therese coffey.covid to start immediately, accusing the uk government of "rampant cronyism" over the awarding of contracts during the crisis. the party's westminster leader said the uk had seen "the very best in our society" during these tough times. but the pandemic has led to opportunism, for greed and for covid profits above accountability. because this tory government is guilty of funnelling covid cash from the frontline into the pockets of its rich friends. we are talking about endemic cronyism during a global pandemic. i respectfully suggest that before he starts throwing stones at the uk government, he looks at his own government's record in edinburgh. over 160 contracts awarded by the scottish government worth £539 million from nhs scotland, the scottish government and scottish local authorities during the pandemic were awarded to suppliers with no competitive process. it is quite clear that every government... absolutely right! ..on these islands and around the world were dealing with an unp

the work and pensions secretary therese coffey told mps the temporary increase to universal credit willwelfare secretaries have urged ministers not to end the uplift. ahead of october, we will start communicating with the current claimants who receive the £20 to make them aware that that will be being phased out, and they will start to see an adjustment in their payments. i think it really kicks in largely in october, but it will start to kick in, i think towards late september for some people. so the current proposal is that we will be recognising that this was brought in in—line with the temporary measures to support people during the covid pandemic. it's being phased out in line with all the other temporary measures that are also being removed. it was a law introduced to keep the conservative coalition with the liberal democrats together. but mps have now given their initial approval to a plan to scrap the fixed term parliaments act which deprived a prime minister of the power to call a general election at a time of their choosing. the dissolution and calling of parliament bill will

the work and pensions secretary therese coffey has told mps that it'll happen from september.t.. it has amounted to £1000 per year and we believe that has helped perhaps up to 6 million people at a cost of £6 billion per year and driving this is the treasury who have borrowed vast amounts to give help during the pandemic but do not want to see that turning into a permanent spending that would have to be funded. they say it is right that it goes as other temporary measures are also going and they say it will only get three months after restrictions are lifted this summer. so we had conservative minister saint state that this is an issue about getting finances in order and keeping things in control. but the opposition says it could tip many people into poverty and debt and that itself will impose costs. and you say that there has been opposition and six former conservative welfare secretaries have written to the government saying it should stay and moving it contradicts the government levelling up agenda.— levelling up agenda. damon, thank ou. plans to change travel restrictions

the work and pensions secretary therese coffey has told mps that it'll happen from september.ying that this payment will be stopped. it has amounted to £1000 per year and we believe that has helped perhaps up to 6 million people at a cost of £6 billion per year. and driving this is the treasury, who have borrowed vast amounts to give help during the pandemic, but do not want to see that turning into permanent spending that would have to be funded. they say it's right that it goes as other temporary measures are also going and they say it will only happen three months after restrictions are lifted this summer. so, we had conservative ministers saying today that this is an issue about getting finances in order and keeping things in control. but the opposition says removing it could tip many people into poverty and debt and that itself will impose costs. and you say that there has been opposition, six former conservative welfare secretaries have written to the government saying it should stay, this payment, and moving it contradicts the government's own levelling up agenda. so th

work and pensions secretary therese coffey told mps the boost — introduced in april last year to helpfor some of the neediest families in the country and some estimates say up to 6 million households have benefited from it. but what the government is saying is that this will now come to an end from the end of september, that is when it has been extended up to and the treasury are saying it's right that uplift goes. it had been extended for another six months earlier this year and they are saying that as the restrictions are wound down this provides an extra three months of payments but at that point it seems it will stop. their decision was made within government to make sure that £20 was extended _ government to make sure that £20 was extended for the six months and that is extended for the six months and that is being _ extended for the six months and that is being honoured but a collective decision— is being honoured but a collective decision was made that as we see the economy— decision was made that as we see the economy open up we shift the focus strongly— economy open up we shi