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1132394

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Cardiff
	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 help ensure that there are adequate (a) parking facilities and (b) public transport connections for staff working in her Department's offices in Merthyr Tydfil when that office is moved to the hub north of Cardiff.
	tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
	tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
	uin	265563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We plan to move the back of house staff based in Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda into the new office in Treforest between 2021 and 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Building work on the new Treforest site began in January 2019 and the building is currently on track and due for completion in the last quarter of 2020. There are plans for 444 car parking spaces, along with space for motorcycle and cycle storage at this site.</p><p> </p><p>The development of the South Wales Metro continues and discussions are ongoing between DWP and Transport for Wales around the relocation of Trefforest Estate station closer to the new office.</p><p> </p><p>Before any moves take place, staff will have the opportunity for a formal one-to-one discussion with their line managers about how the move will impact them. This helps to assess any travel impacts of the change of location. We anticipate that these formal discussions will take place approximately nine months in advance of any moves.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:51:41 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1132410

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a freephone number that universal credit claimants can use when attempting to make phone contact with her Department from abroad.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
	uin	265570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>You can dial all of the 0800 numbers from abroad using the 0044 prefix. If a claimant does find themselves needing to dial an 0800 number from abroad, then they may incur charges at the standard international rate. This cost will vary depending on where they are calling from.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 12:30:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1132567

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to determine performance-related awards for officials in her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	265469
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>End year performance awards are a key element of the Department for Work and Pension’s reward strategy, supporting performance improvement, employee engagement and delivery of key business objectives. These awards are based on employees’ annual performance ratings, which are scored against their overall achievement of objectives, and the behaviours demonstrated during the performance year. The level of award will vary according to a range of factors including grade and performance rating achieved.</p><p> </p><p>As with all government departments Senior Civil Servants (SCS) in DWP are managed under Cabinet Office policy. Performance related pay awards for this cohort are restricted to top performers only with around 25% of employees falling into this category. Performance ratings are based on delivery against key objectives, effective leadership skills, and demonstration of Civil Service behaviours and values.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP, in common with most other government departments, also operates an in-year Recognition and Reward scheme which is available all year round and consists of one off non-consolidated cash or voucher awards. Employees are encouraged to recognise individuals and teams for their exceptional contributions in areas such as giving a particularly high level of customer service or demonstrating outstanding teamwork.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:43:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1132572

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on performance-related awards for officials in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018 and (f) January 2019 to June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	265470
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The periods covered are pay remit years which run from July to June, figures up to 2017/18 are actual and 2018/19 is forecast as this reporting year will not conclude until end June 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The figures provided include expenditure on all DWP performance related awards including; End of year performance awards to delegated grades, SCS Performance Related Payments, Recognition scheme.</p><p> </p><p>2013/14 - £49.635,000, Average Payment by headcount - £505</p><p>2014/15 - £46,277,000, Average Payment by headcount - £513</p><p>2015/16 - £43,056,000, Average Payment by headcount - £510</p><p>2016/17 - £39,435,000, Average Payment by headcount - £473</p><p>2017/18 - £42,341,000, Average Payment by headcount - £509</p><p>2018/19 - £22,854,000 – Payments will be agreed as part of 2019 pay negotiations pending.</p><p> </p><p>We have over 82,000 employees in DWP, approximately 94% are in our most junior grades receiving an annual salary between £18,745 for an AA Grade and £37,262 for an HEO Grade based in Inner London.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:19:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1132277

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	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, how many deductions of earnings (a) orders and (b) requests were issued by the Child Maintenance Service to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Business Services for the purpose of collecting child maintenance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	264780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number of paying parents under the Child Maintenance Service with a Deduction from Earnings Order or Deduction from Earnings Request in place can be found in the latest Published statistics last updated 17 April 2019, a link to which can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme</a></p><p> </p><p>The Child Maintenance Service does not issue Deduction from Earnings Orders to the Ministry of Defence.</p><p> </p><p>The information specifically on how many Deduction from Earnings Requests were issued to the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Business Services in each of the last three years is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/06/2019 16:32:00 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1131990

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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: Pensioners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether pensioner couples who are no longer eligible for pension credit and housing benefit because one of the couple is below state pension age, will still be eligible to have their rent paid directly to their landlord under universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	264296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>Mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners immediately before the implementation date on 15 May 2019 will not be affected by the policy, so long as they remain entitled to either benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Those making a new claim to Universal Credit, or already claiming it, will be able to have a conversation with their work coach or case manager, in the same way as other claimants, so that a managed payment to their landlord can be considered in Universal Credit for their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would have been eligible for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners under the previous rules but had not claimed before 15 May 2019, will have up to 13 August 2019 to make a backdated claim to 14 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/06/2019 15:07:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1132014

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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: Chief Scientific Advisers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings she has held with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 March 2019 and 31 May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	North Norfolk
	tabling member printed	Norman Lamb
	uin	264367
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions held no meetings with the Department’s Chief Scientific Advisor between 1 March 2019 and 31 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 13:04:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb

1132054

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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 steps he is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants paying rent weekly do not face a one-week shortfall in their universal credit housing element in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Ogmore
	tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
	uin	264450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>No-one will face a one-week shortfall in their Universal Credit (UC) housing element in 2020 as no year contains 53 weeks. This perceived issue of there being a one-week shortfall due to there being 53 weeks in a year arises where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday and, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, requiring 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53<sup>rd</sup> payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year.</p><p> </p><p>Where a tenant makes a 53<sup>rd</sup> rent payment in a given year, this payment will cover some days in the subsequent year. This will mean the following month only has four payment dates and, as such, the claimant will be ‘overpaid’ for their housing and their shortfall will be recovered.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day’s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 11:44:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1131763

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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: Statistics
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions her Department has received representations from the UK Statistics Authority on her Department's presentation and use of statistics in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	263734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>Details on the UK Statistics Authority’s interventions are published in the correspondence, publications, and issues log sections of their website since 2010. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Authority’s Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) also carry out regular assessments and systemic reviews, details of which can also be found on the Authority’s website. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/</a></p><p> </p><p>In September 2018, the Authority published the first annual summary of its interventions for the financial year 2017/18. The report for 2018/19 will be published in the autumn. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 12:30:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1131838

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Funerals: Costs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to Question 249851, what steps her Department takes to (a) make funerals accessible to everyone and (b) co-ordinate actions between the various bodies listed to ensure they are making funerals accessible to everyone.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	263674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments provides a significant contribution towards funeral costs for claimants on qualifying benefits. It continues to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial and up to £700 towards other costs. In 2017-18 around 25,500 Funeral Expenses Payment awards were made. This amounted to £37.1 million of support for funeral costs. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances are now also available to assist with funeral costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Department holds regular discussions with funeral providers and related organisations, including a Ministerial Roundtable on 18th June 2019 to discuss the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme and listen to views for suggested future improvements.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 12:07:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe