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1122395

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensioners: 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, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people on low incomes are able access benefits they are entitled to.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246475
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 09:17:31 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122429

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) when and (b) with which countries her Department last signed reciprocal agreements on the uprating of pensions of UK residents overseas.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	246456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK last signed a reciprocal social security agreement with Ireland on 1 February 2019 to preserve the rights established through the Common Travel Area arrangements and currently facilitated by EU law. The agreement includes the uprating of pensions for UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in each other’s state once the UK leaves the EU.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 10:34:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1122433

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department last held discussions with officials in the Government of (a) Australia, (b) Canada and (c) New Zealand on the establishment of reciprocal agreements in relation to the uprating of pensions of UK residents in those countries; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	246457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to hold discussions on uprating pensions with officials from the governments of Australia, Canada or New Zealand and no recent discussions have occurred.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 10:42:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1122454

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	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 has been taken to improve the process for (a) personal independence payment and (b) disability living allowance assessments for people with long-term genetic conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
	tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
	uin	246447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment is designed to treat all health conditions and impairments fairly. PIP and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) awards (with the exception of claims made under special rules for the terminally ill) are determined on the basis of the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability and not the health condition or disability itself. 31% of those on PIP receive the highest level of support, compared to 15% of DLA’s working-age claimants and 39% of reassessment claimants are getting a higher award on PIP compared to when they were on DLA.</p><p> </p><p>I can assure you however that we have considered the needs of people with long-term genetic conditions in developing the assessment. We consulted with a group of independent specialists in health, social care and disability, including representatives from Radar (who subsequently merged to become Disability Rights UK) and Equality 2025.</p><p> </p><p>Both Assessment Providers have an ongoing programme of regular engagement with organisations representing disabled people discussing many aspects of Personal Independence Payment. These organisations have also developed reports and briefings on specific conditions to inform both providers' training. There will be a continuing programme of professional development for assessors, monitored by the Department, and we expect this level of engagement to continue.</p><p> </p><p>We remain committed to providing support to disabled people, to better enable them to lead full, active, and independent lives.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/05/2019 11:16:03 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1122455

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	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 has taken to improve the process for (a) personal independence payment and (b) disability living allowance assessments for people with fluctuating conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
	tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
	uin	246448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>We have designed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age claimants to reflect a modern understanding of disability and treat all conditions fairly. PIP is more dynamic in responding to changes in a person’s needs compared to DLA for working age recipients, where over 70% had an indefinite award with little prospect of a review. DLA focus however has shifted to provide better support for disabled children under the age of 16, with continuous improvements being introduced.</p><p> </p><p>The PIP assessment is designed to accurately reflect the impact of variations in an individual's level of impairment. The criteria consider an individual’s ability over a 12-month period, ensuring that fluctuations are taken into account. Key to the benefit is a more objective assessment, which allows us to accurately and consistently assess individuals’ needs.</p><p> </p><p>It remains a fundamental principle that the assessment should not just consider whether an individual can complete an activity, but the manner in which they can do it. In March 2013, the Government made changes in the Regulations to make clear that consideration must be given to whether individuals can complete the assessment activities “safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period”.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/05/2019 11:05:03 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1122480

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2019 to Question 229636, what forecast she has made of flows on to universal credit in the next period for which such a calculation has been made.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	246454
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department has forecasted flows onto Universal Credit to 2024.</p><p> </p><p>The below table shows a breakdown of the average monthly volumes per calendar year from 2019 (rounded to the nearest 10,000 where appropriate).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rapid Reclaims</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pure new awards</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Movement due to a change in circumstance</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>30,000</p></td><td><p>20,000</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Being moved without a change in circumstance</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>Less than 1000</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>190,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>180,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>190,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>200,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>230,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>140,000</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 246455 question first answered 01/05/2019 13:38:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1122481

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	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, pursuant to the Answer on 7 March 2019 to Question 229636, over what periods her Department forecasts flows on to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	246455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department has forecasted flows onto Universal Credit to 2024.</p><p> </p><p>The below table shows a breakdown of the average monthly volumes per calendar year from 2019 (rounded to the nearest 10,000 where appropriate).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2024</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rapid Reclaims</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pure new awards</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>100,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Movement due to a change in circumstance</p></td><td><p>50,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>30,000</p></td><td><p>20,000</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Being moved without a change in circumstance</p></td><td><p>Less than 500</p></td><td><p>Less than 1000</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>90,000</p></td><td><p>-</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>190,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>180,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>190,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>200,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>230,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>140,000</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 246454 question first answered 01/05/2019 13:38:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1123347

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	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, with reference to the minutes of the universal credit programme board for June 2017, what plans she has for the universal credit system to interface with social media providers; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	247977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>There are no plans for the Universal Credit system to interface with social media. However, as the May 2017 Universal Credit Programme Board minutes set out, we have explored where interactions might be useful to help increase awareness and understanding of Universal Credit, for those who may be eligible to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/05/2019 13:04:20 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123433

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment: Older Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to (a) tackle age-bias in recruitment and (b) ensure that older workers are offered training and development opportunities.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	247988
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010, provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment and makes it unlawful for an employer or an employment service provider such as a recruitment agency, to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of their age or perceived age. This applies both where the employer is making arrangements to fill a job, and in respect of anything done during the course of a person’s employment. To be lawful, any differential treatment based on age must be objectively justified.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2017, The Government published a strategy ‘Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach’. The Strategy is led by employers, but also sets out the case for action by individuals, and the role of Government in supporting older workers to remain in and return to work. The Strategy and supporting evidence base are available on the gov.uk website.</p><p>DWP also work closely with the Business in the Community and Older Workers Champion to promote the Fuller Working Lives strategy with employers.</p><p> </p><p>The number of workers aged 50 and over currently in employment is at a record high of 10.4 million, an increase of 1.4 million over the last 5 years and an increase of 2.5 million over the last 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>Further to the Fuller Working Lives strategy, through the National Retraining Partnership, the Government is developing the National Retraining Scheme, which is an ambitious, far-reaching programme to drive adult retraining. It will help individuals to respond to the changing labour market, redirect their careers and secure better, more secure jobs of the future. Its focus will be on supporting those adults whose occupations are most at risk of technological change, to provide them with new skills to move into more sustainable career.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 01/05/2019 13:57:09 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1111085

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which Department is responsible for monitoring and implementing policies relating to the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 10 on economic inequality.
	tabling member constituency	Midlothian
	tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
	uin	243555
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>Goal 10 is to reduce inequality within and between countries, and so responsibility for delivery is shared across Government. For example, the Office for Disability Issues in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) leads on disability policy, the Race Disparity Unit in the Cabinet Office is key to our approach on race equality, DWP and HM Treasury are responsible for addressing income inequality within the UK, and the Department for International Development leads on tackling inequality between countries.</p><p>To aid transparency, all Departments are expected to set out how their activity aligns to the Goals in their Single Departmental Plans. The Government Equalities Office is coordinating reporting for Goal 10 across Government for the Voluntary National Review this year.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/05/2019 15:25:15 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley