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1337754

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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	Independent Case Examiner
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 time taken was between (a) receipt of a complaint by the Independent Case Examiner and (b) allocating that complaint to a case worker for investigation in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	17773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>When the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office accept a complaint for investigation, they will initially try to broker a solution between the complainant and the relevant department or supplier, without having to request evidence to inform an investigation – this is known as “resolution”. If it’s not possible to resolve the complaint, the evidence will be requested and the case will await allocation to an Investigation Case Manager (ICM).</p><p> </p><p>The cases that reach the ICE are the most complex and usually require investigation. Complainants are kept updated about the timings involved with their case.</p><p> </p><p>Complete information about the average allocation timescales is only available for the last two reporting years as the reports are generated from electronic case specific records which are only retained for 26 months following case closure.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>2020/21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Average time taken from complaint acceptance to allocation to an Investigation Case Manager (in all ICE cases).</p></td><td><p>59.9 weeks</p></td><td><p>63.8 weeks</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/06/2021 15:43:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1337755

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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: Maintenance
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 about child maintenance cases have been received by the Independent Case Examiner in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	17774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>Information about the number of complaints received by the Unit is routinely included in the Independent Case Examiner’s Annual Report, which is published on gov.uk. The information requested is summarised in the table below.</p><p> </p><p>Please note that the Independent Case Examiner can only review complaints which have received a final response from DWP, as such not all the complaints that are received are accepted for examination.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>CSA &amp; CMS Complaints Received</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p>2241</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p>1670</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>1457</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>1354</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p>1169</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p>936</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p>869</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p>896</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p>1255</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td><td><p>1330</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020/21</strong></p></td><td><p>1465</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/06/2021 15:07:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1337788

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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 Schemes: Visual Impairment
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 scholarship programme for universal credit claimants announced on 26 May 2021 in partnership with Google, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the (a) courses, (b) application process and (c) communications for that programme are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	17731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>Google has partnered with DWP to offer free flexible online IT training for 9,000 jobseekers across the UK, developed by Google. Through the DWP National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT), jobseekers will have access to Google IT Certificates which focuses on IT Support, Data Analyst, Project Manager and UX Designer ensuring that the labour market of tomorrow stands a better chance of getting that job. These certificates are recognised by industry experts and employers.</p><p>All of the course content and registration form is hosted on the Coursera platform. Coursera is committed to ensuring that learners with visual and hearing impairments, as well as other disabilities, are able to succeed in their courses. Coursera strives to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.1 AA published by World Wide Web Consortium. All of the course content should be compatible with these screen readers:</p><ul><li>JAWS (Windows)</li><li>NVDA (Windows)</li><li>VoiceOver (iOS and Mac)</li><li>TalkBack (Android)</li></ul><p>DWP work coaches have access to communications about the programme which they can tailor depending on each customers circumstances. Where customers need additional support, their work coach can explain the courses to them and are able to complete the registration on their behalf. In addition, Coursera support DWP work coach queries through a dedicated email address and 24/7 support to participants through email, online discussion forums, live chat and accessibility support tickets.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2021 16:33:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1337883

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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: Long Covid
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 (a) recognise long covid as a disability and (b) take steps to ensure that people who have been diagnosed with that illness are able to access disability benefits.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	17775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and the Work Capability Assessment (which assesses whether a claimant for Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has limited capability for work), are functional assessments that assess the impact of a person’s disability or health condition, rather than the condition itself. This means that a person with any health condition that has impacts on their functioning, and who meets eligibility criteria, can be assessed and, if they meet the appropriate assessment criteria, an award for PIP or the relevant component of UC/ESA can be made</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/06/2021 15:51:30 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1337891

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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: Enfield North
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 people in Enfield North were eligible for pension credit for each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Enfield North
tabling member printed	Feryal Clark
uin	17879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2021 answer text <p>For the information requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP publishes annual take-up statistics for income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, at Great Britain level. The latest data was published in October 2020 and provides take-up estimates up to financial year 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>The Estimates of take up of income related benefits over the last 10 years, including the latest estimates for 2018/19 can be found in the following publications: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2</a></p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of people in receipt of Pension Credit by Parliamentary Constituency can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Population estimates for the UK by age and Parliamentary Constituency are published by the Office for National Statistics and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/parliamentaryconstituencymidyearpopulationestimates" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/parliamentaryconstituencymidyearpopulationestimates</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 17880 question first answered 23/06/2021 12:31:54 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4822 label Biography information for Feryal Clark

1337892

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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: Enfield North
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 people in Enfield North were in receipt of pension credit in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Enfield North
tabling member printed	Feryal Clark
uin	17880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2021 answer text <p>For the information requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP publishes annual take-up statistics for income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, at Great Britain level. The latest data was published in October 2020 and provides take-up estimates up to financial year 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>The Estimates of take up of income related benefits over the last 10 years, including the latest estimates for 2018/19 can be found in the following publications: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2</a></p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of people in receipt of Pension Credit by Parliamentary Constituency can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Population estimates for the UK by age and Parliamentary Constituency are published by the Office for National Statistics and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/parliamentaryconstituencymidyearpopulationestimates" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/parliamentaryconstituencymidyearpopulationestimates</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 17879 question first answered 23/06/2021 12:31:54 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4822 label Biography information for Feryal Clark

1337905

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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	Health and Safety: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive has identified hotspots of the Delta variant of covid-19; and whether the number of (a) health and safety workplace inspections undertaken by and (b) enforcement actions issued by the HSE has increased in those areas.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	17747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is not responsible for identifying variant hotspots, however they closely monitor the information provided by public health authorities.</p><p>Through the Spot Check Programme, HSE has supported the enhanced response in surge and variant testing areas (including the Delta variant). They have increased checks across multiple areas to continue raising awareness of the needs for businesses to operate in a COVID-secure way, checked the measures implemented and, when requested, have assisted public health bodies in responding to workplace outbreaks. More than 5,400 additional checks have been completed since 24<sup>th</sup> May 2021 as part of this response. Where there are matters of concern, the dutyholder is referred for intervention by an inspector.</p><p>HSE’s evidence is that the vast majority of dutyholders are complying with the government guidance and there has been no change in HSE’s enforcement profile. Where contraventions are identified, the approach taken by inspectors to enforcement decisions is consistent across all areas of GB.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2021 16:41:27 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1337907

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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	Health and Safety: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive plans to reclassify covid-19 as a serious workplace risk in response to the Delta variant of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	17748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) takes Covid-19 safety at work very seriously and is playing a critical role in the national response to the pandemic. HSE has recently carried out a review of the classification of Covid-19 within its Enforcement Management Model (EMM) and has no plans to undertake a further review at this time.</p><p>On 16 June 2021, HSE placed on its website the most recent review of HSE’s proportionality of enforcement decision making in the pandemic and how EMM supports this - <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/regulating-health-and-safety/enforcement-coronavirus.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/regulating-health-and-safety/enforcement-coronavirus.htm</a>.</p><p>The review included consideration of the effect on the working age population of new variants, known to be circulating at the time, to determine if there is any evidence to support the new variants posing a greater risk to this age group. Fully quantifying or isolating the effect of variants on overall infection or mortality rates is complex, due to confounding factors. Infection and mortality rates have fluctuated over the course of the pandemic and continue to do so, due to a number of factors including the degree of societal restrictions, changes in people’s working and social practices, seasonal variations in terms of vulnerability to viruses and most recently the roll-out of the vaccination programme.</p><p>HSE will continue to monitor the potential impact of new variants alongside the effectiveness of the vaccination programme, workplace transmission and health outcomes.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2021 16:44:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1337928

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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	Unemployment: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of trends in the level of youth unemployment in each region across the UK.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	17734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The most reliable data on youth unemployment in each region / nation of the UK is drawn from the Annual Population Survey. This is publicly available from the nomis website, at:</p><p><a href="https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/aps170" target="_blank">https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/aps170</a></p><p> </p><p>The ONS also produce experimental statistics on ‘Regional labour market: Estimates of unemployment by age’, which is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/datasets/regionalunemploymentbyagex02" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/datasets/regionalunemploymentbyagex02</a></p><p>This latter source is less reliable, as it is based on the Labour Force Survey which has a smaller sample size. However, its results are more timely.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2021 13:09:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1337931

registered interest
date	17/06/2021
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	Labour Market: Devolved Matters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with political leaders in devolved administrations in regions across the UK on improving labour market outcomes in their areas.
tabling member constituency	Wirral South
tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
uin	17735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2021 answer text <p>The Department is supporting people across Great Britain who are most in need wherever they live. The Secretary of State, Ministers and Officials meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss a range of policy issues.</p><p> </p><p>The Department engages regularly with local leaders, including the Mayoral Combined Authorities established in England, centrally and through the Work and Health Service network which has a strong operational presence in all regions. Policy and operational teams in DWP value local leaders’ insight and knowledge of their local labour markets. Local engagement has played an important role in our collaborative response to the pandemic and to support our economic recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Policy teams frequently engage on a range of labour market initiatives, for example, on the Plan for Jobs. We have actively promoted the Kickstart Scheme and my officials have worked with local leaders to ensure the scheme can help as many young people as possible. Engagement with local leaders has also played a key part in the appointment of providers for the Restart employment scheme, which will start receiving referrals from 12<sup>th</sup> July. The Government will continue to engage local leaders as we develop the UKSPF’s investment framework and in advance of its publication.</p><p> </p><p>Officials continue to keep their Scottish and Welsh Government counterparts updated on key labour market developments. DWP does not operate in Northern Ireland, but my Department has regular and frequent discussions with the Department for Communities on both policy and operational matters.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/06/2021 16:37:12 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern