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1019431

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	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	Post Office Card Account
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) disabled social security recipients and (b) pension recipients have their payments made into a Post Office account.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
	uin	198328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions provides Post Office card accounts to ensure that customers can continue to access their benefits and pensions in this way.</p><p> </p><p>As of October 2018 there were just under 1.2m active Post Office card accounts. In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way for all benefits to be paid.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about the number of disabled social security and pension recipients is not available.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 198724 question first answered 10/12/2018 12:07:37 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1019863

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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	Post Office Card Account
	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) disability benefits and (b) the state pension have their benefits paid into a Post Office Card Account.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	198724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions provides Post Office card accounts to ensure that customers can continue to access their benefits and pensions in this way.</p><p> </p><p>As of October 2018 there were just under 1.2m active Post Office card accounts. In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way for all benefits to be paid.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about the number of disabled social security and pension recipients is not available.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 198328 question first answered 10/12/2018 12:07:37 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1002123

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations she has received from (a) trades union and (b) the Trade Union Congress in relation to the managed migration of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	188268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>No meetings have been held by DWP with trade unions or the Trade Union Congress regarding Managed Migration specifically. However, the Trade Union Congress and some individual trade unions responded to the Social Security Advisory Committee report on the draft Universal Credit Managed Migration Regulations 2018, published on 5 November 2018 which can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188269 question first answered 10/12/2018 17:06:16 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 84616 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1002124

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2018
	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
	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 meetings held by her Department (a) trades unions and (b) the Trade Union Congress on the managed migration of universal credit in 2018; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	188269
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>No meetings have been held by DWP with trade unions or the Trade Union Congress regarding Managed Migration specifically. However, the Trade Union Congress and some individual trade unions responded to the Social Security Advisory Committee report on the draft Universal Credit Managed Migration Regulations 2018, published on 5 November 2018 which can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 188268 question first answered 10/12/2018 17:06:16 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 84617 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1014696

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Draft Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, published on 22 November, which aspects of social security will be co-ordinated with the EU.
	tabling member printed	Lord Wigley
	uin	HL11825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The details of which aspects of social security will be coordinated with the EU under the future relationship are subject to further negotiation with the EU.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 10/12/2018 14:48:07 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	547 label Biography information for Lord Wigley

1017064

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2018
	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: Domestic Abuse
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Bill for Survivors, published by Women’s Aid, and its proposal that they should have a statutory duty to “assess all welfare reforms for their impact on survivors’ ability to escape abuse”.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
	uin	HL11909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises that domestic abuse is a devastating crime that shatters the lives of victims and families. It is vital that the response to domestic abuse supports victims and survivors, pursues perpetrators and ensures agencies provide an effective service.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be publishing a landmark draft Domestic Abuse Bill, which will help transform our response to the crime. We will have pledged to create a statutory Government definition of domestic abuse, introduce new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and establish a Domestic Abuse Commissioner.</p><p> </p><p>DWP policies are subject to appraisal and impact assessment in line with HM Treasury Green Book guidance. The Department is required under the Public Sector Equality Duty to assess the impact of specific policies on ‘protected groups’ including by gender, age, race and disability, and where relevant this requirement is met by the conducting of equality impact assessments. We have no current plans separately to consider domestic abuse.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 10/12/2018 15:13:18 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
	tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1017446

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2018
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her policy is on provision of Departmental guidance and information to those subject to universal credit migration.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	197657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department is committed to delivering managed migration in a way that supports all claimants as they transition onto Universal Credit. Managed migration will begin with a lengthy and robust testing period, to ensure our processes are working well before we begin to migrate at scale.</p><p> </p><p>In the first year we will only managed migrate 10,000 people to ensure we are moving people as carefully and sensitively as possible. We recognise that providing high-quality and timely communications will be essential to ensure that all claimants are fully aware of their responsibilities under the managed migration process. We are working closely with a large and diverse number of stakeholders to co-design the managed migration process which includes considering how we can best communicate with and support claimants through the process, to ensure a smooth transition onto Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this testing phase, we will be trialling a variety of communication methods and will engage with claimants’ representatives so we can be confident that the process will work for all claimants.</p><p> </p><p>Information will continue to be made available about Universal Credit for all claimants at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit</a>.</p><p /> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 15:37:36 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

1019338

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Email
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether claimants are given the option of receiving all correspondence from her Department via email if they have provided their email address.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	198187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Claimants who have a valid reasonable adjustment in place are permitted to receive correspondence from the Department by email should they request it. Claimants who do not have a reasonable adjustment in place are not permitted to receive correspondence from the Department by email as email is not classed as secure and there is an increased risk of data loss which could have a negative impact on both the individual and the Department.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Email must be used as a reasonable adjustment where it is requested by an individual disabled citizen who finds it difficult or impossible to communicate via other channels. Requesting communications via email must be for a valid reason which relates to the individual’s disability. Once email as a reasonable adjustment has been agreed the customer will be advised of the risks of data travelling over the unsecure network and being seen by 3<sup>rd</sup> parties via the confirmation email ‘disclaimer’ they receive.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/12/2018 14:21:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1019902

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of widening the entitlement to UK welfare payments for EU citizens fleeing domestic violence in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	198882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>This Government is committed to tackling violence against all people, including domestic abuse which shatters the lives of victims and families.</p><p> </p><p>EU citizens are permitted to claim income-related benefits if they are legally and habitually resident in the UK and satisfy the eligibility conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s consultation, ‘Transforming the Response to Domestic Abuse’, which ended in May 2018, sought views on protection and support for victims of domestic abuse, including those with no recourse to public funds. The Home Office is currently analysing the consultation responses and will publish the Government’s response in due course.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 13:47:41 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1019914

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 193447 on Social Security Benefits: Disqualification, if she will review the (a) purpose, (b) merits and (c) economic and health effects of sanctioning social security claimants in receipt of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	198808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>In October this year, the Work and Pensions Select Committee set out recommendations relating to the economic and health effects of sanctions, which the Department is considering and will be responding to in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases, and that is when people fail to meet their agreed commitments without good reason. Latest data, published 12 November in the Benefit Sanction Statistics, shows that in August 2018, 2.9% of people subject to conditionality on Universal Credit had a deduction taken from their benefit award as a result of a sanction.</p><p> </p><p>When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good cause, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 18:03:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1020006

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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, how much child support arrears are concerned in (a) Motherwell and Wishaw, (b) North Lanarkshire Westminster Parliamentary constituencies, and (c) Scotland, under the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	198884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>As of June 2018 (most recent published regional data, rounded to nearest thousand), there were the following amounts of unpaid maintenance from Child Support Agency cases:</p><p> </p><p>(a) Motherwell and Wishaw parliamentary constituency - £4,034,000 of child support arrears</p><p> </p><p>(b) North Lanarkshire Local Authority - £17,366,000 of child support arrears</p><p> </p><p>(c) Scotland - £ 225,269,000 of child support arrears</p><p> </p><p>Figures for b and c are published in the regional tables of the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-june-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-june-2018</a></p><p> </p><p>These amounts include all Child Support Agency cases with arrears. This includes cases where recent payments have been made and those where there has been no payment made within the last 3 months. The vast majority of these cases have received no recent payment, and it is only these cases that will be addressed under the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/12/2018 10:21:05 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1020011

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has contracts with external companies to train Departmental staff delivering the Universal Credit programme.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	198859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The department does not have contracts with external companies to train staff who are delivering Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches and other staff delivering Universal Credit undergo comprehensive training designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups and those with complex needs.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 17:58:33 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1020013

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has contracts with external companies to provide call centre staff to advise social security claimants who contact DWP helplines.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	198860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The department has several contracts with external companies to answer calls from social security claimants across a range of DWP helplines.</p><p> </p><p>Details as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Supplier</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Contract</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Brief Description</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Serco</p></td><td><p>PIP</p></td><td><p>For customers wishing to make a claim for PIP</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4"><p> </p></td><td><p>UC</p></td><td><p>For customers requiring an appointment for their UC claim</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Warm Home Discount</p></td><td><p>For Pension Credit customers requiring help with fuel bills</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Package B</p></td><td><p><ul><li>Carers Allowance – for customers wanting a claim pack</li><li>DLA/AA – for customers wanting a claim pack</li><li>National Benefit Fraud Helpline – taking details from citizens wanting to report suspected fraud activity</li><li>NINO appointments - making an appointment for NINO applicants</li><li>Jobcentre Enquiry Line – for customers wishing to contact a Jobcentre</li></ul></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Support for Mortgage Interest</p></td><td><p>For customers requiring an Informed Discussion about help with mortgage interest</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>G4S</p></td><td rowspan="2"><p>CMG Options</p></td><td rowspan="2"><p>For separating parents requiring advice about maintenance options</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2"><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Package A</p></td><td><p><ul><li>Pension Credit claims – for customers wishing to claim Pension Credit</li><li>Pension Credit Enquiries – for customers enquiring about their Pension Credit claim</li><li>State Pension Enquiries – for customers enquiring about their State Pension claim</li><li>Winter Fuel Enquiry Line – for customers enquiring about Winter Fuel payments</li><li>Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) New Claims – for customers wishing to claim JSA</li><li>Jobseekers Allowance Online (JSAOL) – appointment booking for customers applying for JSA online</li></ul></p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Teleperformance</p></td><td><p>Pension Wise</p></td><td><p>First point of contact for customers requiring a Pension Wise appointment</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/12/2018 14:24:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1020306

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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
	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 level of claimants’ rent arrears in the (a) private rented and (b) social rented sector.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	199472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon Member to the reply to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=181577" target="_blank">181577</a> on 29 October.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 10/12/2018 11:48:21 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1020385

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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: Sheffield
	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 commencement of universal credit in the Sheffield Woodhouse Jobcentre Plus area on 12 December 2018, if she will guarantee that new claims for that benefit will be paid before Christmas 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	199295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department has extensive experience of paying claimants over holiday periods. We have also rolled out and paid Universal Credit to significant numbers of claimants over previous Christmas periods.</p><p> </p><p>All new claimants to Universal Credit have always been able to apply for a Universal Credit Advance in their first month if they need some financial support until the first regular payment of Universal Credit is made. This is up to 100% of the indicative award available and can be repaid over 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>We also provide an additional payment of 2 weeks of Housing Benefit to support claimants when they transition to Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 14:46:08 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1020386

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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: Sheffield
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to create a universal credit service centre in Sheffield.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	199296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Every Universal Credit claimant in Sheffield has a dedicated case manager based in the Universal Credit Service Centre in Makerfield.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no plans to create a new Universal Credit Service Centre in Sheffield</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 14:05:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1020387

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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: Sheffield
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is for an initial information-gathering interview at the Cavendish Court Job Centre Sheffield; and whether that waiting time has an effect on the time taken to pay universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	199297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Not all claimants will require any initial evidence interview at the start of their Universal Credit claim.</p><p> </p><p>If an interview is required, claimants will receive notification to book an interview via their online Universal Credit account at the start of their claim and are encouraged to make contact at the earliest opportunity. In addition, a further prompt will be sent after 7 days if no interview has been booked.</p><p> </p><p>Cavendish Court Jobcentre went live with Universal Credit full service on 7 November.</p><p> </p><p>The average waiting period at Cavendish Court Jobcentre for initial interview (working days) was as follows:</p><p> </p><p>W/E 16/11 – 3 days</p><p>W/E 23/11 – 5 days</p><p>W/E 30/11 – 2 days</p><p> </p><p>For comparison, the average waiting period within the District of South Yorkshire for initial interview (working days) was as follows:</p><p> </p><p>W/E 16/11 – 3 days</p><p>W/E 23/11 – 3 days</p><p>W/E 30/11 – 2 days</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We strive to deliver a quick and effective service to all claimants. Claimants have 30 days in which to make contact to book an initial interview. The closer the date of the initial interview is to the end of the 30 day period could potentially impact on the date a first payment is made. In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, satisfying the Habitual Residency Test, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 18:01:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1020388

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	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	Jobcentres: Sheffield
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the total (a) cost of (i) redundancy payments, (ii) transfers for staff at the Eastern Avenue Jobcentre Plus site, (iii) travel for those staff and (iv) the alteration work required to the Cavendish Court site and (b) potential proceeds of the sale of the Eastern Avenue Jobcentre Plus site.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
	tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
	uin	199298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The business case for the merger of Eastern Avenue Jobcentre into Cavendish Court Jobcentre considered the estimated costs of redundancies, excess fares for staff and building work at Cavendish Court Jobcentre.</p><p> </p><p>DWP did not own Eastern Avenue Jobcentre and its future is a matter for the landlord.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 14:34:50 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

997365

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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	Social Security Benefits
	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 working people in receipt of top up benefits are resident in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) in each region of the UK and (c) in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Ashfield
	tabling member printed	Gloria De Piero
	uin	184954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The numbers of in work families receiving tax credits are in table 1.1 of the Child and Working Tax Credits statistics: finalised annual awards - 2016 to 2017 published by HMRC can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720570/Main_publication_-_final_tables.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720570/Main_publication_-_final_tables.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>Geographical breakdowns including constituency level figures are available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720739/Main_geographical_-_final_tables.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720739/Main_geographical_-_final_tables.xlsx</a></p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit and Housing Benefit statistics for Great Britain are regularly published and the latest statistics for September 2018 and May 2018 respectively can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>The information available for the number of employed individuals that are in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance in May 2018 in geographical areas of Great Britain can be found in the following table.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 10/12/2018 18:17:56 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma attachment 1 file name People Table 184954.docx title Working people in receipt of IS, JSA or ESA previous answer version 82637 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3915 label Biography information for Gloria De Piero

1019856

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Cardiff Airport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department has made an estimate of the average number of flights each (a) day, (b) week, (c) month and (d) year between Cardiff International Airport and destinations in countries that are signatories to the Open Skies agreement.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	198870
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>By Open Skies agreement, we have understood the question to refer to the recently agreed Open Skies agreement with the US, which will replace the existing EU aviation agreement with the US. The deal ensures that planes flying from the UK will continue to have the same access they currently have to the US, ensuring the UK maintains its place as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs.</p><p>Currently there are no direct scheduled passenger services that run between the US and Cardiff Airport.</p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 10/12/2018 10:32:07 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1020339

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of recouping the cost to the public purse of the bailout of the Royal Bank of Scotland by planned sale of shares by 2023-24.
	tabling member constituency	Luton North
	tabling member printed	Kelvin Hopkins
	uin	199257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>At Budget 2018 Government announced an intention to undertake a full disposal of its Royal Bank of Scotland shareholding by 2023-24.</p><p>In its Economic and Fiscal Outlook (<a href="https://cdn.obr.uk/EFO_October-2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://cdn.obr.uk/EFO_October-2018.pdf</a>), the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the total value of expected proceeds from sales of the RBS shareholding (paragraph 4.208). The OBR also estimate the gross and net cash flows of the financial sector interventions (table 4.44), noting that ‘the economic and fiscal costs of the [financial] crisis would almost certainly have been greater in the absence of these direct interventions to restore the financial system to stability’.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 199258 question first answered 10/12/2018 15:19:41 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	2 label Biography information for Kelvin Hopkins

1020344

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Royal Bank of Scotland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the expected contribution to the public purse of the proposed sale of the Government's stake in RBS.
	tabling member constituency	Luton North
	tabling member printed	Kelvin Hopkins
	uin	199258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>At Budget 2018 Government announced an intention to undertake a full disposal of its Royal Bank of Scotland shareholding by 2023-24.</p><p>In its Economic and Fiscal Outlook (<a href="https://cdn.obr.uk/EFO_October-2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://cdn.obr.uk/EFO_October-2018.pdf</a>), the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast the total value of expected proceeds from sales of the RBS shareholding (paragraph 4.208). The OBR also estimate the gross and net cash flows of the financial sector interventions (table 4.44), noting that ‘the economic and fiscal costs of the [financial] crisis would almost certainly have been greater in the absence of these direct interventions to restore the financial system to stability’.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen grouped question UIN 199257 question first answered 10/12/2018 15:19:41 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	2 label Biography information for Kelvin Hopkins

1017474

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Self-assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how may backlog tax returns are waiting to be processed HMRC.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	197635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>As of 2 December there were 45,000 online returns and 163,000 paper returns to be processed, of which 120,000 have been received since the middle of October. This is in line with normal levels. HMRC remain on schedule to process these to advise customers of the tax they need to pay for the 31 January payment date.</p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 10/12/2018 15:22:10 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1019417

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much money the Government has allocated to organisations and groups supporting LGBTQ+ rights in England since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	198218
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The UK is recognized as a world leader on LGBT rights. Sexual orientation is one of the nine characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010, for which the Government Equalities Office (GEO) within DfID is the Government’s lead department. A wide range of government departments have spending in support of LGBT rights. For instance, in 2015, GEO ran a £2.0 million pilot fund to test approaches to effectively tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying in schools. Following the evaluation of the pilot, the Government is now providing £4.0 million worth of funds from 2016 to 2020 to tackle HBT bullying in schools. However, the information requested on broader funding allocations is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 10/12/2018 14:43:22 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1019812

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2018
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Debt Collection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidelines his Department issues on appropriate working practices for the debt collection industry.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	198727
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation of debt collection agencies (DCAs) provides strong protections for consumers.</p><p> </p><p>In particular, DCAs under FCA regulation have to comply with the FCA’s high-level principle to treat customers fairly, offer appropriate forbearance, and signpost individuals to free, impartial debt advice should a consumer be in default, or in arrears difficulty.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 10/12/2018 15:11:06 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham