Work and Pensions Committee — hearing of 4 November 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Work and Pensions Committee

4 November 2026

Contents updated on 4 Nov 2026

The Chair opens the session, Dame Sarah Healey sets out initial priorities on modernising DWP systems and services, and early questions explore how devolution and existing devolved funding will shape future employment support and accountability arrangements.

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Opening, DWP priorities and devolution context

00:05

Opening and Permanent Secretary’s initial priorities

00:05

Devolution by default — accountability and employment support

05:58

Safeguarding, organisational culture and departmental performance

11:31

Safeguarding culture and customer experience concerns

11:31

Internal culture, managing change and staff confidence

21:04

Devolution outcomes, oversight and ‘what works’ for employment support

24:41

Handling administrative failures, EHRC investigation and civil service pensions

30:00

Carer’s Allowance overpayments and corrective reforms

38:37

Carer’s Allowance overpayments — leadership culture and reassessment exercise

38:37

Correcting Carer’s Allowance errors, civil penalties and taper reform

45:04

State Pension age communication and safeguarding data issues

51:21

State Pension age communications and HMRC–DWP data governance

51:21

Safeguarding training metrics and recording domestic abuse risks

01:06:47

Fraud, error, AI use and benefit take-up

01:14:06

Fraud and error strategy, Public Authorities Act and PSFA move

01:14:06

Official error versus fraud, underpayments and unclaimed entitlements

01:23:08

Use of AI and cyber resilience in fraud, plus Pension Credit take‑up

01:29:57

Disability benefits timeliness and service modernisation

01:36:08

PIP processing timeliness and Health Transformation Programme

01:36:08

Service modernisation, legacy IT and external innovation

01:41:39

Jobs and Careers Service launch and personalised employment support

01:47:50

Closing of evidence session

01:55:35

Closing of evidence session

01:55:35

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Work and Pensions Committee

4 November 2026

Work and Pensions Committee Wed, 4 Nov 2026 House of Commons

Follow its sittings

00:04 - 00:39

Speaker 1

And welcome to this evidence session on the DWP annual report and accounts. And it's a pleasure to welcome the new permanent secretary, Dame Sarah Healey. Your first session with us here today, very warm welcome. And you're joined by Catherine Vaughan. And I have your title, Catherine, here.

You're the Director General for Finance. And Katherine Green, Director General for Labour Market and Skills. And Neil, as well, warm welcome again. You're Director General for Services and Fraud.

00:39 - 00:41

Speaker 3

Hello, Chair.

00:41 - 00:50

Speaker 1

Let's start then. Dame Sarah, you've been permanent secretary now for, what, a couple of months now, coming up to three months?

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