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1058637

registered interest
date	11/02/2019
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	Pensioners: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of pensioner poverty; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	909129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>This Government has seen the absolute poverty rate for pensioners fall to record lows, with over 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty before housing costs. Rates of material deprivation for pensioners are also at record lows.</p><p>We have reduced pensioner poverty close to historically low levels, lifting the incomes of millions of older people. Since 2009/10, material deprivation for pensioners has fallen from 10 per cent to 7 per cent in 2016/17 and since 2010 there are 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty, a record low.</p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £97 billion on the State Pension for this year.</p><p>The Government has also committed to up-rating the basic State Pension by the highest of the growth in earnings, prices or 2.5 per cent - the 'triple lock' guarantee. This will mean that the full basic State Pension will be around £1450 per year higher in 2018/19 than in 2010. The Government has committed to the triple lock for the remainder of this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/02/2019 17:58:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1037054

registered interest
date	07/01/2019
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: Visual Impairment
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 identifying as having a primary condition of (a) sight loss and (b) a visual impairment have been awarded personal independence payment (i) after mandatory reconsideration of their initial assessment and (ii) at a tribunal in Scotland in each year since 2013.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	205970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is provided in the tables below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1:</strong> <strong>PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – People with a primary disabling condition of visual diseases, Scotland, new claims and reassessments</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at mandatory reconsideration</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at tribunal appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>70</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>420</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>620</p></td><td><p>150</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>1,250</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>40</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>1,000</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>50</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table 2: PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – Scotland, New claims</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at MR</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>10,460</p></td><td><p>2,480</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td><td><p>160</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>55,460</p></td><td><p>13,140</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td><td><p>360</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1,190</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>48,740</p></td><td><p>12,640</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1,180</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>52,560</p></td><td><p>13,430</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td><td><p>510</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td><td><p>1,170</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>57,290</p></td><td><p>15,830</p></td><td><p>28%</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td><td><p>1,620</p></td><td><p>10%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 3: PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – People with a primary disabling condition of visual diseases, Scotland, New claims</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at MR</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>70</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>19%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>350</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>33%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>40%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>14%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>290</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>38%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>11%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>340</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>41%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>16%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since PIP was introduced 3.7m decisions have been made in Great Britain for all health conditions up to September 2018, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.</p><p> </p><p>The data has been rounded to the nearest 10. # Fewer than 5 in this category.</p><p> </p><p>PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants, and covers new claims and DLA reassessment claims.</p><p> </p><p>In the application process, claimants’ main disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment. Therefore the figures in Table 2 will include claims where the disability has not been recorded due to the assessment not being completed, and are therefore not comparable to the figures in Table 3.</p><p> </p><p>Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics. It is not possible to break down the condition of “visual disease” into sight loss or visual impairment from the data.</p><p> </p><p>The appeals may include decisions which are changed at mandatory reconsideration, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to appeal.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton grouped question UIN 205971 question first answered 10/01/2019 15:19:42 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1037057

registered interest
date	07/01/2019
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: Visual Impairment
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 (a) all new claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) and (b) new claimants of PIP identifying as having a primary condition of (i) sight loss and (ii) a visual impairment did not receive an award during their initial PIP assessment but received an award at (A) mandatory reconsideration and (B) tribunal in Scotland in each year since 2013.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	205971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is provided in the tables below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1:</strong> <strong>PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – People with a primary disabling condition of visual diseases, Scotland, new claims and reassessments</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at mandatory reconsideration</p></td><td><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at tribunal appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>70</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>420</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>620</p></td><td><p>150</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>1,250</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>40</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>1,000</p></td><td><p>230</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>50</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table 2: PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – Scotland, New claims</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at MR</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>10,460</p></td><td><p>2,480</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td><td><p>160</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>55,460</p></td><td><p>13,140</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td><td><p>360</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1,190</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>48,740</p></td><td><p>12,640</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td><td><p>370</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1,180</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>52,560</p></td><td><p>13,430</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td><td><p>510</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td><td><p>1,170</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>57,290</p></td><td><p>15,830</p></td><td><p>28%</p></td><td><p>560</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td><td><p>1,620</p></td><td><p>10%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 3: PIP decisions, MRs and appeals – People with a primary disabling condition of visual diseases, Scotland, New claims</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Initial decisions</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Changed at MR</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Failed initial assessment - Overturned at appeal</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>Number</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>70</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>19%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>350</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>33%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>40%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>14%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>290</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>38%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>11%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>340</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>41%</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>16%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since PIP was introduced 3.7m decisions have been made in Great Britain for all health conditions up to September 2018, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned.</p><p> </p><p>The data has been rounded to the nearest 10. # Fewer than 5 in this category.</p><p> </p><p>PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants, and covers new claims and DLA reassessment claims.</p><p> </p><p>In the application process, claimants’ main disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment. Therefore the figures in Table 2 will include claims where the disability has not been recorded due to the assessment not being completed, and are therefore not comparable to the figures in Table 3.</p><p> </p><p>Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics. It is not possible to break down the condition of “visual disease” into sight loss or visual impairment from the data.</p><p> </p><p>The appeals may include decisions which are changed at mandatory reconsideration, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to appeal.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton grouped question UIN 205970 question first answered 10/01/2019 15:19:42 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1035341

registered interest
date	04/01/2019
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	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 estimate she has made of the additional staff required by her Department in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	205309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government continues undertaking planning for all EU exit scenarios, as is prudent. The Department continues to work closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure consistency of plans across government. Members of staff across the Department provide advice and analysis on EU Exit issues as required. Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department’s other priorities, it would not be possible to give a figure for the information requested.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continually reviews workforce plans, priorities and changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate. We have accelerated our plans, and at the same time, the Civil Service as a whole is working to ensure that EU exit implementation is carried out to high quality without impacting public service delivery across the whole of government.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes its workforce management information each month. These details can be found at the following link.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-workforce-management-information#2010-to-march-2014-" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-workforce-management-information#2010-to-march-2014-</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/01/2019 17:59:17 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1029335

registered interest
date	20/12/2018
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff were employed in her Department on (a) 20 December 2018 and (b) 23 June 2016.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	204533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2019 answer text <p>The Department collects and publishes its workforce management information each month. These details can be found at the following link.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-workforce-management-information" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-workforce-management-information</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department’s headcount is collected and reported as at the last day of each month. On 30 June 2016 the Department’s headcount was 84,226 and on 30 November 2018 it was 82,827.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/01/2019 15:55:02 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1017207

registered interest
date	29/11/2018
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: Zero Hours Contracts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department’s policy is on the sanctioning of claimants of universal credit that receive the limited capability for work element in the event of a (a) refusal of an offer of a zero-hours contract and (b) voluntary termination of a zero-hours contract.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	197460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>Claimants on Universal Credit who are found to have Limited Capability for Work are set work preparation activity: they are not required to carry out work search or undertake work. Should a claimant with LCW take up, and then leave a zero hour contract they would not be subject to sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>Zero-hours contracts offer flexibility which can be valuable for some individuals. Universal Credit payments adjust automatically depending on the amount a claimant earns, so that a claimant whose hours may change are financially supported and do not need to switch their benefit claim. Therefore, a Universal Credit claimant who is subject to all work related requirements can be expected to apply for a zero-hours contract job if it is considered suitable for their individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Where there is good reason why a Universal Credit claimant is unable to take a zero-hours contract job this is taken into account. Sanctions are only applied if no good reason is established. Additionally, sanctions are only applied for leaving a zero-hours contract job voluntarily if no good reason is found.</p><p /><p>Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases, and that is when people fail to meet their agreed commitments without good reason. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 197461 question first answered 05/12/2018 10:11:10 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma previous answer version 90066 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1017208

registered interest
date	29/11/2018
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: Zero Hours Contracts
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department’s policy is to sanction universal credit claimants for (a) refusing and (b) voluntarily terminating a zero-hours contract.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	197461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2018 answer text <p>Claimants on Universal Credit who are found to have Limited Capability for Work are set work preparation activity: they are not required to carry out work search or undertake work. Should a claimant with LCW take up, and then leave a zero hour contract they would not be subject to sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>Zero-hours contracts offer flexibility which can be valuable for some individuals. Universal Credit payments adjust automatically depending on the amount a claimant earns, so that a claimant whose hours may change are financially supported and do not need to switch their benefit claim. Therefore, a Universal Credit claimant who is subject to all work related requirements can be expected to apply for a zero-hours contract job if it is considered suitable for their individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Where there is good reason why a Universal Credit claimant is unable to take a zero-hours contract job this is taken into account. Sanctions are only applied if no good reason is established. Additionally, sanctions are only applied for leaving a zero-hours contract job voluntarily if no good reason is found.</p><p /><p>Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases, and that is when people fail to meet their agreed commitments without good reason. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 197460 question first answered 05/12/2018 10:11:10 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma previous answer version 90067 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1016406

registered interest
date	28/11/2018
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	Christmas Bonus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to up-rate the Christmas bonus paid to recipients of certain benefits.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	196849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The Christmas bonus was initially introduced by the then Conservative Government as a one-off payment of £10 in 1972, and has not been uprated by any government since. It was introduced to provide additional financial support at a time of high inflation. It is now an established feature of the social security system. There are no plans to uprate the annual Christmas Bonus.</p><p /><p>The number of benefit recipients forecasted to receive the Christmas bonus for Christmas 2018 can be found in table 1c of the “Outturn and forecast: Autumn Budget 2018” publication.</p><p> </p><p>This information is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 196850 196851 question first answered 03/12/2018 15:52:47 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1016409

registered interest
date	28/11/2018
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	Christmas Bonus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for how many years the Christmas bonus for recipients of certain benefits has been set at the value of £10.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	196850
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The Christmas bonus was initially introduced by the then Conservative Government as a one-off payment of £10 in 1972, and has not been uprated by any government since. It was introduced to provide additional financial support at a time of high inflation. It is now an established feature of the social security system. There are no plans to uprate the annual Christmas Bonus.</p><p /><p>The number of benefit recipients forecasted to receive the Christmas bonus for Christmas 2018 can be found in table 1c of the “Outturn and forecast: Autumn Budget 2018” publication.</p><p> </p><p>This information is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 196849 196851 question first answered 03/12/2018 15:52:47 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1016410

registered interest
date	28/11/2018
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	Christmas Bonus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will estimate how many benefit recipients will receive the Christmas bonus for Christmas 2018.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	196851
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>The Christmas bonus was initially introduced by the then Conservative Government as a one-off payment of £10 in 1972, and has not been uprated by any government since. It was introduced to provide additional financial support at a time of high inflation. It is now an established feature of the social security system. There are no plans to uprate the annual Christmas Bonus.</p><p /><p>The number of benefit recipients forecasted to receive the Christmas bonus for Christmas 2018 can be found in table 1c of the “Outturn and forecast: Autumn Budget 2018” publication.</p><p> </p><p>This information is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2018</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 196849 196850 question first answered 03/12/2018 15:52:47 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens