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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

1660032

	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
	hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: Domestic Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times (a) the Secretary of State and (b) each Minister in his Department has visited a (i) Government Hub and (ii) ministerial office outside of London in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	199043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The information requested is not centrally collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/09/2023 13:46:32 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

1660168

	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
	hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: National Security
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether their Department has a Chief Risk Officer responsible for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	199123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has a dedicated Chief Risk Office (CRO) who is accountable for risk management across the Department. This includes responsibility for assuring effective identification, management and reporting of key risks including those of national security. Specific risks are owned by accountable specialists which in this instance would be a combination of the Chief Security Officer, the Director for Resilience or the Digital Director who leads on security, depending on the specific national security issue. The CRO constantly keeps the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) under review.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/09/2023 13:49:09 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1660242

	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
	hansard heading	Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of enabling applicants for Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments who are unable to complete application forms by hand to complete them online.
	tabling member constituency	Blaydon
	tabling member printed	Liz Twist
	uin	199184
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>We recognise it is essential to consider the impacts which disabilities and health conditions can have on a person’s ability to apply for support.</p><p>For the vast majority of people who claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), their claim begins with a phone call to start their application. To complete the claim, applicants are either signposted to an online form to provide further information, or sent forms in the post if they prefer. Both options are available to everyone who applies and are not dependent on having any specific accessibility needs.</p><p>The Health Transformation Programme is going further and transforming the entire PIP service. A key element of this transformation will be the option for people to apply for PIP entirely online should they wish to.</p><p>On 27 July we launched a service for limited numbers of people to make their claim for PIP entirely online, 24/7, without needing to call the department. The service is currently available on a limited basis while it is being tested. It is currently open to those living in selected postcodes in England, claiming PIP for the first time, who do not have a third party acting on their behalf and are not claiming under the Special Rules for End of Life criteria.</p><p>Over 3000 claimants have so far applied fully online; we will gradually and carefully expand the scope of the service in the months ahead. We intend to make online PIP applications an option for everyone who needs to apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024. Offering telephony, postal and now online applications will increase the choice available for those who need to claim PIP and allow them to apply for support in whichever way best suits their needs and circumstances.</p><p>As DLA has been replaced for adults by PIP and Attendance Allowance, new applications are no longer accepted. For child DLA, a digital form can be completed online provided it can then be printed and posted in. A home visit can also be arranged to facilitate a new claim in exceptional circumstances. We are reviewing the processes of applying for child DLA as part of the department’s service modernisation strategy.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 19/09/2023 14:02:58 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4618 label Biography information for Liz Twist

1660254

	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
	hansard heading	Economic Situation: Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the potential impact of poor health outcomes on economic activity.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	199192
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>Long-term sickness is now the most common reason for economic inactivity among the working age population. To step up our focus on tackling rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, we announced a further wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work.</p><p> </p><p>New investment includes:</p><p>o Expanding additional work coach support, an existing programme to provide disabled people and people with health conditions with increased one-to-one personalised support from their work coach to help them move towards, and into, work.</p><p>o Introducing Universal Support, a new supported employment programme for eligible inactive people (disabled people and people with health conditions and additional barriers to employment), matching participants with open market jobs and funding support and training.</p><p>o Piloting the WorkWell Partnerships Programme to provide integrated work and health support for disabled people and people with health conditions who want help to remain in, return to, or take up, work. The programme will be locally led, bringing together the NHS, local authorities and other partners, in collaboration with jobcentres.</p><p>o Launching two Occupational Health consultations – one focused on occupational health tax incentives and one on ways to boost UK occupational health coverage.</p><p>o Introducing employment advisors in Musculoskeletal Conditions (MSK) services in England, helping individuals with MSK conditions to return to, or remain in, employment.</p><p> </p><p>These initiatives build on wider announcements at the 2023 Spring Budget, including the publication of the Health and Disability White Paper and greater investment in mental health and musculoskeletal condition services which are the two leading causes of economic inactivity due to long term sickness.</p><p> </p><p>The Government already has a range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay, and succeed in, work. These include increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; the Support with Employee Health and Disability Service; and work to further join up employment and health systems, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 19/09/2023 14:03:27 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1660306

	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
	hansard heading	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the 65p Housing Benefit taper rate; and if will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing that rate in line with the Universal Credit taper rate in incentivising young people into work.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	199215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>There are no plans to bring the Housing Benefit taper in line with that of Universal Credit. The two benefits have different treatment of earnings rules, both include tapers that ensure that all claimants are better off working than wholly reliant on benefits.</p><p> </p><p>At present, there is a broad spectrum of claimants receiving their rent support through Housing Benefit; those resident in supported housing or temporary accommodations as well as those claimants who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rate would apply to all of these groups and could result in Housing Benefit outstripping the provision provided by Universal Credit in some circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Department acknowledges the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those working and living in supported housing and temporary accommodation. This issue is a complex one, and eradicating the financial cliff edge some individuals face as they incrementally increase their earnings could not be achieved by simply aligning the taper rates within the two benefits. Officials are working to explore this issue further considering the impact including impact on different groups and consider policy options.</p><p>It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/09/2023 11:27:22 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1660305

	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
	hansard heading	Housing Benefit: Supported Housing
	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 potential impact of benefits rules on levels of employment of residents of supported housing who have their housing costs supported through the housing benefit system.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	199214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department acknowledges the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those working and living in supported housing as the two systems were never intended to run alongside one another.</p><p> </p><p>People in receipt of Housing Benefit are always better off in work. The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.</p><p> </p><p>We are working to gain a broader understanding of the impact of benefit rules in Housing Benefit on residents of supported housing who are in employment including the impact on different claimant groups.</p><p> </p><p>After a successful bid to the Labour Market Evaluations and Pilot Fund, we are designing a proof of concept in conjunction with West Midlands Combined Authority. The voluntary PoC will test financial support for eligible 18–24-year-olds living in commissioned supported housing who move into work or increase their working hours and cease receiving Universal Credit. They will receive a top-up payment for 6 months. We are hopeful that this will provide new insight to inform future policy.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside the pilot, officials will continue to work to build our understanding of this topic and to impact future policy options.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/09/2023 11:29:10 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1660279

	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
	hansard heading	Jobcentres: Closures
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to close temporary jobcentres in the North West.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	199092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department is committed to reducing its Jobcentre estate back to pre-pandemic levels by decommissioning Temporary Jobcentres (or the additional space in established Jobcentres) in a phased approach, where the increased capacity is no longer needed.</p><p>Phase 4 of this decommissioning was announced in a Written Statement on Wednesday 13 September. Subsequent phases of decommissioning will continue to follow throughout 2023 and 2024, including Temporary Jobcentres in the North West.</p><p>MPs will be contacted when a decision regarding the Jobcentre estate is made that could affect their constituents.</p><p>All Work Coaches deployed to a Temporary Jobcentre will return to an established local Jobcentre and there will be no reduction in the number of Work Coaches supporting customers as a result of the decommissioning of temporary sites.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 199093 question first answered 19/09/2023 12:05:23 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1660290

	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
	hansard heading	Jobcentres: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help work coaches manage the workload from temporary job centres after they have closed.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	199202
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department is committed to reducing its Jobcentre estate back to pre-pandemic levels. Following any decision to close a temporary Jobcentre, local Jobcentre managers work closely with their teams to ensure that the workload is distributed appropriately, and our Work Coach caseloads continue to remain manageable.</p><p> </p><p>The size of a Work Coach caseload will vary as it is dependent on several factors, including the level of customer support required, the needs of the local labour market and the experience and working pattern of each Work Coach.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/09/2023 12:07:42 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1660282

	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
	hansard heading	Jobcentres: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to deploy work coaches at temporary job centres to established job centres.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	199093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department is committed to reducing its Jobcentre estate back to pre-pandemic levels by decommissioning Temporary Jobcentres (or the additional space in established Jobcentres) in a phased approach, where the increased capacity is no longer needed.</p><p>Phase 4 of this decommissioning was announced in a Written Statement on Wednesday 13 September. Subsequent phases of decommissioning will continue to follow throughout 2023 and 2024, including Temporary Jobcentres in the North West.</p><p>MPs will be contacted when a decision regarding the Jobcentre estate is made that could affect their constituents.</p><p>All Work Coaches deployed to a Temporary Jobcentre will return to an established local Jobcentre and there will be no reduction in the number of Work Coaches supporting customers as a result of the decommissioning of temporary sites.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 199092 question first answered 19/09/2023 12:05:23 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern