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573534

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what forms of medical evidence his Department accepts for personal independence payments claims from a person suffering from (a) myalgic encephalopathy and (b) other illnesses with variable symptoms that permit part-time work.
tabling member constituency	Torbay
tabling member printed	Kevin Foster
uin	44154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non-means-tested, non-taxable cash benefit that is paid regardless of the employment status of the claimant. It has been designed to take full account of fluctuating and variable conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The Department encourages claimants to provide as much relevant evidence as necessary to support their claim. The “How your disability affects you” form and accompanying guidance sets out the range of information that can help the Department reach a decision. The guidance for Health Professionals also sets out sources of further evidence which could help inform their advice to the Department (Section 2.3 Further Evidence); this includes family members, carers or anyone else who supports them.</p><p> </p><p>This guidance can be accessed on the gov.uk website:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 12/09/2016 12:44:20 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster

573535

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department issues on the assessment of (a) rare conditions and (b) hereditary angioedema for personal independence payment claims.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	44113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to treat people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability.</p><p> </p><p>The assessment is carried out by registered health professionals who have specialist training in assessing the impact of disability and health conditions on an individual’s functional ability, including some rare conditions. Prior to carrying out an assessment they routinely refresh their knowledge of any condition with which they are not fully familiar.</p><p> </p><p>The PIP Assessment Guide for Health Professionals includes guidance on the assessment criteria and how they should be applied. This guidance can be accessed on the gov.uk website:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>Since its inception, all aspects of the PIP assessment process have been continually reviewed and refined in order to improve its efficiency, effectiveness and the experience of all claimants including those with rare conditions. As part of this continuous improvement process, Paul Gray CB is undertaking the second independent review of the PIP assessment.</p><p> </p><p>The review will look at all stages of the PIP process, with a particular focus on the use of further evidence in the claim process, data sharing and the claimant experience. The terms of reference were published in July and can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/534681/terms-of-reference-pip-second-independent-review.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/534681/terms-of-reference-pip-second-independent-review.pdf</a>. The report will be laid before Parliament by April 2017.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 44265 question first answered 12/09/2016 14:17:00 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

573536

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with groups representing people with rare conditions on the criteria used in personal independence payment assessments.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	44112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process works effectively across the spectrum of disabilities and health conditions, including rare conditions.</p><p> </p><p>I, along with my officials, meet regularly with disability representative groups, including members of our Implementation Stakeholder Forum which hears views from a wide range of organisations representing and supporting disabled people, including those with rare conditions. We have worked extensively with them to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure a quality service for all claimants including those with rare conditions.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 44266 question first answered 12/09/2016 13:58:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

573537

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Access to Work Programme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Access to Work scheme and (b) its administration.
tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
uin	44140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>Access to Work continues to support over 36,000 people per year take up or retain employment. Last year the scheme helped people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and young people in larger numbers than ever before.</p><p> </p><p>On 2 September 2016 we launched the Access to Work Digital Service in response to customer feedback requesting a more convenient, accessible and quicker process. This transformation will also enable staff to administer the scheme more efficiently as we look to increase the number of disabled people who could be helped into or remain in work as part of the Government’s ambition to halve the disability employment gap.</p><p> </p><p>The Spending Review announcement confirmed we’re increasing the capacity of Access to Work through a real term increase in spending starting in 16/17. Funding will reflect the numbers of applicants and their needs, and recognises expected increases in demand of around 25,000 extra customers by the end of the Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>To support this we have been working with jobcentres, businesses and local organisations to promote the Access to Work Scheme. We have also promoted Access to Work as part of the Disability Confident Campaign and are currently looking at further marketing and promotion of the Access to Work programme.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 12/09/2016 14:35:04 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

573877

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Separated People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is provision to ensure that both parents in a separated couple receive financial assistance for their children when joint custody has been approved.
tabling member constituency	Torbay
tabling member printed	Kevin Foster
uin	44174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>Where a separated couple have joint custody for their children, only one of them will receive financial assistance for those children through Universal Credit. The separated couple may jointly nominate which of them that will be. The parent who receives financial support is the one whom the child normally lives with, but if the child normally lives with both, then it is the parent who has main responsibility for the child. This is to be decided by the parents, or failing that, the Secretary of State if the parents cannot agree or if the Secretary of State does not think that the nomination accurately reflects the arrangement. HM Revenue &amp; Customs administer Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit and the rules similarly require that payment is directed towards the person who is mainly responsible for the child, so that at any one time, only one person can be entitled to receive payments in respect of a particular child.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/09/2016 12:33:55 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster

573878

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: Brexit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the UK to leave the EU since 23 June 2016; and what further such steps his Department plans to take in the remainder of 2016.
tabling member constituency	Lincoln
tabling member printed	Karl McCartney
uin	44256
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and a wide range of other interested parties.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/09/2016 16:21:51 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4028 label Biography information for Karl McCartney

573882

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the adequacy of the level of protection against discrimination in employment, training and career development for people with disabilities.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Danny Kinahan
uin	44169
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>Equality legislation for Disabled People is devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.</p><p>In Great Britain, the Equality Act 2010 defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-today activities”. Where an employee/applicant or service-user has a condition that fits the definition of a disability, they are protected under the 2010 Act. Employers and service-providers are therefore required to make reasonable adjustments available in order to ensure that disabled people are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who do not have a disability.</p><p> </p><p>It is for the courts to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether there has been disability discrimination where a reasonable adjustment has not been made available.</p><p> </p><p>For those who need additional support over and above that which is a reasonable adjustment, Access to Work can help. Access to Work provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. Access to Work continues to support over 36,000 people per year take up or retain employment.</p><p> </p><p>Disability Confident, on which this Department leads, was launched by the then Prime Minister in July 2013 to challenge perceptions, engage employers and promote good practice.</p><p> </p><p>Disability Confident is about creating a movement for change - getting employers to think differently about disability and to take action to improve how they attract, recruit and retain disabled workers.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 12/09/2016 15:56:41 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4381 label Biography information for Danny Kinahan

573883

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve the life chances of people with disabilities.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Danny Kinahan
uin	44170
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving the life chances of disabled people and has made a commitment to halve the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people.</p><p>The Government is working with employers through Disability Confident to challenge attitudes towards disability and ensure that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. Since 2013 the number of disabled people in work has increased by almost half a million (493,000). Nearly 3.4 million disabled people are now in employment.</p><p>Access to Work provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose heath or disability affects the way they do their job. 36,470 individuals were helped by Access to Work in the 2015/16 including record numbers of people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and young people. Last year’s Spending review announced a real-terms increase in funding for access to work starting in 16/17 to enable the scheme to help a further 25,000 people by the end of the parliament.</p><p>Work Choice is a voluntary contracted specialist disability employment programme introduced in 2010 and helps people with disabilities whose needs cannot be met through other employment programmes, Access to Work or workplace adjustments. It provides individually tailored support (e.g. job search skills, basic training, and work placements) for disabled people who face the most complex employment barriers to find and stay in work.</p><p>Later this year, we will produce a Green Paper exploring a range of options to close the disability employment gap and transform the lives and prospects of disabled people, and conduct a consultation which will reach out to disabled people and their representative organisations.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 12/09/2016 16:56:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4381 label Biography information for Danny Kinahan

573887

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Workplace Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to improve the affordability of existing pension schemes for companies.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	44305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the fact that some parts of the Defined Benefit (DB) pension sector are concerned about the current economic climate, but the situation is very mixed, and the experiences of schemes differ. We do not believe there is a systemic problem but we continually look at ways to improve the affordability of schemes.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 12/09/2016 13:16:01 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

573888

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of working parents and carers receiving universal credit who will be required to work increased hours under in-work conditionality that (a) are unable to work full-time hours and (b) will require flexible working arrangements.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	44315
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/09/2016 11:49:07 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray