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793044

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received on concern about the adequacy of the funeral fund to cover basic funeral costs; and whether he plans change to that fund.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	114829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">DWP have advertised 1,053 External Vacancies since January 2015 containing 21,432 posts. The breakdown provided by Government Recruitment Services is provided as requested overleaf. It is worth considering these vacancies are not guaranteed to have been filled.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">These are the vacancies we advertised. Not all roles advertised were filled and therefore this data will include repeat adverts.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Month</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Number of Vacancies</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Number of Posts</strong> <strong>Advertised</strong></del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">8</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">214</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">353</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">9</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">60</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">8</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">62</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">13</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">54</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">20</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">311</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">326</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">26</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1698</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1479</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">13</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">469</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">28</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">397</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Dec-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">14</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">239</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">14</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">290</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">47</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1274</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">50</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">2107</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">74</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1309</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">31</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">500</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">58</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1081</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">26</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">214</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">34</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">804</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">61</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1251</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">50</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">542</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">34</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">567</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Dec-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">5</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">48</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">101</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1540</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">35</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">483</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">131</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">4</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">22</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">42</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">891</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">64</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1238</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">24</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">433</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">21</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">243</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">18</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">66</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">30</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">605</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">29</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">131</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Total</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>1053</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>21432</strong></del></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department has had a number of discussions with representatives from the funeral industry and groups supporting bereaved people about Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and in particular the maximum amount of £700 available for other costs. We have made clear that we will ensure that Funeral Expenses Payments continue to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial for eligible claimants. Average payments have increased year-on-year to meet these necessary costs. We have had to make difficult choices about welfare spending and it has not been possible to increase the £700 maximum for other costs. However, we have made interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans available for funeral costs in addition to Funeral Expenses Payments.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have also been carrying out reforms to the Funeral Expenses Payments Regulations which are coming into force in April 2018. The reforms focused primarily on clarifying a number of issues around eligibility and to simplify the process for claiming a Funeral Expenses Payment. The formal response to the consultation on the Reform of the Funeral Expenses Payment Regulations was published on 3 July 2017 and can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656887/consultation-response-reforms-to-funeral-expenses-payments.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656887/consultation-response-reforms-to-funeral-expenses-payments.pdf</a>.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 28/11/2017 16:52:20 question first ministerially corrected 29/11/2017 12:23:58 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 25531 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

836024

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2018
	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: Publicity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to publicise information to claimants eligible for universal credit who do not have internet access.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	126379
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The attached table shows all the contracts DWP currently holds with Capita including the total value of the contracts.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Our data shows that over 99% of claimants using the Universal Credit Full Service make their claim online.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department uses multiple channels to publicise information for claimants about Universal Credit. These include:</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Posters and leaflets in jobcentres, including a recent campaign to raise awareness about availability of advances.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Working closely with stakeholder organisations (many of whom interact with claimants, face to face and by telephone). This also includes working with local authorities as part of our on-going partnership to improve digital access and capability.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Playing short videos in Post Offices and GP surgeries in high claimant areas, and also advertising in transport hubs and shopping precinct locations.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To further support claimants without internet access, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available, including 8000 additional computers installed to support the introduction of Universal Credit. This provides access to digital channels in every jobcentre for claimants to use when they do not have access at home. A telephone helpline and face to face support are also available for claimants to make and manage a Universal Credit claim.</ins></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/02/2018 16:12:02 question first ministerially corrected 09/02/2018 14:43:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 40066 answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse attachment 1 file name 125893 Capita Contracts FR.docx title Capita Contracts
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

834293

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2018
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the level of child poverty in Wolverhampton North East constituency using the four measures of poverty under the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	125913
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2018 answer text <p>This Government is committed to action that improves long-term outcomes for children and families by focusing on tackling the root causes of poverty and disadvantage. The four ‘Life Chances’ measures introduced through the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, which replaced the income based targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010, are designed to drive action and measure progress in the areas that we know can make the biggest difference - parental worklessness and children’s educational achievement.</p><p>The measures are based on official statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics on the proportion of children in workless households and the proportion of children in long-term workless households; and on Department for Education statistics on the educational attainment at Key Stage 4 of all pupils, and of disadvantaged pupils.</p><p>Although these statistics do not <ins class="ministerial">all<ins class="ministerial"> </ins></ins>provide data for individual constituencies, local authority-level data is available for the measure of all children in workless households and for both the educational attainment measures.</p><p>In 2016, 21.4 per cent of children were in workless households in Wolverhampton local authority. This compares to 27.2 per cent in 2010.</p><p>Source:</p><p><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/worklesshouseholdsforregionsacrosstheuk/2016" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/worklesshouseholdsforregionsacrosstheuk/2016</a></p><p>In 2017, pupils sat reformed GCSEs in English language, English literature and maths for the first time, graded on a 9 to 1 scale. 35.6 per cent of all pupils and 22.8 per cent of disadvantaged pupils in the Wolverhampton local authority area achieved 9-5 in English and maths.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">GCSE outcomes by constituency are available for all pupils but not broken down by disadvantaged pupils. In 2017, 28.3 per cent of all pupils in the Wolverhampton North East constituency achieved 9-5 in English and maths.</ins></p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2016-to-2017</a></p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 05/02/2018 16:57:03 question first ministerially corrected 15/03/2018 12:05:01 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse previous answer version 39408 answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

818734

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many presenting officers have been recruited to represent his Department at tribunal appeals against the refusal of disability benefit in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	121498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2018 answer text <p>While the Department has had presenting officers in the past, 2017 was the first time that individuals were recruited specifically into that role. Therefore there are no other specific recruitment to the presenting officer role in the years prior to 2017<del class="ministerial"> for ESA and PIP</del>.<ins class="ministerial">In 2017 DWP recruited 211 presenting officers.</ins></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 16/01/2018 17:39:32 question first ministerially corrected 17/04/2018 10:36:24 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton previous answer version 34632 answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

818634

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many medically qualified doctors are Personal Independence Payment assessors.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL4511
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2018 answer text <p>There is no requirement for Personal Independence Payment assessments to be undertaken specifically by doctors. The assessment is not a medical assessment requiring the assessor to diagnose a condition or its severity and recommend treatment options. The focus is on ensuring that the Health Professionals are experts in disability analysis, considering the effects of health conditions and impairments on an individual's daily life.</p><p> </p><p>Capita employ one medically qualified doctor as a Personal Independence Payment assessor.</p><p>Independent Assessment Services do not currently employ any doctors as Personal Independent Payment assessors.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/01/2018 16:23:42 question first ministerially corrected 24/01/2018 17:28:26 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

818635

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for Work and Pensions has a target to uphold 80 per cent of benefit decisions that are subject to Mandatory Reconsideration.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL4512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2018 answer text <p>There has never been a mandatory reconsideration target for upholding original decisions.</p><p>The 80 per cent figure was an internal measurement only used to indicate areas where the quality of initial decisions may not be meeting our expected high standards, therefore enabling us to investigate and address if required.</p><p>Given the confusion the 80 per cent figure has caused, we no longer use this internal measure. We instead assure quality by focussing more on the individual claimant journey, looking at what we could have done better and identifying any training needs and process improvements that can be made throughout this journey.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/01/2018 16:15:15 question first ministerially corrected 24/01/2018 17:29:00 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

818636

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Personal Independence Payment assessors have been disciplined for making misleading reports on the basis of which decisions were made that were later overturned by a tribunal, in each of the last three years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL4513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2018 answer text <p>Decisions on entitlement to Personal Independent Payment are made by DWP Case Managers not the Assessment Provider. When a decision is overturned at appeal it does not necessarily mean the original decision was wrong. Many claimants provide additional written evidence not available to the original DWP Case Manager.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/01/2018 16:24:08 question first ministerially corrected 24/01/2018 17:29:20 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester