The new team at the Department for Work and Pensions is:
Secretary of State – Rt Hon David Gauke MP
Minister of State for Employment – Damian Hinds MP
Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work – Penny Mordaunt MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion – Guy Opperman MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance – Caroline Dinenage MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lords) – Baroness Buscombe
Penny Mordaunt and Damian Hinds are continuing in their previous roles.
It appears that some of the Tory manifesto pledges may now be dropped post election (the parts crossed out)-
'• maintain the triple lock on the state pension until 2020, and then introduce a new double lock where pensions will rise in line with earnings or infation, whichever is highest
• ensure that state pension age refects increases in life expectancy
• means-test winter fuel payments
• maintain all other pensioner bene ts, including free bus passes, eye tests, prescriptions and TV licences, for the duration of this parliament
• legislate to give unemployed disabled claimants, or those with a health condition, personalised and tailored employment support.'
There has been no mention of ceasing the current programme of £13 billion in other welfare cuts already planned for the period 2015-2020.
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