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Hello, I'm Susan Hume and this is the Yesterday in Parliament podcast. Monday,

the 17th of March, was the day before the work in pension secretary was due to reveal the details of her overhaul of the benefit system.

But some MPs were keen to get their views over in advance.

All governments practice news management, giving tip-offs to the media about forthcoming policies to test the reaction or soften us up in advance.

The hints about cuts to welfare had certainly managed one thing, to frighten some constituents

and their MPs.

I am really, really worried sick for my constituents who suffer from mental issues

because of our conflict of 30 years, but also physical issues as well.

What steps will be taken to ensure that people like Christopher

are treated with fairness and dignity and given the support that they need?

For weeks the government's active trailing of welfare cuts has generated genuine fear.

The Work and Pension Secretary Liz Kendall seemed quite concerned herself

at what had been unleashed ahead of her benefits announcement.

So unusually she started her routine commons question session by addressing it.

Before I answer, I want to say there has understandably been lots of speculation about the government's reforms to social security.

She wanted to assure the public her proposals were designed.

To ensure there is trust and fairness in the social security system and to ensure that it is there for people who need it now and for years to come. Well, that didn't really reassure MPs, so their questions

kept coming. It's thought the government intends to rein in the growing bill for welfare, in part,

by changes to the main disability benefit, PIP. Pressure from Labour MPs means ministers

appear to have backed away from freezing the benefit, but may still plan to restrict who can get it.

The SNPs, Kirsty Blackman, wondered who'd be caught. If someone has an amputation, schizophrenia,

...