I’ve been a bit busy recently, but not too busy to note a significant post-Christmas rise in the number of emailed alerts I am receiving from the online parliamentary monitoring service ‘They Work For You’.
I have configured my user profile so that an alert is triggered whenever a key word or phrase in used in Parliament, either in debate, or in written statements, and whenever key ministers speak. I cannot recommend too highly this utility to you. It is free to use (although the charitable organisation providing this facility always seeks donations). You can either register for emailed alerts on topics that interest you, or make ad-hoc searches for the use of any phrase or expression in Parliament.
Some of the trigger/search words I use relate to disability and benefits i.e the acronyms DLA, PIP, WCA etc. In recent weeks especially, it has not been difficult to assess the level of anxiety amongst MPs about PIP and its implementation. There has been what I would call a ‘tidal wave’ of questions on this issue from MPs to Ministers, no doubt reflecting concerns raised by their constituents, and following the DWP’s announcement of a full scale review of PIP awards to-date.
It is also clear that the issue of employment rates amongst the learning disabled, which became prominent last year, remains an important issue for constituency MPs, perhaps frustrated by the lack of ‘progress’ on this admittedly complex issue.
I wish I had the time to submit more posts themed around material derived from this useful resource, especially questions to ministers and ministerial responses. It is at least reassuring that parliamentary business does sometimes focus on learning disability in the contexts of health care, social care, welfare provision, housing education, etc. – and it makes a change from Brexit.