour government of all people is astonishing. They have sent my anxiety through the roof I'm almost crippled but it. 
      I will never vote for them again that's for sure. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @CaroA I think they DO  know how their communication strategy  affects disabled  people. The fear and uncertainty  generated is all part of the  softening up process for the cuts to come. It's a despicable  and immoral  way  to conduct so called 'reforms'.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @CaroA They will know but they don't care .
      This lot are brainless they have got no compassion ,heartless & Evil .

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    I am so scared of her if I get my money cut I don't know to do

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