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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

1471967

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	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
	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 publish the financial criteria for eligibility for the Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme; and what was the average proportion of funeral costs that this scheme covered in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
	uin	22396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2022 answer text <p>The Funeral Expenses Payments (FEP) scheme provides an important contribution towards the cost of a simple, respectful funeral arranged by someone who is in receipt of certain income related benefits or tax credits.</p><p><br> The scheme meets the necessary costs of a burial or cremation in full and offers up to £1000 to meet other funeral expenses such as, the cost of a coffin, church and funeral director fees. In April 2020, we increased the maximum amount families can claim for these additional costs by 43%, from £700 to £1000, providing vital financial support to families grieving the loss of a loved one.</p><p> </p><p>The average FEP award in 2020/21 was £1,838, while the average cost of a cremation was £3,765 and average cost for a burial funeral was £4,927. (Costs vary significantly by region).</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/06/2022 15:38:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1178763

	registered interest
	date	12/02/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-resident parents were fined for non-payment of child maintenance in 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Ogmore
	tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
	uin	15112
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2020 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service does not fine Paying Parents for not paying their child maintenance. They do however recover the unpaid child maintenance through the use of enforcements actions such as deductions from earrings orders, deduction orders and civil enforcement. In cases where the Child Maintenance Service believe the Paying Parent can pay, but are refusing to do so they can apply to the courts to send the Paying Parents to prison, disqualifying them from holding or obtaining a passport or driving licence. The figures described can be found in the quarterly National Tables for the Child Maintenance Service statistics (data to September 2019), Table 12 (“Enforcement Actions”). This is available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2019-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-september-2019-experimental</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/02/2020 13:40:02 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1172389

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people with epilepsy they have supported into employment since October 2016.
	tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Belmont
	uin	HL613
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2020 answer text <p>No assessment has been made of the number of people with epilepsy who have been supported into work by the Government since October 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and seeing a million more disabled people in work by 2027. We support disabled people, including people with epilepsy, to return to work through programmes such as the Work and Health Programme, Access to Work and the new Intensive Personalised Employment Support Programme. We will publish a National Strategy for Disabled People before the end of 2020. This will look at ways to improve the benefits system, opportunities and access for disabled people in terms of housing, education, transport and jobs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 27/01/2020 16:36:14 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	3801 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont

1111043

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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
	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 Impact Assessment for the extension of the Shared Accommodation Rate to 25-34 year-olds, how many claimants were affected; and what assessment she has made of the effect of that extension on the average weekly income since January 2012.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	243318
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The number of households aged 25-34 who are entitled to the Shared Accommodation Rate is available on Stat-Xplore from January 2013 onwards.</p><p> </p><p>An independent evaluation of the 2011/12 Local Housing Allowance reforms including the changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate was published in 2014 - <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-monitoring-the-impact-of-changes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-monitoring-the-impact-of-changes</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/04/2019 12:13:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1111215

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the number of people with a disability living in poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	243357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>National statistics on the number of people with a disability living in poverty, are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication.</p><p> </p><p>Latest figures can be found using the link below, in table 7b, in the file “summary-hbai-1994-95-2017-18-tables.ods”.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789816/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789816/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/04/2019 15:21:42 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1111033

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of the 192 shared accommodation rates of local housing allowance have been uprated as a result of the targeted affordability fund in each year since this was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	243316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p><strong>The information requested is in the table below.</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Shared Accommodation Rates</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017/2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>22 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>11%</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018/2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>60</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>31%</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019/2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>87</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>45%</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/04/2019 14:47:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

753299

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what is the budget for the Health and Safety Executive for 2017–18; how many inspectors it expects to employ in 2017–18; and how many inspectors it employed in each of the last five years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
	uin	HL987
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2017 answer text <p>HSE’s net budget for 2017-18 is £136 million (which includes planned expenditure of £232 million, offset by planned income of £96 million).</p><p> </p><p>During 2017-18 we are seeking to maintain inspector numbers at or around the level as at 31 March 2017 which is stated below, along with the four previous years.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Number of HSE inspectors at 31 March</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>31 March 2013</p></td><td><p>31 March 2014</p></td><td><p>31 March 2015</p></td><td><p>31 March 2016</p></td><td><p>31 March 2017</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1,115</p></td><td><p>1,051</p></td><td><p>1,038</p></td><td><p>1,037</p></td><td><p>988</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 28/07/2017 11:12:54 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

753267

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Buscombe on 13 July (HL Deb, cols 1296–98), what emphasis they place on the prevention of poverty; and how they are working to ensure that the prevention of poverty is prioritised by every Department.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bird
	uin	HL955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2017 answer text <p>The most commonly used measure of poverty is relative low income.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data series show that there are: 2.7 million children, 5.7 million working-age adults, and 2.1 million pensioners in relative low income in the United Kingdom on a ‘before housing costs’ (BHC) basis.</p><p>Analysis of the HBAI data shows that there are 2.1 million families in relative low income BHC where at least one adult member works at least part-time.</p><p>This Government is committed to tackling the root causes of poverty, thereby preventing the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.</p><p> </p><p>This is why we repealed the income-related targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010 and replaced them with statutory measures that drive action on parental worklessness and children’s educational attainment – the two areas that we know can make the biggest difference to disadvantaged children, now and in the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions published Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families in April 2017. Here we set out further non-statutory indicators on a wider set of parental disadvantage and children’s outcomes, which will drive collective action on areas that matter in tackling disadvantage.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL954 question first answered 28/07/2017 10:40:12 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

753266

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of (1) children, (2) adults, and (3) working families, living in poverty across the United Kingdom; and what long-term plan they have to prevent such poverty.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bird
	uin	HL954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2017 answer text <p>The most commonly used measure of poverty is relative low income.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data series show that there are: 2.7 million children, 5.7 million working-age adults, and 2.1 million pensioners in relative low income in the United Kingdom on a ‘before housing costs’ (BHC) basis.</p><p>Analysis of the HBAI data shows that there are 2.1 million families in relative low income BHC where at least one adult member works at least part-time.</p><p>This Government is committed to tackling the root causes of poverty, thereby preventing the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.</p><p> </p><p>This is why we repealed the income-related targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010 and replaced them with statutory measures that drive action on parental worklessness and children’s educational attainment – the two areas that we know can make the biggest difference to disadvantaged children, now and in the future.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions published Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families in April 2017. Here we set out further non-statutory indicators on a wider set of parental disadvantage and children’s outcomes, which will drive collective action on areas that matter in tackling disadvantage.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL955 question first answered 28/07/2017 10:40:12 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

753265

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the lessons to be learned from the reports of the Scottish Government's Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality in the light of persistent poverty levels in the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bird
	uin	HL953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>The Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality was appointed in 2015 to offer advice to the Scottish Government on the action it could take to tackle poverty in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Nevertheless, the UK Government has taken note of the Advisor’s two publications: <em>Shifting the Curve</em> (and its most recent progress report) and <em>The Life Chances of Young People</em>.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government remains committed to tackling the root causes of child poverty and disadvantage, and has set out a framework for continued action in <em>Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families</em>, published on 4 April.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 25/07/2017 10:30:43 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

752466

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many advance payments of universal credit have been made following a claim for universal credit since its introduction; and what proportion of all claims that number represents.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	uin	HL912
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p>We are planning to publish data on the Universal Credit Advances in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 25/07/2017 10:30:07 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

752465

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many claimants of universal credit have had to wait for more than six weeks for the first payment of universal credit; and what is the average waiting time.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	uin	HL911
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p><em> </em></p><p>The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit creates a fixed period between date of entitlement and the first payment.</p><p> </p><p>The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimants indicative award straight away.</p><p> </p><p>The latest internal data, for week ending 19 June, suggests some 80% of cases were paid in full at the end of the first assessment period. For the 20% of cases who were not paid in full we estimate around a third have not signed up to their claimant commitment so cannot be paid until they have. The other two thirds have an outstanding verification issue, such as providing bank statements, evidence of childcare costs, or proof of rent. Many of these claimants receive a part-payment where elements of the claim have been verified.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL910 question first answered 25/07/2017 10:29:56 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

752464

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by Citizens Advice in its report Delivering Universal Credit, what steps they plan to take to reduce the time taken for the first payment of universal credit to be made.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	uin	HL910
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2017 answer text <p><em> </em></p><p>The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit creates a fixed period between date of entitlement and the first payment.</p><p> </p><p>The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimants indicative award straight away.</p><p> </p><p>The latest internal data, for week ending 19 June, suggests some 80% of cases were paid in full at the end of the first assessment period. For the 20% of cases who were not paid in full we estimate around a third have not signed up to their claimant commitment so cannot be paid until they have. The other two thirds have an outstanding verification issue, such as providing bank statements, evidence of childcare costs, or proof of rent. Many of these claimants receive a part-payment where elements of the claim have been verified.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL911 question first answered 25/07/2017 10:29:55 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

748861

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering a review of Carers Allowance to ensure that it is sufficient to meet the financial support needs of carers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
	uin	HL524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>This Government recognises and appreciates the valuable support that carers provide to those with care needs.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010 the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £62.70 a week, meaning an additional £450 a year for carers. Carer’s Allowance is excluded from the benefit freeze and is uprated annually in line with the Consumer Prices Index.</p><p> </p><p>Carers on low incomes can access other financial support through income-related benefits. Income Support, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit include an additional carer’s premium of £34.95 a week. Universal Credit includes a carer’s element of £151.89 per monthly assessment period. People entitled to Carer’s Allowance or the carer’s element in Universal Credit are not subject to the benefit cap.</p><p> </p><p>As society ages and care needs increase, it is important that carers are able to combine caring with paid employment, or return to paid work when their caring duties allow. The Government’s Fuller Working Lives Strategy, published in February 2017, sets out proposals to help carers combine work and care or prepare for returning to the labour market. In addition, earned income up to £116 net a week is ignored for the purposes of Carer’s Allowance. Means-tested benefits and Universal Credit also provide for care to be combined with earnings.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 19/07/2017 10:59:53 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

747963

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of introducing a double lock on Pension Credit uprating from 2018–19 onwards, uprating pensions by the highest of the consumer price index or earnings inflation, (1) over the course of this Parliament, (2) over the next 10 years, and (3) up to 2050.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
	uin	HL417
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>No estimate of the cost of introducing a double lock on Pension Credit uprating has been made. The legislative requirement is that the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit should increase at least in line with earnings.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/07/2017 16:24:54 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

747992

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
	tabling member printed	Lord Lester of Herne Hill
	uin	HL446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The Agency collects and shares good practice information on national and European Union priorities for safety and health at work, working with national contact points in all Member States. Its activities are particularly valuable to recent and proposed EU entrants and those with less well developed health and safety systems.</p><p> </p><p>The European Court of Auditors publishes annual reports on the accounts of the Agency that are automatically deposited with Parliament for scrutiny purposes. For the latest report (financial position as of 31 December 2015), the budget was €16.9 million and the auditors stated that the Agency’s accounts were reliable and transactions were legal and regular.</p><p> </p><p>Our relationship with the European Union's decentralised bodies upon exit, including the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, will be evaluated in light of delivering the twelve objectives outlined by the Prime Minister to achieve a deep and special positive and constructive partnership between the UK and the European Union.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/07/2017 14:24:18 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	2037 label Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill

748862

	registered interest
	date	05/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support boxers and footballers with dementia pugilistica who currently rely on financial assistance from various charities.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
	uin	HL525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council’s (IIAC) 2005 review of Dementia in boxers and footballers concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend an addition to the list of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (available to employed earners) prescribed diseases. In 2014 IIAC sought high quality research evidence about the risks of neurodegenerative diseases in professional sportspersons. The IIAC response in May 2016 concluded that despite the passage of time, epidemiological evidence on risk of dementia pugilistica in boxers relative to other workers remains elusive, and that there was no new important evidence to change the previous appraisal of prescription in respect of soccer players. As in 2005, there remains insufficient evidence to indicate a more than doubled risk of a dementia in boxers.</p><p> </p><p>IIAC has no plans at present to revisit this, but would likely reconsider should new evidence emerge. However the department provides a range of benefits to support with extra costs of disability, which individuals may be entitled to depending on their circumstances.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 18/07/2017 11:13:51 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

746097

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the criteria for assessing Personal Independence Payments to take into account claimants with mental health issues.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2017 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payments (PIP) assessment criteria have been designed to take account of the impact of all impairments on individuals’ ability including those with mental health issues. The inclusion of such activities as 'Making budgeting decisions' and 'Engaging with other people face-to-face' ensures that consideration is given to the impact of such impairments on people's daily living needs.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, by assessing claimants' ability to plan and follow journeys, the Mobility component also reflects the impact of impairment on an individual's ability to get around, and ensures the assessment takes account of mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments.</p><p> </p><p>We believe the current PIP assessment criteria are the best way of identifying those whose mental health is most limited and have no plans to change these.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 12/07/2017 16:11:39 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

746104

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement in the Green Paper on work and health and disability,  Improving Lives,  published in October 2016, what consideration they have given to allowing the voluntary incorporation of a portion of a severely disabled employee’s Employment and Support Allowance to be offset as part of their pay, in order to help enhance their employability.
	tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
	uin	HL246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2017 answer text <p>Improving Lives – the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper, published In October 2016, attracted over 6000 responses, including many on how to enhance the employability of ESA recipients. We are currently considering future policy options in this area.</p><p> </p><p>Existing measures to reduce potential costs to employers, and so improve employability, include Access to Work which offers practical advice and funding of up to £42,100 pa for employees’ support costs over and above reasonable adjustments.</p><p> </p><p>Our new ‘Small Employer Offer’ for small and medium-sized enterprises is trialling a £500 payment to employers for mentoring and supporting disabled people employed for over 3 months.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 12/07/2017 16:04:35 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

747351

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the cost saving over (1) 10 years, (2) 20 years, and (3) 30 years, of changing the current triple lock on State Pensions into a double lock consisting of the best of earnings or CPI inflation, from 2020 onwards.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
	uin	HL325
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p><br>The Government is committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including when they reach retirement. The Government is also clear that fairness between the generations must be maintained. We are committed to the Triple Lock for the remainder of this Parliament. Economic forecasts suggest that State Pensions will go up by at least 2.5% each year for the length of this Parliament and so maintaining the Triple Lock for this Parliament will cost no extra money.</p><p> </p><p>It is estimated that uprating the State Pension by a double lock (highest of earnings or inflation) from April 2020 would reduce State Pension expenditure by the following compared to the Triple Lock:</p><p>(1) 0.03% of GDP in 2029/30;</p><p>(2) 0.08% of GDP in 2039/40;</p><p>(3) 0.13% of GDP in 2049/50;</p><p> </p><p>It is estimated that in 2066/67, uprating by a double lock would reduce State Pension expenditure by around 0.2% of GDP compared to uprating by the Triple Lock.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL324 question first answered 11/07/2017 15:41:13 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

747350

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost saving, in long-term expenditure on State Pensions, from changing the current triple lock into a double lock using the best of earnings or CPI inflation, from 2020 onwards.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
	uin	HL324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p><br>The Government is committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including when they reach retirement. The Government is also clear that fairness between the generations must be maintained. We are committed to the Triple Lock for the remainder of this Parliament. Economic forecasts suggest that State Pensions will go up by at least 2.5% each year for the length of this Parliament and so maintaining the Triple Lock for this Parliament will cost no extra money.</p><p> </p><p>It is estimated that uprating the State Pension by a double lock (highest of earnings or inflation) from April 2020 would reduce State Pension expenditure by the following compared to the Triple Lock:</p><p>(1) 0.03% of GDP in 2029/30;</p><p>(2) 0.08% of GDP in 2039/40;</p><p>(3) 0.13% of GDP in 2049/50;</p><p> </p><p>It is estimated that in 2066/67, uprating by a double lock would reduce State Pension expenditure by around 0.2% of GDP compared to uprating by the Triple Lock.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe grouped question UIN HL325 question first answered 11/07/2017 15:41:13 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

747449

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Henley on 1 March concerning the Pensioners' Christmas Bonus (HL5502) what would the value of the £10 bonus be in real terms had the bonus been increased in line with the cost of living and increases in incomes.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>The Christmas Bonus was introduced in 1972 and was £10. If it had been increased in line with the cost of living, in 2016 its current value would be approximately £133. If it had been increased in line with average earnings, in 2016 it would be approximately £202.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 11/07/2017 15:24:33 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

746098

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government whether there is enough flexibility in the Personal Independence Payments criteria to allow for claimants with unusual conditions.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL240
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment works effectively for individuals with any health conditions or disability. This is achieved by measuring the impact on an individual’s ability to undertake a range of activities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 11/07/2017 13:00:09 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

731003

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the finding by the Equality and Human Rights Commission review published on 3 April, Being disabled in Britain: a journey less equal, that across the UK 18.4 per cent of disabled people aged 16 to 64 were considered to be in food poverty in 2014 compared with 7.5 per cent of non-disabled people.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Deech
	uin	HL22
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2017 answer text <p>It is widely acknowledged that the reasons why people are in food poverty are complex and overlapping, and therefore would be misleading to link this to any particular cause. The Government’s approach has been about recognising the value and importance of work, to make work pay and to support people into work whilst protecting the most vulnerable in society. We are committed to ensuring that those in work are paid a fair wage; have opportunities to progress and achieve their potential. We are getting disabled people into employment and working to change attitudes, introducing reforms to make sure that work always pays and that we support people into work. Since June 2016 over 750,000 of people who were receiving incapacity benefits are now either preparing for or looking for work.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 05/07/2017 12:20:20 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3756 label Biography information for Baroness Deech

746096

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2017
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Personal Independent Payment assessors receive appropriate training to allow them to take a holistic approach to a claimant's assessment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL238
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>All Health Professionals (HPs) working on the delivery of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments must be either an occupational therapist, level 1 nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or doctor. They must also be fully registered and have at least two years’ post full-registration experience. In addition to their profession, the Department recognises the importance of ensuring that individuals also have sufficient experience, skills and training to carry out their duties and PIP providers are required to ensure that the HPs carrying out assessments have knowledge of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments.</p><p> </p><p>All new assessors complete one month of intensive training in disability analysis which includes a functional evaluation as to how medical conditions and the long-term medical treatment of those conditions affect an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role.</p><p> </p><p>Final approval to work as a health assessor must be conferred by the Department for Work and Pension’s Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/07/2017 14:40:36 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

168402

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2014
	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, how many members of his Department's executive board are disabled.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	217408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The Department is unable to provide the answer to this question as, in line with Cabinet Office guidance and ONS best practice, we redact sensitive personal information where the results may show less than four individuals, thereby compromising their anonymity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The membership of the Departmental Executive Team can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 217366 217387 question first answered 15/12/2014 14:58:40 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

50179

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 support is in place to help people with ME or chronic fatigue syndrome who are well enough to consider a return to work.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Dorset and North Poole
	tabling member printed	Annette Brooke
	uin	198031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not target our employment programmes exclusively at individuals with particular conditions such as M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Department's programmes, including its specialist disability employment programmes, aim to identify and meet the needs of the individual, including those with M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work provides additional support for individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. It provides individuals and their employers with advice and support with extra costs which may arise because of an individual's needs. Access to Work does not replace the duty an employer has under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments.</p><p> </p><p>Work Choice is a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment, find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers can provide support and advice for disabled people who need help finding and retaining employment. They can refer individuals to specialist programmes, including Work Choice, and can use the professional expertise of Work Psychologists, who specialise in working with disabled people. Disability Employment Advisers can advocate with employers on the individual's behalf and help employers to explore job solutions such as the restructuring of a job's tasks/environment, or the provision/change of equipment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published ‘The disability and health employment strategy: the discussion so far' on 17 December 2013. This paper sets out a range of proposals to further improve our employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that getting the right support at the right time is particularly important for disabled people and those with a health condition so as part of our vision for future employment support we are developing a new Employment Gateway. This will be a light-touch process based on an individual's strengths and needs and will direct people to the most appropriate support.</p><p> </p><p>In order to support individuals to stay in work where possible we are putting in place a new Health and Work Service (HWS).The HWS will provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GP's to help individuals with a health condition to stay in or return to work.</p><p> </p><p>The intention is to introduce the service by the end of 2014.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198105 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1431 label Biography information for Annette Brooke

50181

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 his Department is taking to ensure that specialist training on (a) ME or chronic fatigue syndrome and (b) other fluctuating conditions is given to healthcare professionals assessing claimants for the personal independence payment.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Dorset and North Poole
	tabling member printed	Annette Brooke
	uin	198106
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department requires the health professionals carrying out Personal Independence Payment assessments to have a broad and thorough training in disability analysis, as well as training in specific conditions, including fluctuating conditions.Both organisations providing the assessment have to conform to a rigorous set of quality and recruitment standards which are closely monitored by the Department for Work and Pensions.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1431 label Biography information for Annette Brooke

50182

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 progress he has made towards achieving his Department's aim of processing 97 per cent of assessments for personal independence payments within 30 days.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Dorset and North Poole
	tabling member printed	Annette Brooke
	uin	198107
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>We are working closely with the providers to ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to improve performance, speed up the process and ensure claimants receive a satisfactory experience.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1431 label Biography information for Annette Brooke

50183

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 his Department is taking to ensure that people with ME or chronic fatigue syndrome and their healthcare professionals are (a) helped to access appropriate support and (b) given the correct out of work support.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Dorset and North Poole
	tabling member printed	Annette Brooke
	uin	198105
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>We do not target our employment programmes exclusively at individuals with particular conditions such as M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Department's programmes, including its specialist disability employment programmes, aim to identify and meet the needs of the individual, including those with M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work provides additional support for individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. It provides individuals and their employers with advice and support with extra costs which may arise because of an individual's needs. Access to Work does not replace the duty an employer has under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments.</p><p> </p><p>Work Choice is a specialist disability employment programme that provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment, find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers can provide support and advice for disabled people who need help finding and retaining employment. They can refer individuals to specialist programmes, including Work Choice, and can use the professional expertise of Work Psychologists, who specialise in working with disabled people. Disability Employment Advisers can advocate with employers on the individual's behalf and help employers to explore job solutions such as the restructuring of a job's tasks/environment, or the provision/change of equipment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government published ‘The disability and health employment strategy: the discussion so far' on 17 December 2013. This paper sets out a range of proposals to further improve our employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that getting the right support at the right time is particularly important for disabled people and those with a health condition so as part of our vision for future employment support we are developing a new Employment Gateway. This will be a light-touch process based on an individual's strengths and needs and will direct people to the most appropriate support.</p><p> </p><p>In order to support individuals to stay in work where possible we are putting in place a new Health and Work Service (HWS).The HWS will provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GP's to help individuals with a health condition to stay in or return to work.</p><p> </p><p>The intention is to introduce the service by the end of 2014.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198031 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1431 label Biography information for Annette Brooke

50211

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to close the employment gap for disabled people since the ending of the quota system in 1995; and how progress is being monitored.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL6929
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The disability employment gap has reduced. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey data is used to measure the employment rate gap between working age disabled people and the total working age population.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunities and support that they need to get a job and to remain in work. There is a range of provision to provide this support including the Work Programme, Access to Work and Work Choice programmes. Further, in December 2013, the Government published ‘the disability and health employment strategy: the discussion so far'.</p><p> </p><p>A new Health and Work Service (HWS) is being developed to provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GP's to help individuals with a health condition to stay in or return to work.The intention is to introduce the service by the end of 2014.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2013, The Prime Minister launched the Disability Confident Campaign to help increase employer confidence in recruiting and retaining disabled people as part of a diverse workforce, and to provide opportunities for employers and organisations to share learning and good practice.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

50224

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions exist to safeguard monies identified by the Independent Living Fund (ILF) as needed to meet the critical and substantial need of recipients; and whether such funds will be ring-fenced by local authorities to ensure monies are used exclusively for continuation of care when the ILF ceases.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Uddin
	uin	HL6942
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>All the funding that would have been allocated to the ILF in 2015/16 to support its users from July 2015 onwards will be transferred to local authorities in England and to the devolved administrations in other parts of the UK. Local government social care funding is not ring-fenced, allowing local authorities the flexibility to manage their budgets locally in line with local needs and priorities. Local authorities have a statutory duty to assess and fund the eligible care needs of all disabled people, including former users of the Independent Living Fund. The Public Sector Equality Duty applies to local government in the same way as it does to central government.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	1827 label Biography information for Baroness Uddin

50453

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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 (a) targets have been set and (b) rates have been achieved for take up of the enterprise allowance in each Jobcentre district and individual job centre.
	tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
	tabling member printed	John McDonnell
	uin	198339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>We set an ambitious target for the New Enterprise Allowance: to support 40,000 people to set up their own businesses by the end of 2013. Official statistics to the end of December 2013 revealed that this was surpassed. There are no sub-national targets for numbers of allowance starts. The volumes are broken down by Jobcentre District in the following publication, Pre-Work Programme support: New Enterprise Allowance, March 2014 which can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-work-programme-support-new-enterprise-allowance-march-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-work-programme-support-new-enterprise-allowance-march-2014</a></p><p> </p><p>A breakdown by Jobcentre Plus office is provided in the accompaning excel document New Enterprise Allowance: Weekly Allowance starts by Jobcentre Plus office - April 2011 - December 2013</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey attachment 1 file name PQ198339 - NEA allowance starts by office.xls title New Enterprise Allowance: Weekly Allowance by JCP
	tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

50194

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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, whether his Department has issued guidance to Atos on how to prioritise work capability assessments between reassessments and new claimants for employment and support allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	198027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department does not issue guidance to Atos Healthcare on how to prioritise Work Capability Assessments.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

50195

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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, whether Atos staff have been offered any additional retention or performance-related payments since the decision to terminate the contract to carry out work capability assessments was announced.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	198014
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The detail of any remuneration of their own staff is an issue for Atos Healthcare and not the Department.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

50197

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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, how many work capability assessment reassessments were undertaken by Atos in each of the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	198016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>This information for completed functional assessments can be found in tables at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics</a></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198020 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

50199

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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, how many work capability assessments for new claims were undertaken by Atos in each of the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	198020
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>This information for completed functional assessments can be found in tables at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics</a></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198016 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

50454

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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, how many applications for personal independence payments remained outstanding in each month since April 2013 in (a) Leicester West constituency and (b) total.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	198345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for <strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>West Derby</strong><strong> and the hon Member for Airdrie and Shotts</strong><strong>,</strong> official report, 5 March, column 850W.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198346 198347 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

50455

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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, how many applications for personal independence payments have been made in each month since April 2013 in (a) Leicester West constituency and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	198346
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for <strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>West Derby</strong><strong> and the hon Member for Airdrie and Shotts</strong><strong>,</strong> official report, 5 March, column 850W.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198345 198347 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

50456

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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, how many decisions on applications for personal independence payments have been made in each month since April 2013 in (a) Leicester West constituency and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	198347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for <strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>West Derby</strong><strong> and the hon Member for Airdrie and Shotts</strong><strong>,</strong> official report, 5 March, column 850W.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 198345 198346 question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

49784

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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, how many contracted staff there are carrying out functions for his Department who are paid less than the Living Wage by (a) occupation, (b) location and (c) contractor.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
	uin	197971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>DWP have discussed with contractors the payment of the London Living Wage. Telereal Trillium have worked with us so that from April 2014 all of their London based staff were paid at least the level of the living wage. Discussions are continuing with our other major contractor, Cofely.</p><p> </p><p>We intend to have the same negotiations regarding staff based across the regions where the situation is currently:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>REGION</p></td><td><p>NUMBER OF STAFF</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>539</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>885</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorks &amp; Humber</p></td><td><p>529</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>255</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands</p></td><td><p>770</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Of England</p></td><td><p>252</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>279</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>366</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>307</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>TOTAL</p></td><td><p>4,493</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>It is not possible to provide further breakdown of these figures as this information is commercially sensitive.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning previous answer version 9759 answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

49977

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the implementation of the Health and Work Service; and whether that implementation is being taken in stages.
	tabling member printed	Lord Luce
	uin	HL6925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>We have made good progress towards the implementation of the Health and Work Service.</p><p> </p><p>The tendering process closes on 9 May 2014 and we will formally announce the successful supplier for England and Wales in July 2014. Implementation will begin in late 2014 and the details will be confirmed when the chosen supplier has been appointed.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	908 label Biography information for Lord Luce

50374

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2014
	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 procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that mail received by recorded delivery at jobcentres is logged and dealt with immediately; and what assessment he has made of whether such procedures are carried out across all jobcentres.
	tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
	tabling member printed	Mark Tami
	uin	198187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>All DWP mail, whether recorded delivery or otherwise, is opened and distributed to the appropriate office for action from one of the 2 Mail Opening Units. The only exceptions being items identified “OFFICIAL–SENSITIVE”, “SECRET”, or “TOP SECRET” and providing a named individual is included.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

50477

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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, how many claimants of (a) incapacity benefit and employment support allowance, (b) disability living allowance and (c) severe disablement allowance claiming for each type of disability there were in (i) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (ii) Suffolk, (iii) the East of England and (iv) England and Wales in each of the last five years; and how much was spent in each such category in each such year.
	tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
	tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
	uin	198338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Due to changes in medical condition definitions breakdown data is only available from 2011/12 for Disability Living Allowance, this can be found in the attached Excel document: Expenditure and Caseloads by medical condition.</p><p> </p><p>Breakdowns prior to 2010/11 are not available for Employment and Support Allowance.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning attachment 1 file name PQ198338 Expenditure and Caseloads by medical condition.xls title Expenditure and Caseloads by medical condition.
	tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley

50479

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2014
	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, how many temporary national insurance numbers were issued in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (b) Suffolk (c) the East of England and (d) England and Wales by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such numbers were issued for tax credit purposes.
	tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
	tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
	uin	198329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Government does not issue temporary National Insurance numbers. DWP on behalf of HMRC follows a secure and validated allocation process which results in an individual receiving a permanent National Insurance number.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley

49613

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2014
	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 assessment he has made of the effect of the under occupancy penalty on households where children have been removed by children's services on a temporary basis under child protection regulations.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
	tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
	uin	197642
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Children who have been temporarily taken into care under child protection regulations are not assessed as part of the household with regards to the size criteria in both the social and private rented sectors.</p><p> </p><p>This means a bedroom will not be allocated for any children taken into protective care. However, a child can be treated as a member of the claimant's household if they spend part of a benefit week in a claimant's house and the local authority considers it reasonable to include them as part of that household.</p><p> </p><p>Where people are temporarily under occupying, they can apply for additional help through Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme for which we have provided funding of £345 million over the last 2 years. Guidance to Local Authorities on awarding a DHP covers circumstances where a child is temporarily away from home. Where appropriate, claimants could therefore apply for a DHP in child protection cases.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

50213

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of the requirement to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, accessible toilets at Jobcentre Plus offices are available for the use of claimants with disabilities.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
	uin	HL6931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Where there is a medical need, our policy is to allow claimants to use toilet facilities in our Jobcentres, subject to constraints in certain locations caused by the layout of the building and keeping people safe. We consider that this policy complies with the requirement under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

50397

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2014
	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, when he expects the Pension Regulator to conclude its investigation into the Carrington Wire pension scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	198254
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator which has operational independence.</p><p>Inevitably in complex cases involving foreign companies where it appears that scheme abandonment may have taken place, it can take some time for the Regulator to complete the thorough investigations needed to establish whether the legal tests in relation to its ‘anti-avoidance' powers, including the power to issue contribution notices, are met.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

49948

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	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 estimate he has made of the number and proportion of working age (a) men and (b) women who do not meet the wage criteria for eligibility for auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ashfield
	tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
	uin	197764
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The analysis required to answer this question is not currently available. To answer this question requires analysis across a number of data sources to include all women and men of working age. If a robust outcome can be reached it will be published on the DWP website.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero