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1660141

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that Personal Independent Payment assessors receive training on the (a) symptoms of Parkinson's disease and (b) effects that Parkinson's disease has on people's lives.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	199101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>Health Professionals (HPs) delivering Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments receive comprehensive training in assessing functional capability relating to physical and mental health conditions. They also have access to a wide range of clinical resources to research any conditions presented. Both PIP providers have condition specific information on Parkinson’s disease, which has been quality assured by relevant external experts.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Understanding the effects of health conditions and impairments on the claimant’s daily life is fundamental. PIP providers ensure HPs are experts in disability analysis, focusing on the effects of health conditions and impairments on the claimant’s daily life.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 18/09/2023 14:35:57 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1440728

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2022
	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	Biocidal Products
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Government department or agency is responsible for overseeing the correct use of biocides in (a) all settings and (b) hospital settings.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	139360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2022 answer text <p>There is a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place in Great Britain to protect workers from health risks associated with exposure to all hazardous substances (including biocides) in the workplace through the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, which are owned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).</p><p> </p><p>The COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended) apply to all work-related use of biocides including in hospitals and all other health and social care settings.</p><p> </p><p>The use of biocides in Great Britain in all settings, including hospitals and other areas of social care, is regulated mainly by HSE. Local Authorities regulate their use in residential care homes.</p><p> </p><p>HSE provides guidance on who regulates health and safety legislation at a particular workplace on its webpages ‘<a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/authority.htm" target="_blank">Is HSE the correct enforcing authority for you?</a>’. Guidance is also provided on HSE’s <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/using.htm" target="_blank">website</a> for users who are expected to have received appropriate information, instruction and training in the use of biocides.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive North Ireland (HSENI) is responsible for regulating the use of biocides in Northern Ireland under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and can provide more detail, including how the Northern Ireland Protocol may affect their regulatory framework.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 22/03/2022 16:52:31 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1250748

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Biocidal Products: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive will remain the competent authority for inspection and enforcement of biocide regulations after the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	114178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2020 answer text <p>The competent authority role in relation to biocides approvals and authorisations formally rests with the Secretary of State and Ministers in the Devolved Administrations where appropriate. These functions are delegated by agreement to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and these arrangements will continue to apply for Great Britain after the transition period.</p><p> </p><p>HSE Northern Ireland (HSENI) will be the competent authority for Northern Ireland. HSE’s and HSENI’s role in inspection and enforcement will remain unchanged.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/11/2020 13:57:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1611144

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2023
	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	Carer's Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the carer's allowance earnings threshold in line with inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	180773
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2023 answer text <p>Earlier this month the weekly Carer’s Allowance earnings limit increased from £132 to £139 net. This increase of 5.5% is in line with growth in Average Weekly Earnings for the year to May-July 2022, as published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).</p><p>DWP uses the ONS Annual Average Weekly Earnings growth measure for benefit uprating purposes where appropriate, as it is regarded as the most robust and up to date estimate of earnings growth across the economy available at the time we review the earnings limit. Increases in the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit are designed to try and ensure that it maintains its value. Therefore, the appropriate proxy for any increase is changes in wages (wage inflation), rather than a wider price inflation measure. Since 2010, the earnings limit will have increased by nearly 40%.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 19/04/2023 10:30:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1693223

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	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	Carer's Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to introduce legislative proposals to increase the amount of caring allowance available to people who care for more than one person.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	16701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer given 19 September 2023 to PQ<a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-09-14/199589" target="_blank">199589</a> relating to England and Wales. Carer’s Allowance is a devolved matter in Scotland, and social security is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 12/03/2024 17:12:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1133141

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	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 Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is taking to retrieve money owed by absent parents.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	266704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) replaced the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in 2012 and brought significant reforms to the Child Maintenance system in Great Britain. Child Maintenance in Northern Ireland is a devolved issue, although they run a broadly similar scheme. Any questions should be directed to the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>We support separated parents to make their own family based arrangements wherever possible. This allows families to create flexible arrangements that work for their individual circumstances and, where parents are able to work together, this can be better for their children. Where this is not possible, the CMS offers an effective and efficient statutory scheme for those parents who really need it.</p><p> </p><p>Under the statutory scheme, where paying parents fail to pay on time and in full, we aim to take immediate action to recover the debt and re-establish compliance. Where compliance is not achieved we are committed to using our wide ranging enforcement powers proportionally, and in the best interests of children and separated families.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 16:42:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684755

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2024
	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	Composite Materials: 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, if he will have discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on the safety of engineered stone production; and if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of banning the (a) production and (b) use of engineered stone.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	11338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2024 answer text <p>In Great Britain the responsibility for the regulation in the workplace for the production and use of engineered stone falls under the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The link between engineered stone production and the risk of silicosis in workers is already known. Similar to processing natural stone, dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can be created when workers cut, shape or polish engineered stone.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has advised the Government that is not currently considering restricting the use of engineered stone as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations already require employers to put in place measures to protect the health of workers when using it. COSHH sets out the requirements for protecting workers from exposure to RCS, which include making a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk created by that work to the health of employees and of the steps that need to be taken to meet the requirements of the COSHH regulations.</p><p> </p><p>The range of control measures in place to protect workers from exposure to RCS include water suppression, equipment enclosure, extraction and personal protective equipment, such as respirator masks. The COSHH regulations also require workers to be trained and competent to use such controls.</p><p> </p><p>HSE carries out targeted research on measures to protect workers, including methods to adequately measure RCS. HSE also works with industry to raise awareness of managing the risks of exposure to RCS and continues to inspect and investigate in industries where there is potential for exposure to RCS. It has delivered several national inspection campaigns and have worked proactively with key stakeholders and trade associations, for example, in the construction industry.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 11337 11339 11340 11499 question first answered 01/02/2024 16:38:02 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684756

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2024
	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	Composite Materials: Silicosis
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will commission research on potential links between engineered stone production and silicosis in workers.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	11339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2024 answer text <p>In Great Britain the responsibility for the regulation in the workplace for the production and use of engineered stone falls under the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The link between engineered stone production and the risk of silicosis in workers is already known. Similar to processing natural stone, dust containing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can be created when workers cut, shape or polish engineered stone.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has advised the Government that is not currently considering restricting the use of engineered stone as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations already require employers to put in place measures to protect the health of workers when using it. COSHH sets out the requirements for protecting workers from exposure to RCS, which include making a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk created by that work to the health of employees and of the steps that need to be taken to meet the requirements of the COSHH regulations.</p><p> </p><p>The range of control measures in place to protect workers from exposure to RCS include water suppression, equipment enclosure, extraction and personal protective equipment, such as respirator masks. The COSHH regulations also require workers to be trained and competent to use such controls.</p><p> </p><p>HSE carries out targeted research on measures to protect workers, including methods to adequately measure RCS. HSE also works with industry to raise awareness of managing the risks of exposure to RCS and continues to inspect and investigate in industries where there is potential for exposure to RCS. It has delivered several national inspection campaigns and have worked proactively with key stakeholders and trade associations, for example, in the construction industry.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 11337 11338 11340 11499 question first answered 01/02/2024 16:38:02 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1405150

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2022
	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	Cost of Living
	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 is taking to support families who are not entitled to tax credits and whose wages have not risen to manage (a) energy costs and (b) the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	109227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>The UK has a strong welfare safety net that supports people whether they are in or out of work through Universal Credit and the legacy benefits it is replacing including tax credits, Employment and Support Allowance and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. In 2021/22, DWP will spend around £110bn on welfare benefits for people of working age.</p><p> </p><p>As our economic recovery continues and with around 1.25 million vacancies across the UK there are many further opportunities for people to move into and progress in work and increase their earnings. Building on our Plan for Jobs, we launched ‘Way to Work on 27 January, a new campaign to help more people into work by matching jobseekers to the thousands of jobs available across the country.</p><p> </p><p>We understand the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. We are providing support worth around £12bn this financial year and the next, to help families - changing the Universal Credit taper and work allowance which means, nearly two million households will keep, on average, £1000 a year, freezing fuel duties to keep costs down, and providing targeted support to help households with their energy bills.</p><p> </p><p>For the lowest earners we are further increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 from April 2022, meaning a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will see their annual earnings rise by over £1,000; we have set a target for the National Living Wage to reach two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, provided economic conditions allow.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some people require extra support over the winter, which is why vulnerable households across the country can access the £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund provides £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula applies in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive)</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/01/2022 17:52:26 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1663372

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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	Cystic Fibrosis: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Employment and Support Allowance claimants with cystic fibrosis as their main disabling condition have been (a) placed in the support group, (b) placed in the work-related activity group and (c) found fit for work at Work Capability Assessments in each year since 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	201226
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The following table shows the volume of Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants with Cystic Fibrosis as their main disabling condition, by outcome and year.</p><p> </p><p>Volumes cover all WCA outcomes including initial assessments (the first assessment of the ESA claim), repeat assessments (subsequent assessments after prognosis period of previous assessment of the ESA claim expires), and initial assessments for those moving over from Incapacity Benefit (IB). IB was replaced by ESA and claimants are re-assessed for ESA under the WCA.</p><p> </p><p>Due to Covid, WCA repeat assessments were paused in March 2020, department-led reassessments began again in June 2023.</p><p> </p><p><strong>ESA WCAs with Cystic Fibrosis as the main condition </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Support Group</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Work Related Activity Group</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Fit for Work</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p>510</p></td><td><p>50</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>570</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p>380</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p>310</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>340</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p>310</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>340</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p>260</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>270</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><em>Notes:</em></p><p><em>&quot;..&quot; denotes a nil or negligible number of claimants.</em></p><p><em>Figures may not sum to total due to rounding.</em></p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 23/10/2023 14:21:44 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon