DWP says transitional payments scheme for those losing Pip ‘one of most generous ever’ – as it happened

6.01pm BST

Early evening summary

• Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, has published the government’s universal credit and personal independence payment bill, claiming it represents “a new social contract” and that it will bring claimants “peace of mind”. (See 3.33pm.) She also claimed the three-month transitional payment for people who are losing Pip is “one of the most generous” transitional payments ever offered as part of a benefit change. (See 3.04pm.) Disability charities have restated their strong opposition to the plans, saying they will plunge hundreds of thousands of people into poverty. (See 4.48pm.)

• Angela Rayner has refused to rule out punishing Labour MPs who vote against the government’s plans to cut disability benefits in the coming weeks.

• Keir Starmer has been chairing an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday afternoon amid concerns the US is considering entering the conflict between Israel and Iran, as the UK continues to urge de-escalation.

• Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, has said Britain will pursue reform of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), both at home and in Strasbourg, saying “public confidence in the rule of law is fraying”.

• The high-speed rail network HS2 cannot be delivered on its current schedule and budget and will be delayed beyond 2033, the government has said, blaming the “appalling mess” left by the previous Conservative administrations for the overruns.

5.44pm BST

9 out of 10 people currently getting Pip will still be getting it in 2029/30 despite cuts, DWP claims

The Department for Work and Pensions has published two impact assessments with its UC and Pip bill – here and here.

The one covering Pip says that, by 2029/30, nine out of 10 people who are currently getting Pip will still be getting it even though the bill is tightening the eligibilty requirement. It explains:

Before the change is implemented there will be around 3.6m people on Pip. The department has published an evidence pack which shows that currently around 46% of those receiving PIP daily living score fewer than 4 points on any daily living activity. This does not mean that over 1.6m would lose PIP, because it does not take into account:

-People’s health changes – some get better and no longer need Pip whereas 1 in 5 people see their award increase at an award review and some will leave benefit for other reasons.

-OBR assume a behavioural response so that around 50% of people will now qualify when the new rules come into effect.

-Not all current claimants will have been reassessed under the new criterion.

-Together these factors mean the OBR expects 370,000 people to have a lower award or lose Pip due to this policy by 2029/30 – so around 9 in 10 of the original caseload not affected.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of people of working age people on Pip/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.