News - Justin Tomlinson

Swindon Advertiser Column - Green Paper Will Ensure Disabled People Can Lead Independent Lives And Fulfil Their Potential

Jul 23, 2021

This week in Parliament I was very proud to publish the Health & Disability Green Paper, looking at how the Department for Work & Pensions both provides support for disabled people. A Green Paper sets out our intentions for potential improvements and starts a 12-week consultation period, which will end October 12th. We will then consider all the responses and then bring forward our plans for further improvements and potentially new legislation. The Green Paper focus on two main areas a...

Ban On Knives, Firearms And Offensive Weapons Comes Into Force

Jul 22, 2021

A tough ban on a wide range of knives, weapons, and firearms comes into force today as part of government action to tackle violent crime and serious violence. Cyclone knives, spiral knives and ‘rapid-fire’ rifles are among those covered by the ban, all of which have been associated with serious violence in communities across the country. A new legal definition of flick knives, banned since 1959, also takes effect, resulting in more of these bladed weapons being outlawed. All weapons banned in pu...

North Swindon MP Comments On Health And Disability Green Paper

Jul 22, 2021

Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson MP has hailed the importance of the recently published Health and Disability Green Paper in UK, which he has announced alongside other colleagues within the Department for Work and Pensions. The DWP’s publishing of the latest Green Paper comes after nearly 18 months of consultations, many of them virtual due to the pandemic, and is aimed at improving the DWP’s services for people with disabilities and health conditions in the UK. The Green Paper set...

Justin Welcomes DWP’s Response To Health Is Everyone’s Business Campaign

Jul 21, 2021

North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson speaking as the Minister for Disabled People is welcoming the response of the Department for Work and Pensions response to the Government’s ‘Health is Everyone’s Business’ initiative, as a means of address the disability employment gap. Health is Everyone’s Business is a stakeholder led consultation, which seeks views on different ways in which government and employers can take action to reduce ill health-related job losses. Disabled people and people with long...

Justin Tomlinson MP To Host Annual Summer Activities Fair On 24th July

Jul 21, 2021

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson will be hosting his annual Summer Activities Fair at the Orbital Shopping Park on Saturday 24th July from 10am – 1pm. The event is making a welcome return to North Swindon residents, after the fair could not be held in 2020. The event will take place in the open space at the Orbital, alongside the play area and in front of Next and Boots. It follows the success of previous fairs which saw different organisations from across the Swindon and Wiltshire area coming ...

Ministers Seek To Stamp out Rip-offs With New Consumer Protections

Jul 20, 2021

An arsenal of planned reforms to boost competition and shield the public from rip-offs as the UK builds back fairer from the pandemic have been unveiled by the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng. The government will change the law so prepayment schemes like Christmas savings clubs have to safeguard customers’ money, protecting consumers’ cash as they save for the holidays. The change will prevent scandals like Farepak happening again, where tens of thousands of people, many on low incomes, lost a...

Lock Down Restrictions Ease Further As Step 4 Of Roadmap Begins

Jul 19, 2021

Following the successful vaccine rollout by the UK Government, with an incredible 80,975,508 total vaccinations given so far, restrictions have been eased further today. The changes coming into effect today include: • Removing restrictions on how many people can meet in any setting, indoors or outdoors • The opening of all settings, including nightclubs. Large events like music concerts and sporting events can resume without attendance limits. Organisers are encouraged to use vaccine certificat...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Young Lions Did England Proud

Jul 16, 2021

On Sunday I tuned in to the football, hoping to see England beat Italy in the final of Euro 2020 and win their first major tournament in 55 years. Unfortunately, it was not to be… Despite a fantastic performance by the England squad, Italy managed to match us and edged through to lift the trophy via penalties. Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, three of England’s youngest players, showed immense courage in stepping up to take penalties, and should feel nothing but pride for represe...

Swindon Advertiser Column - Fast Tracked Access To Benefits For People With Terminal Illness Expanded

Jul 09, 2021

In my role as the Minister for Disabled People, I am very proud to be announcing a change to the Special Rules for the Terminally Ill, which apply to five DWP benefits: Universal Credit, ESA, AA, DLA and PIP. As it stands, if you are deemed to be Terminally Ill your application is fast-tracked. So in the case of PIP, the application typically takes 16 weeks (the award is backdated), whilst those processed under the Special Rules takes 5 days. Understandably the fast-tracked process is essentia...

Fast Tracked Access To Benefits For People With Terminal Illness Expanded

Jul 09, 2021

North Swindon MP and Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson, has announced that fast-tracked access to benefits will be extended to more people diagnosed with a terminal illness, increasing the support for those nearing the end of their lives. Changes announced today confirm that the current Special Rules for Terminal Illness which fast-track benefit applications for those with a terminal diagnosis of six months is to be replaced with a new 12-month, end of life definition. The move will...