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Steve Darling

Steve Darling

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Work and Pensions)

Liberal DemocratMP for Torbay

What Steve said recently

Questions

Urgent question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make a statement on the management of the Maritime Coastguard Agency and proposed changes to payments made to Coastguard Rescue Officers.

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In my discussions with the Coast Guard in Torbay, they've they've shared the full spectrum of their activities. One of the most disturbing and harrowing of this is the recovery of dead bodies. Not only dead …”

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Debate

Department for Work and Pensions

“There are 96,000 civil servants working for the DWP; it is very much a leviathan. Most of those that I have come across are incredibly committed individuals who are professional and want to do the best for their community. What a sad thing …”

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Questions

Oral questions: Work and Pensions

“In deprived coastal communities such as Torbay, the NHS and the Department for Work and Pensions can make up a significant part of the job offer, including entry-level jobs for young people. It was therefore disturbing to hear last week tha…”

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Legislation

Health Bill

“As I am sure is the case in many other constituencies, the NHS is perhaps the most valued service in Torbay, where it is the largest employer. Ironically, while the Government talk about investing in the NHS, Torbay is looking at 300 volunt…”

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Debate

Getting Britain Working Again

“I would like to raise with the Minister the fact that we are looking at around 1,000 redundancies across the NHS in Devon, which is a significant employer. That is cutting the legs off employment in communities such as mine in Torbay.…”

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Legislation

Pension Schemes Bill

“The Liberal Democrats have opposed mandation from day one, and we have continued to oppose it throughout the passage of this Bill. The challenge is that once we cross the Rubicon, we change the dynamics of pensions significantly. Crucially,…”

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Legislation

Pension Schemes Bill

“As the shadow Secretary of State has said, there is a lot to be welcomed in the Bill. In considering the Bill, we have looked to Australia and Canada, and at best practice throughout the world, and there is much we have drawn from. For the …”

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Questions

Oral questions: Work and Pensions

“A recent Guardian report highlighted how young people from more deprived communities are facing discrimination through the apprenticeship system. As my honourable Friend the Member for South Devon (Caroline Voaden) alluded to, there is a pe…”

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Legislation

Pension Schemes Bill

“The Liberal Democrats broadly support the proposals before us in the Bill as a whole. I know from conversations with residents in Torbay that there are some challenges within the pensions market, and the Bill as a whole addresses an awful l…”

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Legislation

Pension Schemes Bill

“For many people, a pension is their second largest investment, after their home, but we must bear in mind that many others can only dream of having a private pension, as they face the challenges of the cost of living crisis. We Liberal Demo…”

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Urgent question

Urgent question: GP Contract

“GPs truly are the frontline of our NHS. I recently had the pleasure of meeting representatives from the Chilcote practice in Torquay. They shared with me their concerns about the global sum payment. Their calculations suggest that it should…”

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Questions

Oral questions: Work and Pensions

“Politics is all about choices. Last week, the Chancellor stood at the Dispatch Box with a choice: she could have chosen to reverse the jobs tax that is costing thousands of jobs for young people up and down the United Kingdom. Why she did s…”

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Debate

Local Government Finance

“For Torbay council, on which I still serve, incredible assumptions are being made about the levels of council tax being collected. That results in a deficit of £13 million in years 2 and 3 for a small unitary authority. Does my honourable F…”

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Debate

Social Security

“I welcome the proposals on child benefit and guardian’s allowance. When I visit schools in Torbay, it is disturbing to hear how many children are only too alive to the cost of living crisis. They are worried about mum or dad not having enou…”

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Debate

Business of the House

“Storms Ingrid and Chandra have wreaked havoc across Devon, whether it is flooding in Ottery Saint Mary, closure of the Dawlish rail line or having parts of our harbours and seafronts in Torbay ripped apart. Torbay council advised me that th…”

Read Steve’s full contribution →1× at the despatch box

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