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1129770

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Post Office: Pilot Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the pilot services run by Post Office Ltd to (a) verify identities for the National Insurance application process, (b) support job seekers in rural areas, and (c) verify supporting documents for customers of the pension scheme, (a) started, (b) will finish; and what the cost to the public purse has been of those pilots.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	260048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>While the Government sets the strategic direction for the Post Office, it has the freedom to deliver its strategy as an independent business. Therefore, this issue is an operational matter for Post Office Limited.</p><p>However, BEIS Ministers and officials do engage regularly with representatives of Post Office Limited on a range of strategic issues of mutual interest.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/06/2019 14:16:00 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1129886

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Debt Collection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department engages enforcement agents.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	259978
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>Where a claimant is no longer in receipt of benefit, and all other recovery options have been exhausted, the Department for Work and Pensions may refer a debt to a Private Sector Debt Collection Agency.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2015, Indesser, was appointed as the provider of cross-government debt services under a joint-venture with the Cabinet Office.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2019 11:07:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1129713

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Pensions: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the pensions sector on increasing transparency in respect of charge cap levels.
	tabling member constituency	Wallasey
	tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
	uin	259886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>When the charge cap was introduced in 2015, DWP produced guidance for trustees on how to comply. Since this time DWP officials have met regularly with pension schemes and their service providers. As a result of this engagement DWP consulted earlier this year on an update to the charge cap guidance to provide more clarity for trustees on how to calculate charges.</p><p>The consultation can be found in chapter 5 in the link below:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-contribution-pensions-investments-and-consolidation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-contribution-pensions-investments-and-consolidation</a></p><p>We are currently considering the feedback.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/06/2019 13:52:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1129720

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Self-employed
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the relationship between rent arrears and the roll out of universal credit for self-employed claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	260014
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of this nature, as any change in rent arrears is not solely attributed to Universal Credit. The initial analytical work we have carried out with a single housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, supporting by the research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears.</p><p>This initial analytical work also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.</p><p>We have responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place – 100 per cent advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p><p>We are aware that for many who are self-employed, particularly those with seasonal businesses, earnings often fluctuate from month to month, and they need to budget and plan for this. Self-employed Universal Credit claimants are no different in this regard.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 12/06/2019 12:45:25 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1129595

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints she has received on the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro newspaper; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	259861
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. We have a responsibility to advertise Universal Credit and have been doing so for some time. This helps ensure people understand the benefits they may be entitled to and that they have the information they need when it comes to making a claim.</p><p>The Department has a responsibility to ensure claimants do not miss out on their full entitlements and to encourage people to make their claim as quickly as possible.</p><p>To identify complaint cases concerning the Universal Credit campaign in the Metro newspaper would require every complaint case to be examined. So, this data could only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p>In November 2018 Ministers agreed to the principle of national media partnerships. The specific Metro campaign was taken forward by Departmental officials. Ministers agreed the content of the launch products.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 259862 question first answered 11/06/2019 13:40:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1129841

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she consulted Ministers in her Department on the content of the recent universal credit campaign in the Metro.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	259862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. We have a responsibility to advertise Universal Credit and have been doing so for some time. This helps ensure people understand the benefits they may be entitled to and that they have the information they need when it comes to making a claim.</p><p>The Department has a responsibility to ensure claimants do not miss out on their full entitlements and to encourage people to make their claim as quickly as possible.</p><p>To identify complaint cases concerning the Universal Credit campaign in the Metro newspaper would require every complaint case to be examined. So, this data could only be collated at a disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p>In November 2018 Ministers agreed to the principle of national media partnerships. The specific Metro campaign was taken forward by Departmental officials. Ministers agreed the content of the launch products.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 259861 question first answered 11/06/2019 13:40:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1129719

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to amend the income assessment periods for universal credit for claimants with flexible incomes.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	260013
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by the employer during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if claimants’ incomes fall, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p>Claimants can discuss queries about how fluctuating income effects Universal Credit with their case managers and work coaches, who can also signpost to services appropriate to individual circumstances.</p><p>The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence of erroneous or late reporting by employers. HMRC have updated the guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles.</p><p>More guidance on this is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/06/2019 14:06:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1129653

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay are classified differently under the universal credit rules.
	tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
	tabling member printed	Mark Tami
	uin	259894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).</p><p>Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259895 question first answered 12/06/2019 13:51:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1129654

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the deduction of maternity allowance from universal credit as unearned income on the (a) affordability for new mothers of (i) housing costs, (ii) nappies and (iii) and other baby essentials and (b) children of those mothers in respect of the principle set out in section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989.
	tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
	tabling member printed	Mark Tami
	uin	259895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).</p><p>Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259894 question first answered 12/06/2019 13:51:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1129626

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	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 steps she is taking to reduce food poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	259945
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>This Government is committed to a sustainable solution to poverty in all its forms. This means a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. Compared to 2010, there are over 3.6 million more people in work, 1 million fewer workless households and 667,000 fewer children in workless households.</p><p>Whilst we have always said that there are many reasons people use Food Banks, we have responded quickly to concerns about the early roll out of Universal Credit and made numerous improvements to ensure people get the money they need as soon as possible. New questions have been added to the Family Resources Survey to develop a food insecurity measure from 2021 to help better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2019 11:19:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris