Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1002477

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Children
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their decision to extend the policy to provide Universal Tax Credit to a maximum of two children to new Universal Credit claimants from February 2019, whether there will be an exception for families with three or more children who were born before 6 April 2017.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
	uin	HL11318
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Since 6 April 2017 families with third and subsequent children born on or after this date are able to claim additional support through Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit for their first two children only. This maximum support will also apply to entirely new claims to Universal Credit on or after 1 February 2019, regardless of the date of birth of their children.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants that are already receiving support for those born before 6 April 2017 will continue to do so. If they subsequently move to or reclaim Universal Credit (following a break in claim of less than 6 months) they will receive the child element for the same number of children they were previously. This will apply both if they naturally migrate following a significant change of circumstances or are moved as part of managed migration, so long as they remain responsible for the same children.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 20/11/2018 17:10:57 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1002483

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2018
	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	Social Security Benefits: Families
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Buscombe on 5 November (HL Deb, col 1581), what evidence informed her statement that the UK “provides more benefits for families than any other advanced nation”; and what measure of “benefits for families” was used.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	uin	HL11324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The latest data shows that the UK spends 3.8 per cent of GDP on expenditure classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as “family benefits”. This is more than any other country in the OECD.</p><p> </p><p>“Family benefits” include cash benefits, such as personal tax credits, Child Benefit; maternity benefits and child Disability Living Allowance; and benefits in kind covering child care and social services. They do not include other benefits that might be available to the claimant, such as Personal Independence Payment or Housing Benefit.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 20/11/2018 17:08:23 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1007135

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	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	Zero Hours Contracts: Young People
	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 her Department's press release entitled Youth unemployment down 50% since 2010, published on gov.uk on 16 October 2018, what proportion of recorded employment was under a zero-hours contract.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	191422
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The Office for National Statistics (ONS) use the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to provide estimates for the number of people employed on zero hours’ contracts.</p><p> </p><p>The ONS figures for people in employment on zero hours’ contracts broken down by age, do not go back to 2010 and are only currently available up to April-June 2018. Therefore no directly comparable figures to the youth unemployment statistics cited are available.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of young people are not employed on zero hours’ contracts. In 2018 (Apr-Jun) there were 261,000 16-24 year olds on a zero hours’ contracts – representing only 6.9% of employed 16-24 year olds.</p><p> </p><p>This is down from 299,000 young people (7.8% of employed young people) in 2017 (Apr-Jun), but a slight increase from the first comparable data available, which shows in 2014 (Apr-Jun) there were 235,000 young people on a zero hours’ contract (or 6.3% of employed young people).</p><p> </p><p>Many people in full-time education are employed on zero hours’ contracts, in part because of the flexibility they provide. 18.5% of all people in 2018 (Apr-Jun) on zero hours’ contracts were in full-time education – compared to 2.3% of people not on a zero hours’ contract.</p><p> </p><p>The ONS data shows that the majority of people on zero hours’ contracts are happy with the hours provided by their zero hours’ contract.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/11/2018 16:24:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 85857 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1006972

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensions: Advisory Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had (a) a telephone appointment, (b) a face to face appointment and (c) completed a digital journey with the Pension Wise guidance service in the 12 month period ending October 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	191266
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>In the 12 month period ending 31 October 2018, there were (a) 32,440 telephone appointments, (b) 78,961 face to face appointments and (c) 44,969 digital journey completions.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2018 14:18:54 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 85865 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1006974

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensions: Advisory Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to encourage uptake of the Pension Wise guidance service.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	191267
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Take up of the Pension Wise guidance service is growing with more and more people having appointments. Between 2015/16 and 2017/18, take up of appointments more than doubled and continues to increase.</p><p> </p><p>Pension schemes and providers are required to signpost people to Pension Wise at key contact points. Pension providers are consistently cited by around half of the people who contact Pension Wise as the place they first heard of the service. The FCA have consulted on changes to these requirements with a view to increasing the take up of Pension Wise guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The Pension Wise marketing strategy across TV, Radio, web, Press and Video on Demand, as well as search engine optimisation, aims to get maximum reach amongst the target audience. This has proven to an effective way of both raising awareness of the service and driving take-up of appointments.</p><p> </p><p>Pension Wise is also working with employers nationally and locally to engage with their employees at their place of work. Pension Wise delivery partners also undertake local promotional activities, raising awareness of the service at local events.</p><p> </p><p>The Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 establishes a new Single Financial Guidance Body which will bring together the services currently provided by the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise. The new body will make it easier for people to access information and guidance to help them make effective financial decisions. This Act also set a framework for implementing a stronger final nudge towards Pension Wise at the point people seek to access their pension and we are engaging with providers to find the most effective approach.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2018 14:56:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1006977

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensions: Advisory Services
	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 Pension Wise guidance service, what information her Department holds on the (a) demographic characteristics of and (b) actions and decisions taken as a result of that guidance being sought by people who have completed a (i) telephone appointment, (ii) face-to-face appointment and (iii) digital journey with that service in the 12 month period ending October 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	191268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Information on demographic characteristics of Pension Wise Customers and actions and decisions taken as a result of the guidance are published in the Pension Wise Service Evaluation. The latest published report covers 2016/17 and can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653621/pension-wise-service-evaluation-full-year-findings.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/653621/pension-wise-service-evaluation-full-year-findings.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The demographic profiles of telephone and face-to-face customers are given and compared in Section 2: Customer profiles (pages 4-9). The steps and decisions taken by Pension Wise appointment customers are covered in Section 7: Steps taken and Section 8: Making a decision (pages 32-42).</p><p> </p><p>The Pension Wise Service Evaluation report for 2017/18 is forthcoming and will be similarly available on GOV.UK once published. The sampling for the annual Service Evaluation surveys is based around appointments delivered in the autumn of each year. As there are few seasonal differences in customer profiles, we would expect the data in the successive reports to reflect the profiles, experiences and outcomes of customers across the financial year that they relate to.</p><p> </p><p>The Service Evaluation for 2018/19, is currently in the field and publication of the report is expected to be in Autumn 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Customers completing the digital journey are not covered by the published research findings or the forthcoming report. We are looking to include this channel in the 2018/19 Pension Wise Service Evaluation survey sampling and reporting.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2018 14:57:39 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 85872 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1005810

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	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 a publish a list of newspapers in which adverts on the change to the state pension age for women were placed since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
	tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
	uin	190376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>As reported in the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee report; <em>Communication of state pension age changes</em>, published in March 2016, there were more than 600 mentions of state pension age equalisation in the national broadsheet and tabloid press between 1993 and 2006 – an average of just under one per week – on “front pages, News and City sections as well as personal finance pages”, and most concentrated “in 1993-95 and again from 2005-06”.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not have any records that suggest it has used paid newspaper advertising since 2010 specifically to advertise State Pension age changes.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2018 18:02:03 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1005811

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many letters were sent notifying recipients of the change in the state pension age for women since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
	tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
	uin	190377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>People can access the online ‘Check your State Pension’ service through GOV.UK to get a forecast of their State Pension. This includes information about their retirement date, how they may be able to improve the amount of State Pension they are entitled to, as well as providing a view of their National Insurance contribution record. Check Your State Pension service has provided more than ten million online estimates since its introduction in 2016.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The following tables show the number of letters sent out to those people born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960, affected by State Pension age increase in the 1995 and 2011 Pensions Acts. Letter volumes since 2010 can clearly be identified.</p><p>The volumes recorded in the second table have been rounded to the nearest 1000 and include mailings undertaken as part of a communications research project, and those sent to men who were also affected by the 2011 Act. It is not possible to provide the volumes sent to women only in relation to the 2011 Act, as we do not hold the information split by gender.</p><p> </p><p>Communication to those affected by the 1995 Act</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Customer’s date of birth</p></td><td><p>Mailing Date</p></td><td><p>Number of letters sent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/50 -05/07/50</p></td><td><p>April 2009</p></td><td><p>99,985</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/07/50 - 05/10/50</p></td><td><p>Jul 2009</p></td><td><p>96,356</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/50 - 05/04/51</p></td><td><p>Oct 2009</p></td><td><p>191,465</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/51- 05/10/51</p></td><td><p>Jan 2010</p></td><td><p>196,189</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/51 – 05/04/52</p></td><td><p>Apr 2010</p></td><td><p>188,515</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/52 – 05/10/52</p></td><td><p>Feb 2011</p></td><td><p>196,594</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/52 – 05/04/53</p></td><td><p>Mar 2011</p></td><td><p>191,665</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Communication to those affected by the 2011 Act</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Customer’s date of birth</p></td><td><p>Mailing Date</p></td><td><p>Number of letters sent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/53 – 05/12/53</p></td><td><p>Jan 2012</p></td><td><p>275,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/12/53 – 05/10/54</p></td><td><p>Feb 2012</p></td><td><p>646, 000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/54 – 05/04/55</p></td><td><p>Feb 2012</p></td><td><p>375, 000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/55 – 05/04/60</p></td><td><p>Oct 2012 – Nov 2013</p></td><td><p>4,475,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>To clarify, mailings undertaken as part of the communications research project have been included in the above table.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 190378 question first answered 20/11/2018 15:56:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1005812

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what date the first letters notifying recipients of the change in the state pension age for women were sent since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
	tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
	uin	190378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>People can access the online ‘Check your State Pension’ service through GOV.UK to get a forecast of their State Pension. This includes information about their retirement date, how they may be able to improve the amount of State Pension they are entitled to, as well as providing a view of their National Insurance contribution record. Check Your State Pension service has provided more than ten million online estimates since its introduction in 2016.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The following tables show the number of letters sent out to those people born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1960, affected by State Pension age increase in the 1995 and 2011 Pensions Acts. Letter volumes since 2010 can clearly be identified.</p><p>The volumes recorded in the second table have been rounded to the nearest 1000 and include mailings undertaken as part of a communications research project, and those sent to men who were also affected by the 2011 Act. It is not possible to provide the volumes sent to women only in relation to the 2011 Act, as we do not hold the information split by gender.</p><p> </p><p>Communication to those affected by the 1995 Act</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Customer’s date of birth</p></td><td><p>Mailing Date</p></td><td><p>Number of letters sent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/50 -05/07/50</p></td><td><p>April 2009</p></td><td><p>99,985</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/07/50 - 05/10/50</p></td><td><p>Jul 2009</p></td><td><p>96,356</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/50 - 05/04/51</p></td><td><p>Oct 2009</p></td><td><p>191,465</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/51- 05/10/51</p></td><td><p>Jan 2010</p></td><td><p>196,189</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/51 – 05/04/52</p></td><td><p>Apr 2010</p></td><td><p>188,515</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/52 – 05/10/52</p></td><td><p>Feb 2011</p></td><td><p>196,594</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/52 – 05/04/53</p></td><td><p>Mar 2011</p></td><td><p>191,665</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Communication to those affected by the 2011 Act</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Customer’s date of birth</p></td><td><p>Mailing Date</p></td><td><p>Number of letters sent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/53 – 05/12/53</p></td><td><p>Jan 2012</p></td><td><p>275,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/12/53 – 05/10/54</p></td><td><p>Feb 2012</p></td><td><p>646, 000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/10/54 – 05/04/55</p></td><td><p>Feb 2012</p></td><td><p>375, 000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>06/04/55 – 05/04/60</p></td><td><p>Oct 2012 – Nov 2013</p></td><td><p>4,475,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>To clarify, mailings undertaken as part of the communications research project have been included in the above table.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 190377 question first answered 20/11/2018 15:56:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1005881

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Employment: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has of trends in the level of incidences of (a) stress, (b) anxiety and (c) depression in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
	tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
	uin	190563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>No data is available to assess separate trends in (a) stress, (b) anxiety and (c) depression within the workplace, although data on this group of conditions collectively, where they are reported to be work-related, is available.</p><p> </p><p>Statisticians have assessed that the trend in the rate of new cases (incidence rate) of self-reported work-related stress, anxiety or depression, has remained broadly flat over the last 15 years. However, the trend in the rate of all cases (new and existing cases) of self-reported work-related stress, anxiety or depression, although previously broadly flat, has shown signs of increasing in recent years.</p><p> </p><p>Further details are available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:26:00 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1005882

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide (a) compensation and (b) repayments to claimants who were underpaid employment and support allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
	tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
	uin	190564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>We are reviewing all those cases potentially affected and paying any arrears of past payments that are due. Our focus is on paying arrears to claimants in line with the primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>A Written Statement and Frequently Asked Question document providing further details on this issue was deposited in the House of Commons Library on Wednesday 17 October which can be found at <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/" target="_blank">http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/business-papers/commons/deposited-papers/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In addition the Department published the latest statistical information on the estimates and timescales, which can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:37:34 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1007758

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for reassessment of child maintenance following a change in circumstances.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	191985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The processing of changes of circumstance remains a key priority for the Child Maintenance Service. The numbers of people working within the Child Maintenance Service is reviewed regularly to ensure we have sufficient resources to answer customer calls and progress cases.</p><p>So far in 2018, we have recruited 835 people into the Child Maintenance Service, with these people joining us between February 2018 and October 2018, and we have plans in place for a further 40 people to join the Child Maintenance Service between November 2018 and January 2019.</p><p>The performance and timeliness of progressing changes to circumstances is under regular review and forms part of our external publication offering. We continue to explore opportunities to introduce improvements and efficiencies within the Child Maintenance Service and we are currently in the process of implementing Real Time Information from HMRC which will ensure that we have access to the latest income information to make efficient changes to assessments.“</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 20/11/2018 16:33:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

982489

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the financial sustainability of private sector landlords.
	tabling member constituency	Crewe and Nantwich
	tabling member printed	Laura Smith
	uin	176609
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>There are many complex factors which contribute to and affect the financial sustainability of landlords in this sector. Research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears.</p><p>Arrears are usually temporary and the majority of claimants do succeed in paying their rent, managing their monthly payments and clearing their arrears over time</p><p>We continually review and improve Universal Credit in response to feedback. In 2018, following Autumn Budget 2017, we have implemented a comprehensive and wide-ranging package of improvements worth £1.5 billion. These include making advances of up to 100% of the indicative award available (from the start of a claim) and increasing the repayment period to 12 months, removing the 7 waiting days, providing an additional payment of 2 weeks of Housing Benefit to support claimants when they transition to Universal Credit, and changing how claimants in temporary accommodation receive support for their housing costs.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/11/2018 16:14:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4648 label Biography information for Laura Smith

1005786

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Social Security Benefits: Disqualification
	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 remove social security sanctions in circumstances where someone is (a) pregnant and (b) caring for a severely disabled person.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	190429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Claimants who are 11 weeks (or less) before their due date and claimants who have substantial and regular caring responsibilities (35 hours or more per week) for a severely disabled person are not subject to any work-related requirements that could result in a new sanction.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants who are more than 11 weeks before their baby is due, or who have less than 35 hours of caring responsibilities per week, will have their requirements tailored to their individual circumstances and what they can reasonably do.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/11/2018 15:21:18 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1007792

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2018
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on promoting Access to Work in the last financial year.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	191850
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member for east Ham to written question 188910, answered on 16 November 2018: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-06/188910" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-11-06/188910</a></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:33:51 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1007794

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2018
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department plans to spend on Access to Work in the 2018-19 financial year.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	191852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>Access to Work is a demand led scheme. As the amount spent reflects the number and nature of those demands we do not routinely publish forecast spend.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:42:54 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1005789

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	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 page 53 of the Government's White Paper entitled Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability, in November 2017, what progress her Department has made with Initiative No.5 on reform of the work capability assessment; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	190483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>We are committed to assessing people with health conditions and disabilities fairly and accurately, helping people to access the right support. We made a clear commitment in <em>Improving Lives</em>: The Future of Work, Health and Disability to reform the Work Capability Assessment and recognise the importance of getting this right. We are therefore testing new approaches to build the evidence base for what works, and working with external stakeholders to inform future changes to the WCA. We have established a policy forum, with a focused group of academics, think tanks and disability charities to bring together evidence for reform options and will also gather views from wider stakeholder groups, including individuals with lived experience of disability.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:42:09 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1005790

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Employment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing a disability employment target that measures progress against employment levels of non-disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	190484
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>We set out our continued commitment to improving employment rates for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions in <em>Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability</em>. We believe people should get the support they need whatever their health condition or disability, whether that’s from their employer, from the health system or from the welfare system.</p><p> </p><p>Too many people are missing the opportunity to develop their talents and connect with the world of work, which is why<em> Improving Lives</em> also set out our ambitious, specific and time-bound goal to see 1 million more disabled people in work by 2027.</p><p> </p><p>However, no single measure can capture everything that we want to achieve. <em>Improving Lives</em> made it clear that “alongside monitoring the number of disabled people in work, we will also consider other useful statistical indicators which give more information about how disability and employment change over this time period, and inform our actions”.</p><p> </p><p>For example, the ad hoc statistical update released on 1 November 2018, by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care, included estimates of the number of disabled people in employment, their employment rate, and the gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:35:49 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1005795

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Business: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that disabled people have fair and equal opportunities to become successful business leaders.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	190489
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is committed to seeing a million more disabled people in work by 2027 and ensuring that disabled people have fair and equal opportunities to become successful business leaders. The latest figures (published Tuesday 13 Nov) show that disability employment has increased by 973,000 in the last five years.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality Act 2010 legally protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations.</p><p> </p><p>We actively support disabled people to enter employment through initiatives like the Work and Health Programme, which is expected to support 220,000 disabled people over 5 years; and the Personal Support Package for those on ESA and Universal Credit equivalents.</p><p> </p><p>We also support new and existing disabled workers with Access to Work, which approved support for 27,730 disabled workers in 2017/18, an increase of 11% on 2016/17. The support Access to Work offers includes a discretionary grant of up to £57,200 pa, without which many disabled business leaders might not be able to achieve their employment goals.</p><p> </p><p>We engage with employers through Disability Confident. Over 9,500 employers are currently signed up to Disability Confident and that number grows weekly.</p><p> </p><p>We are integrating Access to Work communications into Disability Confident promotions so employers can easily understand how they can receive support with the costs of making workplace adjustments.</p><p> </p><p>Potential disabled entrepreneurs who are claiming benefits such as ESA or UC equivalents may receive specialist self-employment support through Work and Health Programme and Personal Support Package. The Work and Health Programme includes integrated access to specialist support networks at a local level. In addition, claimants who wish to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs may be able to receive start up support through the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA). Around 1 in 4 people who start on the NEA have a self-declared disability.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 15:21:20 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1005855

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations she has received from women in Jarrow constituency affected by measures taken to equalise the state pension age; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Jarrow
	tabling member printed	Mr Stephen Hepburn
	uin	190367
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The policy of increasing State Pension age due to changes in life expectancy and equality legislation is enshrined in the 1995, 2007 and 2011 Pensions Act. It is a policy agreed by all governments in the last 23 years whatever their political persuasion – in 1995 Conservative, Labour in 1997-2010 and Coalition 2010-2015.</p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions receives a number of recent representations on the measures taken to equalise the State Pension age from individuals and from Members of Parliament writing on their behalf, as it does on many issues. We are unable to state specifically how many representations are from Jarrow constituency</p><p>This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament. The Government will not be making changes to its policy on state pension age for women born in the 1950s.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2018 16:45:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	520 label Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn

1005744

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants have been refused industrial injuries disablement benefit for prescribed disease D12 in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
	tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
	uin	190497
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The available information is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p>Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit - first diagnosed prescribed diseases all assessments and decisions following a new claim, in each quarter for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (formally known as chronic bronchitis/emphysema) (D12)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>Total number of Assessments made in each month</p></td><td><p>Number of claims in payment after assessment</p></td><td><p>Number of claims disallowed after assessment</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>150</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>130</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>September</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>110</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>September</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>80</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>180</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>110</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>180</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>130</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>September</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>180</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>160</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>180</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>160</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>September</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>180</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>150</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>June</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>September</p></td><td><p>160</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>130</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>December</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>30</p></td><td><p>160</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>March</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>140</p></td></tr></tbody></table></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:49:44 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1005746

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the current occupational qualification to receive industrial injuries disablement benefit for prescribed disease D12 reflects current research into the industrial causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
	tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
	tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
	uin	190498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>I am advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) which is a non-Departmental public body made up of independent experts, representatives of employers and employees on matters relating to the Industrial Injuries Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Council’s primary role is to make recommendations about which diseases should be included in the list of diseases covered by the Industrial Injuries Scheme and the prescription criteria for those diseases.</p><p> </p><p>The legal framework underpinning the Industrial Injuries Scheme makes it clear that compensation should not be paid for a disease unless a link between a particular occupation and the disease can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty. A link is presumed where there is evidence that, on the balance of probabilities, work in the prescribed job or occupational exposure doubles the risk of developing the disease.</p><p> </p><p>The Council keeps all occupational diseases under continuous review to ensure they are in line with current scientific evidence, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and is always prepared to receive and consider new robust evidence from any source.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:28:13 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1005834

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home assessments have been provided for universal credit claimants in the (a) London borough of Lewisham and (b) Lewisham Deptford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	190507
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not available.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:43:52 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1005835

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many home assessments have been provided for personal independence payment claimants living in the (a) London borough of Lewisham and (b) Lewisham Deptford constituency in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	190508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not available.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2018 17:24:00 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1005836

	registered interest
	date	12/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims have been made for universal credit hardship payments in the (a) London borough of Lewisham and (b) Lewisham Deptford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	190509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/11/2018 15:43:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft