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1134845

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Television Licences: 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 the cost to the public purse was of providing free TV licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in the (a) Livingston constituency and (b) West Lothian local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.
tabling member constituency	Livingston
tabling member printed	Hannah Bardell
uin	269762
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020.</p><p>The government and the BBC agreed this is a fair deal for the BBC - in return we closed the iPlayer loophole and committed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation. And to help with financial planning, we agreed to provide phased transitional funding over 2 years to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.</p><p>This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament.</p><p>On 10 June 2019, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/age-related-tv-licence-policy" target="_blank">announced</a> that the current scheme will end. From 1 June 2020, a free TV licence will only be available to a household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit.</p><p>The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 years and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(a) Livingston constituency</strong></p></td><td><p>£0.82</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(b) West Lothian local authority area</strong></p></td><td><p>£1.39</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/07/2019 15:36:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4486 label Biography information for Hannah Bardell

1134860

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Pension Credit
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 everyone who is entitled to pension credit receives it.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	269767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Potential customers can use the Pension Credit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234.</p><p>.</p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant stakeholders a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the changes introduced on 15 May for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 03/07/2019 15:14:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1134861

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Pension Credit: North East
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners are entitled to pension credit but do not receive it in (a) the North East region and (b) Berwick upon Tweed constituency.
tabling member constituency	Berwick-upon-Tweed
tabling member printed	Anne-Marie Trevelyan
uin	269768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>The information requested on the number of pensioners in (a) the North East region and (b) Berwick upon Tweed constituency who are entitled to Pension Credit but do not receive it, is not available at regional or constituency level.</p><p> </p><p>Official statistics on the take-up of income related benefits at Great Britain level, including Pension Credit, can be found in the ‘Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up in 2016 to 2017’ publication.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/07/2019 12:05:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan

1134870

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2019 to Question 267343 on Universal Credit, if her Department will (a) investigate the practice of loansharks applying on behalf of an individual for a universal credit advance payment which is then issued as a loan to the individual and (b) review the application process for universal credit advance payments to tackle such practices.
tabling member constituency	Leigh
tabling member printed	Jo Platt
uin	269775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>The Department is committed to reducing fraud and error and considers information from a range of sources to progress our investigations. We work hard to identify perpetrators of fraud and ensure we take appropriate prosecution action.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely gather intelligence to assist our understanding of anyone seeking to abuse the safety net that Universal Credit offers. Any exploitation of advance payments is not acceptable, and we are seeking to identify the perpetrators and ensure we take appropriate prosecution action. We have a dedicated team of investigators working on this issue and we regularly raise awareness with our front line staff who understand the risks and raise concerns as appropriate through referrals to Fraud colleagues.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to keeping all Universal Credit services and processes, including advance payments, under review and will make improvements to address any vulnerabilities in the system. The protection of our most vulnerable claimants remains of paramount importance to us.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 03/07/2019 15:23:34 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 126277 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

1134887

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Pension Credit
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 all pensioners claim all of the pension credit they are entitled to.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	269631
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p>Potential customers can use the Pension Credit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234.</p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant stakeholders a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the changes introduced on 15 May for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/07/2019 15:51:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1134889

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the median advance payment awarded to people awaiting their first payment of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The median payment for new claim and benefit transfer advances was £380.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>The figure relates to Universal Credit full service only</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest £</p><p>The median is based on those advances paid between March 18 and February 2019</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/07/2019 16:34:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134891

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the median repayment period for advance payments awarded to people awaiting their first payment of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269645
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>The median repayment period for new claim and benefit transfer advances was 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>The figure relates to Universal Credit full service only</p><p>The median is based on those advances paid between March 18 and February 2019</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/07/2019 12:49:09 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134893

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Universal Credit
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 repayment schedules for advance payments awarded to people awaiting their first universal credit claim have been timetabled to (a) one to three months, (b) four to six months, (c) seven to nine months and (d) 10-12 months by Jobcentre Plus district in the most recent period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269646
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The repayment schedule for an advance payment is agreed by the claimant.</p><p>The information requested is provided in the attached table which gives the proportion of repayment schedules for new claim and benefit transfer advances by Jobcentre Plus district.</p><p>From October 2021 we will be increasing the recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months, further supporting those in financial need.</p><p>Notes:</p><p>The figures relate to Universal Credit full service only</p><p>The figures are rounded to the nearest %</p><p>The proportions are based on those advances paid between March 18 and February 2019</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/07/2019 16:31:42 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma attachment 1 file name PQ 269646 table.xlsx title Table attachment
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134904

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) disability and (b) work capability assessments were carried out with a home visit in 2018-19 in each DWP Region.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	269649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>Please find the information requested below. PIP and HDAS both have separate estate delivery models resulting in a significant difference in numbers of home visits. I have interpreted ‘(a) disability’ as PIP assessments.</p><p> </p><p>This is unpublished data derived from the DWP0400 report. The numbers are unpublished data, derived from assessment provider MI.</p><p> </p><p>(a) PIP data does not align to DWP regions, however, I have provided the data in the relevant Lots. Lot 1 (Scotland, north-east and north-west England), Lot 2 (Central England and Wales) and Lot 3 (South East and South West England):</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Personal Independence Payment completed as Home Visits Contract Lot</strong> <strong>April 18 - March 19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 1 – Scotland &amp; the North</p></td><td><p>76,890</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 2 – Wales and The Midlands</p></td><td><p>116,630</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lot 3 – The South of England</p></td><td><p>47,160</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Lot 2 numbers are higher due to the supplier business model; Lot 1 is higher than Lot 3 due to the higher proportion of rural areas.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>(b) Work Capability Assessment data by DWP regions:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Work Capability Assessments completed as Home Visits by DWP Region <br> April 18 - March 19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central</p></td><td><p>2,070</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London &amp; Home Counties</p></td><td><p>1,460</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>2,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>1,590</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>1,350</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Southern</p></td><td><p>1,080</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>630</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Figures rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All Assessment Providers are required to undertake home visits where there is a clinical need to do so and assess all cases prior to routing them for assessment. In PIP, there is some contract flexibility in the delivery of home assessments over and above the clinical requirement.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/07/2019 16:42:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1134965

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment
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 her Written Statement of 20 December 2018, HCWS1224, what progress she has made on the introduction of light touch reviews for people with long-term health conditions who are in receipt of personal independence payment.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	269799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The light touch process has yet to be fully designed (the first ones will not be due until 2023 – 10 years after PIP was first introduced) but we would not expect it to involve a full assessment unless the claimant’s circumstances have significantly changed. The review is intended to maintain a minimum level of contact with claimants. We will involve our stakeholders in designing the review process so that it adds value and best meets the needs of our claimants.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/07/2019 12:56:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant