Justin Madders: Last News

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared details on how the qualifying period for the £301 cost of living payment was selected so that it was “as close to the payment date as possible” to ensure only those who had recently received a means-tested benefit award would receive the money.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in August last year there were 956,448 people receiving weekly payments for Carer’s Allowance, including 83,196 living in Scotland.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in May last year there were 936,766 people receiving weekly payments of £69.70 for Carer’s Allowance, including 81,682 living in Scotland.

More than 42 offices are set to be closed by the Department for Work and Pensions, with unions reporting that “thousands” could lose their jobs. The DWP held meetings today at 10.30am where staff were told of the major changes.

The Department of Work and Pensions has today announced a plan to close around 42 offices, and unions claim that "thousands" of jobs could be at risk.Thousands of benefits office staff were called to meetings at 10.30am today to be told about the changes.Thirteen of the 42 offices will be closed with "no other strategic site nearby" leaving some 1,300 workers either losing their jobs altogether or reapplying for work in another government department.Roughly another 29 offices are expected to shut with their 12,000 workers having to move to another site nearby.Many of the closures are in key parts of northern England, from Blackburn and Bradford to Washington and Stockton-on-Tees.Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey had recently described the DWP staff as 'exceptional', saying: “They are the hidden heroes for many people in this country. They should take great pride in their hard work and dedication to supporting people through these difficult times.”Shadow DWP minister Justin Madders said: "It looks as though the DWP doesn't believe in levelling up, it doesn't believe in its own rhetoric on jobs, and it doesn't believe in keeping people in work."Many of the closures are in areas of economic deprivation that can hardly afford to lose good quality, public sector jobs.

Test and Trace operation has disappeared to, amid the mounting national crisis. Baroness Dido Harding has been labelled “Dido Hiding” by critics looking for answers over the scheme’s performance.She is head of the £22billion ­programme, but has not been seen in public, nor on virtual screenings, since early November.Then, she told MPs she and her team did not see the rise in infections coming after schools went back following the summer.Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders said: “Harding should be there to answer questions.“There have been lots of chances to stand next to the PM at press briefings or to do her own.

Hundreds of families of NHS and care workers who died of coronavirus haven’t yet claimed a £60,000 death payout from the government.

Labour tonight accused the Tories of double standards over advice to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As many as 8,000 people caught Covid-19 after being taken to hospital with other conditions, experts now fear.

Up to 2.5 million tests are believed to be missing amid a testing system that has been branded "absolute chaos".

The NHS is now recruiting fewer than half the number of EU nurses because of Brexit .

hereActing Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey compared the million pound bill with the cost of drugs used to treat Covid-19 patients.“The drug dexamethasone, that can potentially save the lives of people with coronavirus, costs £5 per patient," he tweeted.“Boris Johnson could have bought 180,000 doses of that, but instead he’s painting a flag on a plane.”Labour MP Emma Hardy said: “For goodness sake.