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1134845

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free TV licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in the (a) Livingston constituency and (b) West Lothian local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.
tabling member constituency	Livingston
tabling member printed	Hannah Bardell
uin	269762
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020.</p><p>The government and the BBC agreed this is a fair deal for the BBC - in return we closed the iPlayer loophole and committed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation. And to help with financial planning, we agreed to provide phased transitional funding over 2 years to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.</p><p>This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament.</p><p>On 10 June 2019, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/age-related-tv-licence-policy" target="_blank">announced</a> that the current scheme will end. From 1 June 2020, a free TV licence will only be available to a household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit.</p><p>The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 years and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(a) Livingston constituency</strong></p></td><td><p>£0.82</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(b) West Lothian local authority area</strong></p></td><td><p>£1.39</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/07/2019 15:36:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4486 label Biography information for Hannah Bardell

1134887

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all pensioners claim all of the pension credit they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	269631
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p>Potential customers can use the Pension Credit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234.</p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant stakeholders a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the changes introduced on 15 May for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/07/2019 15:51:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1134889

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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, what is the median advance payment awarded to people awaiting their first payment of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The median payment for new claim and benefit transfer advances was £380.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>The figure relates to Universal Credit full service only</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest £</p><p>The median is based on those advances paid between March 18 and February 2019</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/07/2019 16:34:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134893

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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, how many and what proportion of repayment schedules for advance payments awarded to people awaiting their first universal credit claim have been timetabled to (a) one to three months, (b) four to six months, (c) seven to nine months and (d) 10-12 months by Jobcentre Plus district in the most recent period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269646
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The repayment schedule for an advance payment is agreed by the claimant.</p><p>The information requested is provided in the attached table which gives the proportion of repayment schedules for new claim and benefit transfer advances by Jobcentre Plus district.</p><p>From October 2021 we will be increasing the recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months, further supporting those in financial need.</p><p>Notes:</p><p>The figures relate to Universal Credit full service only</p><p>The figures are rounded to the nearest %</p><p>The proportions are based on those advances paid between March 18 and February 2019</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/07/2019 16:31:42 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma attachment 1 file name PQ 269646 table.xlsx title Table attachment
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134904

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) disability and (b) work capability assessments were carried out with a home visit in 2018-19 in each DWP Region.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>Please find the information requested below. PIP and HDAS both have separate estate delivery models resulting in a significant difference in numbers of home visits. I have interpreted ‘(a) disability’ as PIP assessments.</p><p> </p><p>This is unpublished data derived from the DWP0400 report. The numbers are unpublished data, derived from assessment provider MI.</p><p> </p><p>(a) PIP data does not align to DWP regions, however, I have provided the data in the relevant Lots. Lot 1 (Scotland, north-east and north-west England), Lot 2 (Central England and Wales) and Lot 3 (South East and South West England):</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Personal Independence Payment completed as Home Visits Contract Lot</strong> <strong>April 18 - March 19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 1 – Scotland &amp; the North</p></td><td><p>76,890</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 2 – Wales and The Midlands</p></td><td><p>116,630</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 3 – The South of England</p></td><td><p>47,160</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Lot 2 numbers are higher due to the supplier business model; Lot 1 is higher than Lot 3 due to the higher proportion of rural areas.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>(b) Work Capability Assessment data by DWP regions:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Work Capability Assessments completed as Home Visits by DWP Region <br> April 18 - March 19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central</p></td><td><p>2,070</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London &amp; Home Counties</p></td><td><p>1,460</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>2,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>1,590</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>1,350</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Southern</p></td><td><p>1,080</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>630</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Figures rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All Assessment Providers are required to undertake home visits where there is a clinical need to do so and assess all cases prior to routing them for assessment. In PIP, there is some contract flexibility in the delivery of home assessments over and above the clinical requirement.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/07/2019 16:42:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134965

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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, with reference to her Written Statement of 20 December 2018, HCWS1224, what progress she has made on the introduction of light touch reviews for people with long-term health conditions who are in receipt of personal independence payment.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	269799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The light touch process has yet to be fully designed (the first ones will not be due until 2023 – 10 years after PIP was first introduced) but we would not expect it to involve a full assessment unless the claimant’s circumstances have significantly changed. The review is intended to maintain a minimum level of contact with claimants. We will involve our stakeholders in designing the review process so that it adds value and best meets the needs of our claimants.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/07/2019 12:56:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1135045

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what processes he has in place to enable relatives with lasting power of attorney registered with the Public Guardian to apply for pension credit on behalf of those for whom they are responsible; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
uin	269612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has processes in place to ensure that someone with a Power of Attorney can make a claim for Pension Credit on behalf of those for whom they are responsible. The Department’s guidance on this is available <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procedures-for-dealing-with-agents-appointees-attorneys-deputies-and-third-parties" target="_blank">online</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In order to confirm that an individual has the authority to act on behalf of the claimant, we ask to see the relevant Power of Attorney document and may need to verify authenticity with the Office of the Public Guardian or Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland). The original document can be taken into one of the Department’s offices or sent to the Department; a copy, authenticated by the claimant or donor, a lawyer or a stockbroker as a ‘true copy’, is equally acceptable.</p><p> </p><p>Subject to confirmation that an individual has the authority to act on behalf of the claimant, the simplest method of making a claim is by telephone, which removes the need for claimants and their representatives to complete lengthy application forms. However, paper forms are also available for those who prefer and can be completed with the assistance of a DWP visiting officer if required.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/07/2019 15:57:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1134443

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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: County Durham
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 265489 on Personal Independence Payment, for what reason recent correspondence on casework enquiries to hon. Members states that waiting times for personal independence payments mandatory reconsiderations are 10 to 12 weeks in County Durham and table 7D, entitled MR clearance time (median calendar days), normal rules, by year of clearance, region and local authority of her Department's quarterly statistical publication, Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to April 2019 states that such waiting times are 39 median calendar days.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	269031
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The figures published in table 7D of the publication “Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to April 2019” are based on median calendar days that a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) is cleared in each Financial Year. Clearance times can vary over time, and the median time is the middle value if all the times were ordered from lowest value to highest value.</p><p> </p><p>Table 7C of the same publication shows median clearance times by month for Great Britain as a whole, with April 2019 being the latest month official statistics have been published for.</p><p> </p><p>There is no legislative clearance target for a mandatory reconsideration. However, from late May 2019 claimants have been advised that, as a guide, they should hear from the Department within 10 weeks.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/07/2019 14:01:58 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1134454

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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: Maintanance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many committal orders have been issued under each category for (a) the Child Maintenance Service and (b) the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	269080
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Committal orders, or sanctions as they are called in the Child Maintenance Service, are reported in our published statistics and can be on found table 11 of the tables document on the attached link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-march-2019-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-march-2019-experimental</a></p><p> </p><p>We reported enforcement activities in our CSA statistics until September 2017 when we reduced the number of tables published because most CSA cases had been closed or had begun the Case Closure process. The last publication including the enforcement activities can be found on table 22 of the attached link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-june-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-june-2017</a></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 01/07/2019 16:56:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1134464

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Jobcentres: Stanley
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints Stanley Job Centre has received in relation to disabled access throughout the building in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	269005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), information about complaints is only held for the last 14 months, not the last five years that has been requested. For this period we have identified one complaint that was raised about disabled access in Stanley Jobcentre.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is committed to meeting the needs of all disabled customers and has a legal duty to ensure all services are accessible to them. Staff at Stanley Jobcentre have access to a range of comprehensive guidance that covers the key areas of customer accessibility needs. These include customer accessibility instructions, general rules regarding access to benefits and services, customer access to Jobcentre staff lift facilities and customer access to Jobcentre staff toilet facilities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 269006 question first answered 01/07/2019 16:19:23 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones