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1198865

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to suspend the 182 day entitlement limit to the new style Job Seeker's Allowance in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	52556
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>Entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) is limited to a maximum of 182 days in any one jobseeking period. This is an absolute limit, provided for in primary legislation (section 5 of the Jobseekers Act 1995) and there are no plans to amend the primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Universal credit, for those people who meet or continue to meet the conditions of entitlement, is available throughout any period of entitlement to contribution-based JSA.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 04/06/2020 13:34:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1198770

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Young People
	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 Centrepoint's Chance to Move On campaign, what plans her Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to include homeless people aged under 25 in (a) Coventry South constituency and (b) the UK in the Shared Accommodation Rate exemption for homeless people.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	52553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2020 answer text <p>Currently those aged 25-34 who have spent 3 months in a homeless hostel for the purposes of rehabilitation/re-settlement are exempt from the shared accommodation rate throughout the UK. As announced in the Spring Budget earlier this year, the Government will amend legislation to extend this exemption to those under 25.</p><p> </p><p>As well as legislation, the change to the shared accommodation rate exemption will require amendments to local authority and universal credit IT systems therefore it will take time to implement.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, for individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2011 the Government has provided over £1bn to local authorities to help support vulnerable claimants with housing costs. In addition, at the spending round last year, we announced an extra £40 million for DHPs in 2020/21 in England and Wales, helping to tackle affordability pressures in the private rented sector.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2020 16:07:14 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1203305

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Coronavirus
	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 for Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in the next Spending Review; whether she has plans to allocate additional funding to (a) mitigate the effect of the four-year freeze to LHA and (b) support renters facing financial difficulties as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	59257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>In response to Covid-19 we increased Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local rents, providing additional financial support for private renters. This significant investment of almost £1 billion, ensures over 1 million households will see an increase, on average, of £600 per year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For renters whose circumstances mean they may require more support, Discretionary Housing Payments are also available. We have already provided £180m in Discretionary Housing Payment funding to local authorities to support vulnerable claimants with housing costs in the private and social rented sector in England and Wales for 2020/21. This includes an extra £40m announced at the spending round.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/06/2020 17:10:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1203816

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2020
	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 plans her Department has to align the universal credit standard allowance for claimants under the age of 25 living independently with the standard allowance for those over the age of twenty five.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	59623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>We have increased the Universal Credit standard allowance for all claimants (including those Under 25) by £20 per week for the next 12 months – equivalent to up to £1,040 a year.</p><p> </p><p>This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation increase (announced Nov 2019) as part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze and means more financial support for millions of people across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to further increase the Universal Credit standard allowance for Under 25s.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/06/2020 16:41:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1205726

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2020
	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 Executive: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether additional funding has been allocated to the Health & Safety Executive to increase the Executive's level of staffing during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	61814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. member to my response to question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons,lords&amp;uin=41525" target="_blank">41525</a>.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/06/2020 14:35:35 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1229071

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to increase the rate of Statutory Sick Pay to in line with the National Minimum Wage.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	82493
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2020 answer text <p>Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides financial support to an employee when they are off work sick. Those on low pay can receive more help through the welfare system, depending on their personal circumstances. The Government published a consultation in which we sought views on the impact of the rate of SSP on employer and employee behaviours and decisions. A response to the consultation will be published later this year.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/09/2020 15:02:37 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1229082

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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: Mental Illness
	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 allow health and disability benefit claimants with mental health illnesses to choose assessment types that are accessible to their needs during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	82498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2020 answer text <p>In March we suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in order to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic. As has always been the case, our assessment providers will initially try to complete paper-based assessments, where there is sufficient evidence to make a recommendation. If this is not the case, providers will currently look to carry out a telephone assessment, where appropriate. We offer reasonable adjustments for claimants who may need additional support to engage in a telephone assessment. We continue to work closely with our assessment providers to ensure that claimants can be assessed as quickly as possible, by the most appropriate channel.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/09/2020 15:06:16 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1229070

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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, what plans her Department has to permanently abolish (a) conditionality, (b) sanctioning and (c) the five-week wait for universal credit for disabled claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	82492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>We have no plans.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2020 15:39:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1229072

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	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: Uprating
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to up-rate legacy benefits in line with universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	82494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support were increased by 1.7% in April 2020 following the Government’s announcement to end the benefit freeze.</p><p> </p><p>It has always been the case that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit (UC) if they believe that they will be better off. There are special arrangements for those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium, who will be able to make a new claim to Universal Credit from January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants should check their eligibility before applying to UC as legacy benefits will end when they submit their claim and they will not be able to return to them in the future. For this reason, prospective claimants are signposted to independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. Neither DWP nor HMRC can advise individual claimants whether they would be better off moving to UC or remaining on legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>From 22 July 2020, a two-week run on of Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (IR) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB) is available for all claimants whose claim to UC ends entitlement to these benefits, to provide additional support for claimants moving to UC.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 81537 81993 question first answered 08/09/2020 09:07:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1232788

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government will take protect shielding workers returning to the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	87688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was involved in cross-government work, Safer Workplaces, coordinated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which produced guidance on the safety measures businesses will need to adopt as they reopen. It contains practical steps to achieve social distancing and hygiene in the workplace. The guidance also covers who should be at work; including those who are at high risk (also referred to as extremely clinically vulnerable in recent guidance) or those who live with people at high risk.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance “Working Safely During Coronavirus COVID-19” was first published on 11 May 2020 and is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Restrictions on people who had previously been shielded have been paused and Public Health England has published guidance to help those people to safely return to work: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:46:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1288980

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2021
	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	National Insurance Contributions: ICT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the digital service for issuing National Insurance Numbers will be ready for public use.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	157312
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The digital application service is currently available to applicants, who have already had their identity verified through another government department, primarily the Home Office.</p><p>The digital service enables Non EU/EEA nationals who have been granted a visa with the right to work, EU/EEA nationals who have been granted settled or pre-settled status, through the EU Settlement Scheme, and UK passport holders to make application using this service.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/03/2021 13:58:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1288986

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2021
	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	National Insurance Contributions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to (a) mitigate the effects of the pause in face-to-face interviews and issuing of National Insurance numbers and (b) bring in alternative plans in the interim.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	157313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The Department is aware of the effect that not having a National Insurance Number (NINo) may be having on some individuals. However, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-payroll-information-to-report-to-hmrc" target="_blank">employer checklist</a> makes it clear that a NINo is not required to start work.</p><p>Individuals seeking work in the UK can start work before they receive a NINo as long as they are able to prove they have the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work" target="_blank">Right to Work</a> in the UK.</p><p>The Department started testing a partial digital solution, on a small scale, in mid-October, to support the allocation of National Insurance Numbers. This solution enables the collection of an applicant’s data, but not the online verification of their identity. Alternative identity verification solutions to reduce the need for a face to face identity check for some customer groups, including EU nationals with Settled or Pre-Settled status, was part of that test.</p><p> </p><p>In January, we gained Government Digital Service approval as a result we were no longer required to limit the number of applicants we can serve, although we do not have an identity solution for all potential applicants yet. Our current plan is that by the end of March 2021 we will be able to offer a service to all applicants who do not require their identity to be verified face to face.</p><p> </p><p>This means that we have moved from a position in March 2020 of only offering a NINo service to the most vulnerable, to a place where we are able to provide a service to the majority.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/03/2021 14:02:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300183

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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: Long Covid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to make support available to employees suffering from long covid.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	164651
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>On 18 February 2021, the Government announced that the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI) had been awarded £18.5 million in funding for four research projects to help understand and address the longer-term health effects of COVID-19 in non-hospitalised patients.</p><p> </p><p>As research into the long-term health symptoms and impacts of COVID-19 is ongoing, we are collaborating across Government to monitor emerging evidence and consider our response.</p><p> </p><p>People with a condition arising from exposure to the Covid-19 virus are able to access Personal Independence Payment in the same way as other people with long-term health conditions or disabilities. Disability benefits do not include or exclude by condition, instead they look at the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability.</p><p> </p><p>Financial support is available through Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, New Style ESA. People who have symptoms of Long Covid should see their GP, if their health condition impacts on their ability to work a fit note may be issued. People can claim ESA or Pension Credit depending on their individual circumstances.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/03/2021 14:28:18 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1304638

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2021
	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	Disability: Coronavirus
	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 briefing published by Scope entitled Emergency support for disabled people and their families, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the evidence gathered by Scope on the effect of Government policy on disabled people and their families during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	173179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2021 answer text <p>I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 9th February to question number <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-02-04/149299" target="_blank">149299</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2021 14:13:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1307254

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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	Carcinogens: 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, whether the Government plans to apply the EU Directive 2019/130 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens from February 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	179606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>EU Directive 2019/130 is the second phase of amendments to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD) 2004/37/EC. While there is no legal obligation for the Government to apply the Directive, we will continue to have a system for setting workplace exposure limits in Great Britain (GB) to ensure worker protection and will consider, and apply as appropriate, relevant limits as part of this.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 20/04/2021 15:00:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1309536

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2021
	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	Child Maintenance Service: Complaints
	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 Child Maintenance Service in the last 12 months, what proportion of (a) complaints to that Service have resulted in further action and (b) non-resident parents are compliant with their payments; and what the average time is between a complaint to that Service and a resolution.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	181448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2021 answer text <p>The Department does not measure complaints resulting in further action as described in the question (a), so this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The number of Paying Parents who have paid Child Maintenance are published quarterly. The latest published figures for Child Maintenance Service (CMS) are up the end of December 2020 and the compliance statistics can be found in “Table 2: Compliance (Collect and Pay) by quarter” of the “CMS Paying Parents” section of Stat-Xplore here:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/04/2021 14:01:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1315060

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2021
	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	Sign Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the merits of introducing a British Sign Language Act that would give BSL full recognition in law.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	2464
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2021 answer text <p>On 18 March 2003 the UK government formally recognised that British Sign Language (BSL) is a language in its own right. Provision for accessing services by users of BSL are covered by the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty.</p><p> </p><p>Existing equality legislation already means employers, service providers and public bodies have to provide services in BSL and other formats when it is reasonable to do so. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies to have due regard to the needs of all those with protected characteristics.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/05/2021 12:55:38 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1316894

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2021
	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	Food Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on steps taken in response to the Trussell Trust's State of Hunger report, published on 12 May 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	4722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2021 answer text <p>This Government has long-championed the principle that the best and most sustainable way to tackle poverty is by supporting people to move into and to progress in work wherever possible. Before the pandemic, this approach had seen record levels of employment, the strongest growth in household incomes for almost 20 years, and 1.3 million fewer people, including 300,000 children, in absolute poverty, after housing costs compared with 2010.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Throughout the pandemic, Government departments have worked together to deliver support to help people cope with its the financial effects including, for example, on the Covid Winter Support Package. Part of this package included the Covid Winter Grant and Covid Local Support Grant, together totalling £269m administered by local authorities to help the most vulnerable stay warm and well fed, with the principal focus on children.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>The Holiday Activities and Food Fund, which provides healthy meals, enriching activities and nutritional education, as well as signposting families to wider local support, has received £220m of funding for the major school holidays in 2021.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>As we recover from the pandemic, Departments will continue to work together to deliver a number of key cross-cutting outcomes linked to the 2020 Spending Review. These outcomes include addressing poverty through enabling progression into work and increasing financial resilience. DWP is leading this work in collaboration with other Departments including, in particular, HMT, DfE, MHCLG and Defra.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 27/05/2021 14:05:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 2690 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1352221

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of compensating women born in the 1950s who were affected by state pension increases of (a) 1995, (b) 2007 and (c) 2011.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	42177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality. Raising State Pension age in line with life expectancy changes has been the policy of successive administrations over many years.</p><p>In the Judicial Review on changes to State Pension age, both the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, finding we acted entirely lawfully and did not discriminate on any grounds.</p><p>The costs of reducing women’s State Pension age to 60 are very significant. The total additional cost if we had kept women’s SPa at 60 and men’s SPa at 65 would be in the region of £215bn for the period 2010/11 to 2025/26, in 2018/19 prices. This figure takes into account State Pension, other pensioner benefits, and savings made on working age benefits<em>.</em></p><p>There is no plan to compensate anyone affected by State Pension age legislation that Parliament has enacted.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2021 16:54:12 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1359832

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	Covid Local Support Grant
	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 make an assessment of the potential merits for vulnerable households of extending the Covid-19 Local Support Grant until December 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	57396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2021 answer text <p>The Covid Local Support Grant ended on September 30<sup>th</sup> 2021. However, we recognise that some people continue to require extra support, which is why we have introduced £500m of funding to boost households this winter. £421m of this will help vulnerable people in England with essential household costs through the Household Support Fund, whilst almost £80m will be given to the devolved nations (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive). This new grant began on 6<sup>th</sup> October 2021, and will run to 31<sup>st</sup> March 2022<strong>.</strong></p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 20/10/2021 15:50:31 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1403280

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2022
	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 and Support Allowance: Coventry South
	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 number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of social security payments after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in Coventry South constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	105748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2022 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19<sup>th</sup> January to question number <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-14/104377" target="_blank">104377</a>.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 105342 105343 105344 105372 105501 105502 105520 105555 105556 105557 105573 105577 105601 105681 105691 105708 105715 105723 105725 105747 105749 105750 105755 105759 105770 105783 question first answered 21/01/2022 12:22:55 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1422983

	registered interest
	date	18/02/2022
	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: Pregnancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of the recommendations of the December 2021 Maternity Action report, Unsafe and Unsupported, on workplace health and safety for pregnant women during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	125552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2022 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance to employers on managing risk and how to complete a risk assessment for their business. This guidance includes examples of common risks faced by <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/employer/risk-assessment.htm" target="_blank">new and expectant mothers</a>. It also explains what to do if significant risks cannot be controlled.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>HSE is working with unions and industry groups to ensure this guidance is up to date.</li></ul><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 24/02/2022 11:11:59 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1441295

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2022
	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: Older People
	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 (a) people over the state pension age who wish to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) rather than Attendance Allowance (AA) are not entitled to do so and (b) AA does not include a mobility component as PIP does; and if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people over the state pension age to claim PIP.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	140567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2022 answer text <p>The aim of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is to focus additional help with the extra costs of disability on people who become severely disabled earlier in life and who, as a consequence, face limited opportunities to work, earn and save compared with other people. Once PIP has been awarded, and subject to the conditions of entitlement continuing to be met, it can continue in payment after reaching State Pension age (SPa), including the mobility component where that was awarded prior to SPa.</p><p> </p><p>Attendance Allowance (AA) does not include a mobility component. It is normal for social security schemes to contain different provisions for people at different stages of their lives, which reflect varying priorities and circumstances. The rules for AA recognise that developing mobility needs is a common and foreseeable feature of the ageing process.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans to review these rules.</p><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 21/03/2022 15:52:37 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith previous answer version 58595 answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1491095

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2022
	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 Insurance Contributions: State Retirement Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in the National Insurance contribution threshold on eligibility for the State Pension; and what steps his Department is taking to mitigate any consequent loss of entitlement.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	40960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>Although the Primary Threshold [PT] at which an employee starts paying National Insurance has increased to £242 per week, the Lower Earnings Limit [LEL] has remained at £123 per week for 2022/23. People will build a qualifying year for their State Pension if their earnings from a single job are at or above £6396 per year [52 times the LEL]. This in effect provides for a zero-rate band between the LEL and the PT where individuals are treated as having paid NI contributions for benefit entitlement purposes.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2022 11:25:03 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1491360

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	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 Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman's investigation into the communication of changes to women’s State Pension age, whether the Government plans to offer compensation to those affected by the change.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	uin	42249
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent, and it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage as the investigation is ongoing.</p><p>Section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”<sup>.</sup></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/09/2022 09:12:50 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana