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1135889

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Funerals
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 increase awareness among the relatives of deceased people of (a) direct funerals and (b) other funeral options; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	271340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>My officials regularly engage with funeral and bereavement stakeholders to help them build awareness of the support available</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the GOV.UK website was updated with a step-by-step guide about to do after someone has died, including arranging a funeral and applying for a Funeral Expenses Payments.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is currently updating the leaflet that registrars give to people registering deaths. The revised version will include details of Funeral Expense Payments, and direct people to the GOV.UK step-by-step guide. DWP staff can also provide this information over the phone or in Jobcentres.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 271352 question first answered 04/07/2019 13:27:45 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1135890

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Public Health Funerals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pauper funerals were held in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and whether local authorities are in all cases able to claim back the costs of those funerals through the Social Fund funeral expenses fund.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	271341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme is available to people on qualifying income based benefits. It does not provide funding for local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>My department does not collect data on the number of Local Authority funerals. MHCLG own the policy for Public Health (LA) funerals, but do not collect information on the number of public health funerals held.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/07/2019 13:17:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1136078

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase (a) knowledge of, (b) access to and (c) take-up of social fund funeral payments.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	271352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2019 answer text <p>My officials regularly engage with funeral and bereavement stakeholders to help them build awareness of the support available</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the GOV.UK website was updated with a step-by-step guide about to do after someone has died, including arranging a funeral and applying for a Funeral Expenses Payments.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is currently updating the leaflet that registrars give to people registering deaths. The revised version will include details of Funeral Expense Payments, and direct people to the GOV.UK step-by-step guide. DWP staff can also provide this information over the phone or in Jobcentres.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 271340 question first answered 04/07/2019 13:27:45 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1131002

registered interest
date	10/06/2019
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	Farms: Industrial Health and Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to provide advice to farmers on the potential dangers of mixing slurry.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	262227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the regulation of health and safety standards on Great Britain’s farms and has published guidance to farmers on the risks associated with managing slurry on farms at <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais9.pdf" target="_blank">www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais9.pdf</a>. HSE has also worked with the farming industry’s Farm Safety Partnership to highlight how the dangers of mixing slurry can be managed. Information is available on the National Farmers Union website at <a href="https://www.nfuonline.com/farm-safety-think-slurry-v10/" target="_blank">https://www.nfuonline.com/farm-safety-think-slurry-v10/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Research has been carried out by HSE to inform practical control strategies. The findings will inform future revisions of the guidance and will be shared with the farming industry through the Farm Safety Partnerships.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 13/06/2019 11:59:20 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1126854

registered interest
date	15/05/2019
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: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has set targets for the performance of personal independence payment assessors.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	254723
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided by my predecessor to Written Question 182085.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/05/2019 16:48:35 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1092678

registered interest
date	21/03/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are taken to monitor and review the performance of health assessors whose decisions are often reviewed or appealed successfully.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	235243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department is committed to ensuring individuals receive high quality, objective and accurate assessments.</p><p> </p><p>It is to be noted that Health Professionals are not responsible for the benefit decision, this activity remains within the Department’s authority. The role of the Health Professional is to conduct a functional assessment that focuses on the effects of a health condition or impairment on a claimant’s daily life.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance, training and supplier audit procedures, in order to ensure the quality of the services is continuously improved.</p><p> </p><p>All elements of the providers’ performance are monitored including the requirements for the quality of assessments, which are assessed through independent audit, with feedback provided to the provider.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/03/2019 12:29:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1092679

registered interest
date	21/03/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment assessment decisions were appealed in 2017-18.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	235244
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2019 answer text <p>Of the 715,800 initial Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions made in 2017-18 in Great Britain where an assessment was completed, 10 per cent have been appealed.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/03/2019 12:23:54 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088753

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Disability: Cost of Living
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 the Scope report entitled Disability Price Tag 2019, what steps she is taking to reduce the extra costs faced by disabled people.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department provides a range of benefits to reduce the financial pressure on disabled people and those with long term health conditions. Local Authorities and the National Health Service provide a wide range of additional services.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010, spending on extra-costs disability benefits has increased by £5billion in real terms. These benefits have been increased with inflation and were protected from the benefit freeze.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are working closely with private industry to better recognise the needs of disabled people and ensure they are fully included in society. Initiatives led by the Department, such as Sector Champions, and those led by the private sector and supported by the Department, such as Purple Tuesday, aim to work with businesses to recognise the benefits of ensuring they are accessible and inclusive for disabled people.</p><p> </p><p>As I have recently announced, we plan to commission independent research to better understand the needs of disabled people and how health and disability benefits can better support them.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 15:05:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088754

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
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 personal independence payment assessments address the full range of extra costs faced by disabled people.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2019 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a more modern, dynamic and fairer benefit than its predecessor, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), designed to focus support on those experiencing the greatest barriers to living independently. DLA had not been fundamentally reformed since it was introduced over 25 years ago and it lacked some of the basic checks and reviews that are integral to most other State-funded support.</p><p> </p><p>Built on rules developed for disability benefits created in the 1970s, DLA was also a product of its time, focusing primarily on physical disabilities, whereas we now have a better understanding of the needs of individuals with mental health conditions, learning difficulties, and sensory impairments like blindness. Understanding of conditions like autism has also changed measurably. That is why we introduced PIP. Reform of DLA had long been overdue and the benefit had to be changed to better support disabled people to lead independent lives as they want to today. PIP provides an opportunity to better target support for disabled people and to enable them to lead full, active and independent lives.</p><p> </p><p>At the core of the benefit’s design is the principle that awards of the benefit should be made according to a claimant’s overall level of need; entitlement being assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability. It is intended to act as a contribution <br>towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition or disability. We take all feedback regarding the benefit and assessment process seriously; and we remain committed to continuous improvements and working closely with claimants and <br>representative organisations.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232034 232968 question first answered 20/03/2019 15:11:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088755

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Universal Credit: Disability
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 extend protections to ensure no disabled person receiving a disability premium within employment support allowance has to transition to universal credit via natural migration.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232510
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (SDP Gateway) Amendment Regulations 2019 prevents legacy claimants who are in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium from moving to Universal Credit if they experience a change in circumstances, until they are moved by the Department. This ensures that these claimants will not be moved onto Universal Credit until transitional protections are available, thereby safeguarding their existing benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>The Severe Disability Premium claimant group has very specific characteristics including substantial care needs, with most having severe disabilities that would limit their ability to work quite significantly.</p><p> </p><p>The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, which are currently before the House, provide for transitional protections for claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit by the Department, without experiencing a change in circumstances, ensuring no-one loses out at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit does not replicate the Severe Disability Premium and other disability premiums, which has allowed us to target additional support to a wider group and create a more streamlined system.</p><p> </p><p>The right levels of support to eligible Universal Credit claimants can be provided through two rates of payments, reflecting the current ESA components. The Universal Credit rate for the most severely disabled people, the limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) addition is £328.32 per month, much higher than the equivalent rate for the Employment and Support Allowance support group which is £163.15 per month, and will result in many more people being better off on Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232511 question first answered 21/03/2019 13:58:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew