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1657563

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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	Local Housing Allowance: Families
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on families of freezing local housing allowance rates for the past three years.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL9771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2023 answer text <p>No Assessment has been made, however the department works closely with stakeholders, Jobcentres and Local Authorities to understand the impact of its policies on families.</p><p> </p><p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) policy is kept under regular review and rates are reviewed annually by the Secretary of State. LHA rates are not intended to meet all rents in all areas.</p><p>In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of market rents. This significant investment has been maintained ensuring that everyone who benefited continues to do so.</p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available for those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011 we have provided nearly £1.6 billion in funding to local authorities for DHPs.</p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively.</p><p>Over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 the Government is providing support in excess of £94 billion to help households with the rising cost of living.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/09/2023 12:41:24 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1657658

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: Australia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had last year with the government of Australia, if any, on the issue of frozen state pensions.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2023 answer text <p>His Majesty's Government did not have any discussions on this issue last year with the Government of Australia.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/09/2023 12:40:39 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1657659

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: Uprating
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Department for Work and Pension's Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries: 2024 to 2028, published on 19 July, whether they can publish the background workings to the estimated costs of uprating the State Pension in frozen rate countries.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2023 answer text <p>The methodology is relatively straight forward and is contained within the publication but quoted below for ease:</p>Estimates of projected costs<p>1. The estimate is based on the latest available data (March 2022) from the 5% extract of DWP’s State Pension administrative data, the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry (QSE).</p><p>2. The QSE is used to estimate the volume of individuals in frozen rate countries and their State Pension amounts.</p><p>3. The State Pension amount, for all current and future recipients, is uprated (using the relevant indices) to the level they would have been if they had never been frozen.</p><p>4. To estimate the costs for subsequent financial years we make adjustments to the underlying caseload and associated costs by:</p><ul><li>applying mortality rates to existing cases, based on age and gender;</li><li>adding forecasts of future State Pension claims, which are based on historical trends and expected changes in the population, and are adjusted for mortality; and</li><li>uprating State Pension amounts using economic assumptions from the Office for Budget Responsibility at Spring Budget 2023.</li></ul><p>5. The total cost for a given financial year is the difference between the uprated State Pension amounts and the frozen State Pension amounts.</p><p>As with all estimates of projected costs, there is a degree of uncertainty, however where possible we have taken steps to try to minimise any significant measurement error.</p><p>Links for the relevant data sources publicly available are:</p><p>- OBR economic assumption for the relevant uprating indices <a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/Long_term_economic-determinants_March_2023_EFO-2.xlsx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>- Mortality projections <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/datasets/mortalityratesqxprincipalprojectionenglandandwales" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>- Benefit expenditure and caseload tables (table State_Pension) <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2023" target="_blank">here</a></p><p>- Stat-Xplore SP outturn data from Nov 20 <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml" target="_blank">here</a></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/09/2023 12:44:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1657660

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: Uprating
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Department for Work and Pension's Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries: 2024 to 2028, published on 19 July, whether there is any precedent where, when pensions were once frozen but started being uprated as a result of an international agreement, the pensions concerned were raised to the level they would have been had they never been frozen.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9749
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2023 answer text <p>There is no standard model for international agreements on social security, which are agreed on a case-by-case basis between countries or groups of countries. The UK's international agreements on social security which include State Pension provisions are included here:</p><p><a href="https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.listResults?p_lang=en&amp;p_country=GBR&amp;p_count=3017&amp;p_classification=23.01&amp;p_classcount=160" target="_blank">https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.listResults?p_lang=en&amp;p_country=GBR&amp;p_count=3017&amp;p_classification=23.01&amp;p_classcount=160</a></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/09/2023 13:26:40 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1657701

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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: Certification
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 make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a disability certificate that includes details of a named accompanying person.
tabling member constituency	Wakefield
tabling member printed	Simon Lightwood
uin	197579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2023 answer text <p>While some disabled people may welcome a card or certificate that acts as a proof of disability, we are aware that some disabled people would not wish to carry a card or certificate which confirms their disability or impairment. Some people who may meet the criteria for the Equality Act 2010 definition of disability do not identify as disabled, although they may require reasonable adjustments, and introducing a certificate or card scheme could exclude these persons.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require. There is no need for a person to actively prove their disability to be protected by the Equality Act.</p><p> </p><p>There are a number of optional schemes and cards in the UK that have been created to meet particular needs and which people may use if they wish. These include the Hidden Disability Sunflower Scheme which discreetly identifies where additional support may be needed and which is gaining widespread recognition, and Nimbus Disability’s Access Card which can help when communicating with a business about the types of support or reasonable adjustments that might be needed to access their services.</p><p> </p><p>Naming an accompanying person could prove restrictive. A disabled person may have more than one accompanying person or may be accompanied by different people on different occasions.</p><p> </p><p>There are therefore no plans to introduce a disability ID card or certificate at this time.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 07/09/2023 13:41:40 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4943 label Biography information for Simon Lightwood

1657713

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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: Subject Access Requests
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average response time to subject access requests was by their Department in the latest period for which data is available; and if they will make an assessment of the adequacy of that response time.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	197462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>In the current financial year, the average response time to Subject Access requests in DWP has been within the 30-day statutory limit for all months except August 2023. The monthly and year to date figures is set out below:</p><p> </p><p>DWP is undertaking a transformation programme to digitise the RAR process from end to end, with the objective of streamlining the process for both customers and colleagues. We expect this to consistently improve monthly average clearance times from 2024.</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p>Monthly and Year to Date Actual Average Clearance Times (AACT) for the DWP Right of Access Requests (RAR) service</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>RARs AACT 2023/2024</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Apr-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>May-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Jun-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Jul-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Aug-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>YTD</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Actual Average Clearance Times</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>27.5</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>29.2</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>28.0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>28.4</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>30.1</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>28.6</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 11/09/2023 16:51:47 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1657781

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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	Sickness Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were on long-term sickness benefits in (a) England, (b) London and (c) Hendon constituency in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	197407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The available information is in the attached spreadsheet.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 12/09/2023 16:54:22 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove attachment 1 file name 197407 attachment .xlsx title Attachment
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1657794

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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: Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his predecessor (a) received requests from and (b) made representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the (i) presence and (ii) potential cost implications of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within the job centre estate between 13 February 2020 and 5 July 2022.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	197417
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Treasury colleagues on a range of issues.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 11/09/2023 16:46:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1657869

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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: 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 steps he is taking to encourage businesses to employ (a) unemployed and (b) retired people aged over 60.
tabling member constituency	York Outer
tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
uin	197427
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>The Default Retirement Age was abolished in 2011, most people can work for as long as they choose to, and the Government is committed to ensuring that employers are aware of the wealth of skills and experience that older workers bring to the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions engages with employers to encourage positive attitudes towards older workers. The Government appointed Andy Briggs as the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers who spearheads work to promote the benefits of older workers and having multigenerational workforces to employers across England, and the adoption of suitable work practices to increase the retention, retraining and recruitment of older workers.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2023, the Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression announced the appointment of Helen Tomlinson, as the Government’s Menopause Employment Champion, to drive awareness of issues surrounding the menopause and work and encourage employers to develop policies that create a more supportive environment to support women to stay in work, progress or re-join the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has signed the Age-friendly employer pledge, a nationwide programme run by the Centre for Ageing Better to promote age inclusive working practices. In turn, the National Employment and Partnership Team (NEPT) are engaging with employers and promoting the pledge to encourage others to sign up too.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2023 10:48:59 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1657890

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
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, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing increased support to people asked to migrate from (a) tax credits and (b) other legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
tabling member constituency	Stockport
tabling member printed	Navendu Mishra
uin	197625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>People who are asked to migrate to Universal Credit from Tax Credits, or other legacy benefits, can access a range of support including a dedicated DWP telephone line and Help to Claim, which provides tailored practical support. Those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels, can go to their local jobcentre where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs to make and/or manage their Universal Credit claim<em>.</em></p><p> </p><p>Our research shows that the majority of the Tax Credit population so far have been able to successfully make the transition to Universal Credit with minimal support. In August 2023, we published our research and analysis. - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/completing-the-move-to-universal-credit-learning-from-initial-tax-credit-migrations/completing-the-move-to-universal-credit-learning-from-initial-tax-credit-migrations" target="_blank">Completing the Move to Universal Credit: learning from initial Tax Credit migrations - GOV.UK</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2023 11:01:32 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4811 label Biography information for Navendu Mishra