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1141984

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services
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 made an assessment of the potential merits of recording all calls from benefits claimants to ensure that complaints can be followed up.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	282395
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department acknowledges the merit and does record inbound calls to DWP’s helplines in order to make improvements to service and follow-up on any complaints received.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 13:32:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1142055

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	National Employment Savings Trust Scheme
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 ensuring that the investment strategy for NEST remains independent.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	282209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Nest Corporation is the Trustee of the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) pension scheme. It is a public corporation, established by the Government in 2010 to support the delivery of automatic enrolment. Nest has more than 8 million members and assets under management of over £6 billion.</p><p> </p><p>The Nest Corporation operates independently of central Government and is responsible for the day to day operation of the scheme, including its approach to investments. The Pensions Act 2008 establishes that investment decisions in the Nest pension scheme are the responsibility of the Trustee, in accordance with existing trust and pension law. This ensures that investment decisions remain independent and are made free from political pressures. Nest Corporation has sole power to invest the assets of Nest.</p><p> </p><p>Like every other Trustee, Nest Corporation has a duty to run the scheme in the best interest of its members. The Trustee of Nest produces a Statement of Investment Principles which sets out how the Trustee will invest Nest members’ money. The Statement of Investment Principles is prepared in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice guidelines. It outlines the principles and policies governing investment decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Trustee for the management of Nest’s assets.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 282210 question first answered 03/09/2019 15:14:19 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1142060

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	National Employment Savings Trust Scheme
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 role of NEST trustees in making investment decisions.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	282210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Nest Corporation is the Trustee of the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) pension scheme. It is a public corporation, established by the Government in 2010 to support the delivery of automatic enrolment. Nest has more than 8 million members and assets under management of over £6 billion.</p><p> </p><p>The Nest Corporation operates independently of central Government and is responsible for the day to day operation of the scheme, including its approach to investments. The Pensions Act 2008 establishes that investment decisions in the Nest pension scheme are the responsibility of the Trustee, in accordance with existing trust and pension law. This ensures that investment decisions remain independent and are made free from political pressures. Nest Corporation has sole power to invest the assets of Nest.</p><p> </p><p>Like every other Trustee, Nest Corporation has a duty to run the scheme in the best interest of its members. The Trustee of Nest produces a Statement of Investment Principles which sets out how the Trustee will invest Nest members’ money. The Statement of Investment Principles is prepared in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice guidelines. It outlines the principles and policies governing investment decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Trustee for the management of Nest’s assets.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 282209 question first answered 03/09/2019 15:14:19 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1142066

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes: Yorkshire and the Humber
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which local authorities in (a) Yorkshire and (b) Humberside have local welfare assistance schemes in place.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	282353
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>We do not hold information on delivery of local welfare assistance schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. We passed funding over to them (from April 2013) on a non ring-fenced basis with no statutory duties or monitoring requirements attached, giving maximum flexibility to deliver services as they see fit according to local needs.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 14:12:13 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1142104

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	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 steps her Department has taken to implement the High Court judgment in R (Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018 case of 11 January 2019.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	282453
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-06-18/266261/" target="_blank">266261</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 13:36:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1142219

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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 tailor medical assessments for benefits to take account of the needs of ME sufferers.
tabling member constituency	St Albans
tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
uin	282254
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Both the assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) are functional assessments designed to respectively contribute towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition or disability, and to assess an individual’s capability to work. Both benefits are based on the impact of a person’s disability or health condition, not on the condition itself. This is important, as we recognise that the same condition can affect different people in different ways.</p><p> </p><p>Assessors are provided with training and guidance in the full range of health conditions, including ME. For instance, all WCA assessors have access to a learning module on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ME, that is externally quality assured by an expert clinician. Furthermore, the PIP providers have recently been involved in a programme of engagement with CFS/ME stakeholders, and have developed a comprehensive suite of training products on CFS/ME.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 05/09/2019 15:07:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1142236

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	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 universal credit claimants have been offered a flexible support fund payment between 1 January 2019 and 25 July 2019 to assist with upfront childcare costs.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	282505
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held in a format that can be easily disaggregated and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 15:31:41 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142288

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Universal Credit
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 oral contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, of 24 July 2019, what criteria will be used for claimants to receive upfront childcare costs.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	282549
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting parents with moving into work and, as part of this, we have increased the level of ongoing financial support for childcare costs from 70 per cent in legacy benefits to up to 85 per cent in Universal Credit, which is called the ‘childcare element’. The Universal Credit childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes free childcare hours and tax free childcare. This offer means that reasonable childcare costs should not form a barrier to work.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond the Universal Credit childcare element, there is other financial support to help with childcare costs: the Flexible Support Fund and Budgeting Advances. Claimants are able to discuss eligibility for these with their jobcentre work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Where initial upfront childcare costs or deposits may prevent a claimant from starting work, work coaches have the discretion to use the Flexible Support Fund to support the transition into work until a claimant receives their first wage. Individual claimant circumstances are considered each time assistance may be appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>A budgeting advance can help with one-off urgent financial events for Universal Credit claimants, such as upfront childcare, and is repayable over a period of up to 12 monthly instalments. Only one Budgeting Advance will be paid at a time and further advances will be unavailable until the balance of the previous Budgeting Advance is cleared.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is working hard to ensure that the Universal Credit childcare offer continues to operate effectively for claimants. Since February 2018, Universal Credit claimants have been able to upload digital copies of their childcare cost receipts or invoices through their online Universal Credit account. When parents have good reason for late reporting of their childcare costs, the Department is piloting a more flexible approach to enable parents to be reimbursed at a later point.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282553 282555 282559 282560 question first answered 03/09/2019 12:46:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142291

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Universal Credit
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 oral contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, of 24 July 2019, what guidance her Department provides to work coaches on how to apply discretionary support for upfront childcare costs.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	282552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department maintains guidance for its work coaches surrounding the eligibility and processes for awarding discretionary support to assist with claimants’ upfront childcare costs for those claiming Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>There are two discretionary sources of financial support to help with childcare costs: The Flexible Support Fund and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances. Claimants are able to discuss eligibility for these with their jobcentre work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Budgeting Advances provide valuable access to interest free payments for one-off items. They are designed to help claimants with irregular expenses including upfront childcare costs. Budgeting Advance payments are discretionary subject to eligibility conditions and must be repaid. Work coaches also have the discretion to use the Flexible Support Fund to support the transition into work until a claimant receives their first wage and is not repayable. Individual claimant circumstances are considered each time assistance may be appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>The Department deposits guidance to the House’s library on a range of Universal Credits topics including the below. This was last updated on 28 March 2019 and we are currently working to share the latest guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Childcare costs: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Childcare_costs_v11.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Childcare_costs_v11.0.pdf</a></p><p>Budgeting Advance: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Advances-_Budgeting_Advances_v2.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Advances-_Budgeting_Advances_v2.0.pdf</a></p><p>Flexible Support Fund: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Flexible_Support_Fund_v4.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Flexible_Support_Fund_v4.0.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 15:13:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142292

registered interest
date	25/07/2019
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	Universal Credit
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 oral contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, 24 July 2019, how frequently claimants will be able to receive support for upfront childcare costs.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	282553
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting parents with moving into work and, as part of this, we have increased the level of ongoing financial support for childcare costs from 70 per cent in legacy benefits to up to 85 per cent in Universal Credit, which is called the ‘childcare element’. The Universal Credit childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes free childcare hours and tax free childcare. This offer means that reasonable childcare costs should not form a barrier to work.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond the Universal Credit childcare element, there is other financial support to help with childcare costs: the Flexible Support Fund and Budgeting Advances. Claimants are able to discuss eligibility for these with their jobcentre work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Where initial upfront childcare costs or deposits may prevent a claimant from starting work, work coaches have the discretion to use the Flexible Support Fund to support the transition into work until a claimant receives their first wage. Individual claimant circumstances are considered each time assistance may be appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>A budgeting advance can help with one-off urgent financial events for Universal Credit claimants, such as upfront childcare, and is repayable over a period of up to 12 monthly instalments. Only one Budgeting Advance will be paid at a time and further advances will be unavailable until the balance of the previous Budgeting Advance is cleared.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is working hard to ensure that the Universal Credit childcare offer continues to operate effectively for claimants. Since February 2018, Universal Credit claimants have been able to upload digital copies of their childcare cost receipts or invoices through their online Universal Credit account. When parents have good reason for late reporting of their childcare costs, the Department is piloting a more flexible approach to enable parents to be reimbursed at a later point.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282549 282555 282559 282560 question first answered 03/09/2019 12:46:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George