Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1082397

registered interest
date	05/03/2019
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	Workplace Pensions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many downloads of the Pensions Regulator assessment calculation spreadsheet there have been in each of the last five years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL14234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>We interpret the question to be referring to the Basic Assessment Tool spreadsheet data, which started in September 2015.</p><p>From 2015 to the end of 2018, the Pensions Regulator’s Basic Assessment Tool was downloaded a total of 6,776 times. The table below provides a breakdown of downloads in each year.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Downloads</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>74</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>4176</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>2268</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>258</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 12/03/2019 16:16:59 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1082398

registered interest
date	05/03/2019
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	Workplace Pensions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence and statistics they hold in relation to automatic enrolment pension contribution data errors.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL14235
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to my answer of 12th November 2018.</p><p>Employers, trustees, managers and providers must keep certain records including details of the pension contributions payable in each relevant pay reference period by an employer to the scheme, and the amount payable. This includes the contributions due on the employer’s behalf and deductions made from an individual’s earnings.</p><p>The Pensions Regulator has published codes of practice on its website setting out how trustees of defined contribution pension schemes and managers of personal pension schemes should monitor the payment of contributions, provide information to help members check their contributions and report material payment failures to The Pensions Regulator. However, The Pensions Regulator does not hold statistics on contribution data errors. The Pensions Regulator have payment failure reports from pension providers but these do not necessarily represent data errors.</p><p>In addition, The Pensions Regulator publishes regular assessments of its automatic enrolment compliance and enforcement activities as well as an annual commentary and analysis report, both of which are available on its website.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 12/03/2019 16:35:55 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1064174

registered interest
date	19/02/2019
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	Workplace Pensions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure the pensions industry routinely checks for auto-enrolment contribution data errors; and what reporting they require from (1) pension providers, (2) employers, and (3) payroll operators to verify the accuracy of contributions.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL13821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to my answers of 7 January 2019 and 18 December 2018. The regulatory regime is designed so that errors can be identified and material failures can be reported. The Pensions Regulator can then require restitution; and, where necessary, make use of its enforcement powers.</p><p>The Government keeps all aspects of automatic enrolment under regular review but has no plans to make changes to the compliance framework at this time.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 25/02/2019 16:11:12 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1064176

registered interest
date	19/02/2019
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	Bereavement Benefits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many families with children were receiving Bereavement Benefit or Bereavement Support Payments in (1) 2015–16, (2) 2016–17, and (3) 2017–18; and how many such families are estimated to receive payments in (a) 2018–19, and (b) 2019–20.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL13823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>The latest available information is given below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Widowed Parents Allowance recipients with dependants by Quarter, Feb 15 to Aug 18</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td><td><p>WPA with dependants</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Feb-15</strong></p></td><td><p>44,949</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>May-15</strong></p></td><td><p>45,589</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Aug-15</strong></p></td><td><p>43,667</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Nov-15</strong></p></td><td><p>43,206</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Feb-16</strong></p></td><td><p>44,350</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>May-16</strong></p></td><td><p>45,411</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Aug-16</strong></p></td><td><p>44,767</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Nov-16</strong></p></td><td><p>42,554</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Feb-17</strong></p></td><td><p>43,884</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>May-17</strong></p></td><td><p>44,138</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Aug-17</strong></p></td><td><p>39,164</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Nov-17</strong></p></td><td><p>38,751</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Feb-18</strong></p></td><td><p>38,158</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Aug-18</strong></p></td><td><p>34,254</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Source:</strong> Department for Work and Pensions</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><ol><li>Statistical disclosure control has been applied to this table to avoid the release of confidential data. Totals may not sum due to the disclosure control applied.</li><li><strong>Widowed Parents Allowance</strong>: Weekly benefit payable to widowed parents. A widow/widower may be entitled to this if his/her late spouse/civil partner had paid enough NIC and the widow/widower is receiving Child Benefit or can be treated as entitled to Child Benefit,or the late spouse/civil partner was receiving child benefit, or expecting her husband's/civil partner's baby (pregnant from fertility treatment).</li></ol><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Bereavement Support Payment claims in payment by rate of BSP and month, April 2017 to September 2018</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Rate of BSP</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p>Standard Rate</p></td><td><p>Higher Rate</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-17</strong></p></td><td><p>2,240</p></td><td><p>1,880</p></td><td><p>360</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May-17</strong></p></td><td><p>5,120</p></td><td><p>4,210</p></td><td><p>910</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun-17</strong></p></td><td><p>7,850</p></td><td><p>6,470</p></td><td><p>1,390</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul-17</strong></p></td><td><p>10,700</p></td><td><p>8,800</p></td><td><p>1,910</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug-17</strong></p></td><td><p>13,500</p></td><td><p>11,120</p></td><td><p>2,370</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep-17</strong></p></td><td><p>16,270</p></td><td><p>13,430</p></td><td><p>2,840</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Oct-17</strong></p></td><td><p>19,270</p></td><td><p>15,940</p></td><td><p>3,330</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nov-17</strong></p></td><td><p>22,250</p></td><td><p>18,450</p></td><td><p>3,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Dec-17</strong></p></td><td><p>25,440</p></td><td><p>21,160</p></td><td><p>4,280</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jan-18</strong></p></td><td><p>28,870</p></td><td><p>24,000</p></td><td><p>4,870</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Feb-18</strong></p></td><td><p>31,860</p></td><td><p>26,520</p></td><td><p>5,340</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Mar-18</strong></p></td><td><p>34,970</p></td><td><p>29,120</p></td><td><p>5,850</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-18</strong></p></td><td><p>37,940</p></td><td><p>31,650</p></td><td><p>6,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May-18</strong></p></td><td><p>40,960</p></td><td><p>34,030</p></td><td><p>6,930</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun-18</strong></p></td><td><p>43,860</p></td><td><p>36,410</p></td><td><p>7,450</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul-18</strong></p></td><td><p>46,870</p></td><td><p>38,900</p></td><td><p>7,970</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug-18</strong></p></td><td><p>49,870</p></td><td><p>41,390</p></td><td><p>8,480</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep-18</strong></p></td><td><p>52,730</p></td><td><p>43,740</p></td><td><p>8,990</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Source:</strong> Clerical administrative data</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p> </p><ol><li><strong>Rate of BSP:</strong> There are two rates at which BSP can be paid: higher or standard. Claimants who are entitled to Child Benefit or who were pregnant when their husband, wife or civil partner died will get the higher rate. All other claimants will get the standard rate.</li><li><strong>Month:</strong> These figures represent the situation at a specific point in time, which is on the last day of the reporting month. Monthly claims in payment figures include backdated payments.</li></ol><p> </p><p>Forecasted figures broken down to the level requested are not readily available, and to provide them would incur disproportionate costs. However, the figures available at a broader level are presented below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Caseload information by Bereavement benefits</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Bereavement related benefits caseload</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19 Forecast (in thousands)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019/20 Forecast (in thousands)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Bereavement Allowance (previously widow's Pension)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>103 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>98 </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>of which working age</p></td><td><p>103</p></td><td><p>98</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>of which pensioners</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Bereavement Support Payment</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>49 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>55 </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>of which higher rate</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>of which lower rate</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>46</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Bereavement benefits &amp; Widow's benefits</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>54 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>43 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol><li>Caseload figures represent an average over the full financial year; caseloads for benefits which commenced or ended during a financial year still reflect an average over the full year.</li><li>Numbers for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20 are forecasts, and as such are liable to change.</li><li>Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.</li><li>‘-‘ Denotes nil or negligible.</li><li>‘.’ Denotes not available.</li></ol> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 27/02/2019 15:32:57 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029080

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the monthly estimates of new claims to Universal Credit through natural migration before July 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2019 answer text <p>We cannot predict precisely when a claimant’s circumstances will change as this will be due to a significant change of circumstances that would have caused a new claim to be made to a different legacy benefit. Claimants cannot make a claim to legacy benefits, as these have been replaced by Universal Credit, with national roll-out completed last month.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 08/01/2019 17:58:03 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029081

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken into the accessibility needs of disabled people due to undergo the managed migration process as part of the move to Universal Credit.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>The Department is committed to ensuring that all claimants are fully supported during the managed migration process. We are currently working closely with a large and diverse range of stakeholders, including those supporting disabled people, to design processes that work for everyone and most effectively support those who will need help during migration.</p><p> </p><p>We have said that we will begin managed migration on a small scale in 2019 to pilot our processes and ensure that they are working, adapting them and building on feedback before we begin to take on larger volumes of claimants.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 07/01/2019 16:47:20 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029082

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to engage with (1) disabled people, and (2) organisations representing disabled people about the accessibility needs of those undertaking managed migration as part of the move to Universal Credit.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>We are working closely with stakeholders and other parties to design the best possible process for the migration of all of our customers, including those with disabilities, to Universal Credit. Our focus will be on safeguarding claimants and ensuring a smooth transition with uninterrupted support. We will have a comprehensive and well-supported preparation period for claimants.</p><p> </p><p>This will include a variety of communication formats, including face-to-face, internet and postal notification, to ensure claimants are aware of the managed migration process. There is flexibility to extend that period if necessary for claimants; and a process to ensure that, before the existing benefits are stopped, our staff will check for evidence of complex needs or vulnerability or disability and act accordingly to support the claimant.</p><p> </p><p>We have agreed to explore options for improving the process of consent in collaboration with the Social Security Advisory Committee’s to consider how current practices could be enhanced, and we will publish a report on our joint conclusions.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 07/01/2019 17:53:27 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029083

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to conduct an impact assessment of the proposed managed migration process to Universal Credit; if so, whether they will publish that assessment; and if so, when.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>In our response the Social Security Advisory Committee on 5 November 2018 we committed to conducting detailed Equality Assessments of migration plans. This is an iterative process and will be fully evaluated with equality impacts reassessed in accordance with the evaluation. We will publish an assessment of the impacts of managed migration prior to increasing the scale.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely publish reviews of Universal Credit. These include the Universal Credit Impact Assessment (December 2012) and the Universal Credit Programme Full Business Case Summary (June 2018), which sets out the rationale for Universal Credit as well as the financial impacts it is expected to have.</p><p> </p><p>We plan to publish a full evaluation of Universal Credit when it has been fully implemented.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 07/01/2019 16:49:24 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029084

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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: Internet
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for people who are unable to use the online system for Universal Credit application and migration.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12432
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>Anyone who requires help making their claim online can call our Freephone helpline to find out what help and support is available. Claimants can also access the internet for free at their local Jobcentre, Council or library. If new claimants, or those who have experienced a change in circumstances resulting in their migration to Universal Credit, need more intensive or specific support, help is available through our current Universal Support Assisted Digital Service. This provides bespoke help, support and skills for claimants to make and maintain their digital account online.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the design process for managed migration, we are considering different approaches for how to best migrate claimants onto Universal Credit. We are currently working closely with a large and diverse range of stakeholders to design migration processes that work for everyone and which most effectively support those who will need more help.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit has been designed with accessibility in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants, including vulnerable groups, so we ensure that we make reasonable adjustments to meet claimant’s individual needs to allow them to access our services and information. This means that for example, the Department can communicate with customers in a variety of different formats such as Braille, audio, large print, or by arranging for a member of staff to visit the customer in their home.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 07/01/2019 16:58:11 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1029085

registered interest
date	19/12/2018
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to require employers to report annually on actions they, or their agents, have taken to verify that contributions made on behalf of staff to auto-enrolment pension schemes are (1) correct, and (2) have been amended if they were found to be incorrect; and if not, what discussions they have had with the Pensions Regulator about introducing such a requirement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL12433
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2019 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to my answer of 18 December. The regulatory regime is designed so that errors can be identified and material failures can be reported, the Pensions Regulator can then require restitution; and, where necessary, make use of its enforcement powers. The Government keeps all aspects of automatic enrolment under regular review but has no plans to make changes to the compliance framework at this time.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 07/01/2019 14:20:58 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann