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 attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1128073

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations to improve information provision for Universal Credit claimants in the report by the Child Poverty Action Group Computer says ‘No!' Stage one: information provision, published in May.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL15922
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is designed to react and respond quickly to feedback from our stakeholders and claimants to improve the service we offer. This means that any report based on a view of the service at a given date may well be inaccurate only a short period afterwards.</p><p> </p><p>This is the case with this Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) report. The report does not take into account recent changes to the Universal Credit Statement which ensures that claimants receive detailed information about any deductions which have been made to their Universal Credit award, including a clear breakdown of what each deduction is for. Consequently, the Department has written to CPAG about the report, outlining the up to date position on these issues and inviting CPAG and his Honour Judge Sir Stephen Sedley, who wrote the report’s foreword, to meet to discuss these matters.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to make improvements to Universal Credit to ensure that we provide claimants with the information they need to understand their Universal Credit award.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 06/06/2019 13:50:42 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1128083

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
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	Equality
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Buscombe on 21 May (HL Deb, col 1858), on what evidence they base their statement that “inequality has fallen”; and whether they will publish that evidence.
tabling member printed	Baroness Primarolo
uin	HL15932
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>National statistics on income inequality are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication using the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is an international standard technical measure of how incomes are distributed across all individuals. It ranges from 0% (when everyone has identical incomes) to 100% (when all income goes to only one person).</p><p> </p><p>From 2009/10 to 2017/18 income inequality, measured using the before housing cost Gini coefficient, has fallen by 2 percentage points. See the table below for the annual statistics from 2009/10 to 2017/18.</p><p> </p><p>This data is published annually on the “Households Below Average Income” website on gov.uk.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Income inequality (Gini Coefficient. %)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>35</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 06/06/2019 16:33:04 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	217 label Biography information for Baroness Primarolo

1128071

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	National Insurance Contributions: Pensioners
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an estimate of the revenue which could be raised if the exemption from employee and employer's national insurance contributions for people above pensionable age was removed; and if so, what is that estimate.
tabling member printed	Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
uin	HL15920
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The “Estimated costs of principal tax reliefs” publication, sets out an estimate of the cost of the exemption of those over State pension age from paying National Insurance. It is estimated that the cost of this exemption is approximately £1.1bn in 2018-19. The estimates do not allow for any behavioural changes as a result of the reliefs. In practice if a relief was withdrawn, taxpayers’ behaviour would be likely to alter so that the actual yield could be lower than that shown in the tables.</p><p> </p><p>Employers are not currently exempt from paying employer NICs for their employees above the state pension age.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 06/06/2019 12:50:41 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	1141 label Biography information for Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

1128085

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Banks: Hacking
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 advice of the government of Sweden to its citizens to keep cash on hand against the possibility of a hacking attack on the banking system; and whether they are considering giving similar advice to UK citizens.
tabling member printed	Lord Radice
uin	HL15934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not provided similar advice to UK citizens. HM Treasury works closely with the other Financial Authorities, Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement to ensure that the system is robust to a wide range of operational risks, including cyber. The Financial Authorities have well-established mechanisms to respond to operational disruption were it to occur.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 06/06/2019 12:47:25 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	510 label Biography information for Lord Radice

1128089

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each of the last 24 months for which data is available, (1) what was the total stock of ATMs and how many of those were free to use; (2) how many free to use ATMs have been closed; (3) how many of those closures were in areas of economic deprivation; and (4) how many were one mile or more from the nearest remaining free to use ATMs.
tabling member printed	Lord Sharkey
uin	HL15938
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>In 2015, the Government established the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), with a statutory objective to ensure that the UK’s payment systems work in the interests of their users. As a result, the PSR is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision, and has used its powers to ensure LINK meets its commitment on maintaining the broad geographical spread of free-to-use ATMs.</p><p> </p><p>Data on the total stock of ATMs in the UK and how this has changed each year since 1998, including the split between free-to-use and pay-to-use ATMs, is publicly available on the LINK website. LINK also publish monthly data on their Financial Inclusion Programme, including on the numbers of free-to-use ATMs in deprived areas. In addition, data on the numbers of free-to-use ATMs 1 kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM are provided each month in LINK’s publicly available ATM Footprint Report.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 06/06/2019 12:44:20 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
tabling member	4196 label Biography information for Lord Sharkey

1128066

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Domestic Abuse
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 21 May (HL Deb, col 1863), what consideration they have given to providing (1) separate waiting facilities for the parties, and (2) facilities to enable the giving of evidence by screen or video link, for court cases relating to domestic abuse.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL15915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>From context we have assumed the honourable member is asking about the family courts.</p><p> </p><p>(1) In family courts, vulnerable parties and witnesses may request the use of a separate entrance and waiting area. Where dedicated separate entrances or waiting areas are not available, court staff will make alternative arrangements wherever possible.</p><p> </p><p>(2) In the family court over 300 protective screens have been provided over the last two years to ensure that vulnerable parties and witnesses can be shielded from an alleged abuser in the courtroom. Video links may also be used either from a secure location within the court building or from a remote location. Use of these facilities must be approved by the Judge. Use of telephone hearings for without notice Family Law Act injunction hearings is being encouraged to avoid the need for victims of domestic abuse to attend court.</p><p> </p><p>We are determined that the family courts should never be used to further or perpetrate abuse. The Government announced on 21 May 2019 the establishment of an expert panel to gather evidence of how the family courts protect children and parents in cases of domestic abuse and other serious offences. Once formed, it is intended that the panel will report within three months.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/06/2019 15:23:08 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1128134

registered interest
date	23/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Courts: Prisons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision, if any, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has made for courts to sit in prisons when a prisoner refuses either to attend court or to take part in a video link between a prison and a court.
tabling member printed	Lord Beith
uin	HL15948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>A decision that a court should sit within a prison when a defendant refuses to attend court in person or by video link is for the judiciary. If such a decision is made HMCTS , in conjunction with HMPPS Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service makes the necessary arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>The Court has no legal power to direct a prison officer (including a Governor) to use force or to compel a prisoner to attend court.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/06/2019 16:42:07 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	513 label Biography information for Lord Beith

1128147

registered interest
date	23/05/2019
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to decrease waiting times for Personal Independence Payment tribunal appeals.
tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
uin	HL15961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>It is important that appeals are heard as quickly as possible. The Ministry of Justice recognises that there are delays in the system and is in the process of recruiting more judicial office holders in order to increase capacity and help to reduce waiting times for appellants. In the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) jurisdiction, 225 new medical members and 119 disability-qualified members have recently been appointed and are now hearing cases. The SSCS jurisdiction will also benefit from the fact that 250 fee-paid judges and 100 salaried judges are being recruited across tribunals more widely. In addition, we have recently launched a new digital service with a view to enabling speedier processing of appeals and providing a better service for all parties to the proceedings.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 06/06/2019 15:53:03 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

1128068

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Dementia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish a national dementia strategy for beyond 2020; and if so, when.
tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
uin	HL15917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>We expect to publish a new dementia strategy for England for the period 2020 to 2025 early next year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 06/06/2019 15:50:32 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

1128069

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Dementia
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards meeting the aims of the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia.
tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
uin	HL15918
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>We have committed to implement fully the Government’s <em>Challenge on Dementia 2020</em> strategy to make this country the best place in the world to live with dementia.</p><p> </p><p>Our recent review of progress tells us we are largely on track to meet our commitments to improve the lives of those living with dementia, their families and carers. The<em> Dementia 2020 Challenge: 2018 Review</em> <em>Phase 1</em> report is attached.</p><p> </p><p>Examples of progress we have made so far with our delivery partners include more than two thirds of people with dementia receiving a diagnosis, over 2.8 million people becoming Dementia Friends and 365 areas in England committing to being Dementia Friendly Communities. In the £250 million Dementia Discovery Fund we have the largest venture fund in the world aimed at discovering and developing novel pre-clinical therapies for dementia.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 06/06/2019 15:47:49 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford attachment 1 file name Dementia 2020 Challenge 2018 Review Phase 1.pdf title Dementia 2020 Challenge 2018 Review Phase 1
tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

1128090

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Health Services: Artificial Intelligence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to invest in the development and use of artificial intelligence in the UK healthcare sector.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL15939
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department of Health and Social Care is leading on the Prime Minister’s Mission to “Use data, Artificial Intelligence and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases by 2030.” We hope that as we work towards this overall goal, we can ensure that: patients experience better care, clinicians deliver better care, commissioners are better able to commission data-driven technologies and the United Kingdom is a great place to do business in artificial intelligence (AI) for health and care.</p><p>We are working in partnership with organisations across the National Health Service, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Office for Life Sciences, Office for Artificial Intelligence and Better Regulation Executive to engage with businesses in the sector so that we benefit from the potential for AI to improve care, deliver better outcomes, contribute to efficiency in the health and care system and contribute to the wider economy. In September 2018, we published the Code of Conduct for Data-Driven Health and Care Technology, which clearly sets out the behaviours we expect from those developing AI and related technologies. The Code was updated in February 2019 based on feedback, including from industry partners, and we are working with them to develop case studies showing good practice in complying with the Code. We are also developing tools to help businesses comply with the Code of Conduct.</p><p>The Office for Artificial Intelligence and UK Research and Innovation have announced centres for doctoral training in AI-enabled healthcare across the UK.</p><p>The Office for Life Sciences has established five Centres of Excellence in digital pathology and radiology with AI, supported by an initial £50 million Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund investment and a further £50 million of scale up funding from the Department of Health and Social Care. The centres are working with NHS and industry partners, including innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, to develop pioneering AI-enabled pathology and radiology tools.</p><p>In addition we are also working closely with Health Education England as they follow through on the recommendations made by the Topol Review <em>Preparing the healthcare workforce to deliver the digital future</em>.</p><p>In March 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published its <em>Evidence Standards Framework for Digital Health Technologies</em>, outlining the evidence required by businesses to demonstrate the effectiveness and economic impact of digital health technologies.</p><p>Taken together these steps, and others, will ensure there is a clear framework for the development and use of AI in the healthcare sector including the skills, a clear path to market, and a rigorous process for ensuring the safety, efficacy and ethics of the tools developed, deployed and used.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 06/06/2019 15:40:44 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1128094

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Malnutrition: Screening
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to offer screening for malnutrition at GP surgeries and pharmacies in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
uin	HL15943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.</p><p> </p><p>The UK NSC has not reviewed the evidence to screen for malnutrition, however the Committee welcomes new topic proposals via its annual call for topics which opens each year from September to December.</p><p> </p><p>The UK NSC has published its evidence review process online on GOV.UK, which includes how to submit a new topic proposal.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 06/06/2019 15:41:32 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

1128095

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Nutrition
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of appointing a clinical lead for nutrition for the NHS in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Thomas of Winchester
uin	HL15944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have a lead Nutrition and Hydration Specialist in Quality Improvement. Their work focusses on building collaboratives to improve nutrition and hydration within providers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Public Health England’s (PHE) Chief Nutritionist provides leadership and strategic oversight on key priority areas of diet, nutrition, obesity and physical activity to PHE, the Department and other Government departments.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 06/06/2019 15:39:31 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	3785 label Biography information for Baroness Thomas of Winchester

1128080

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Marshall Scholarships
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 case for increasing the number of students who can participate in the Marshall Scholarship programme to 100; and what assessment they have made of the benefits of that programme to the UK's international reputation.
tabling member printed	Baroness Meyer
uin	HL15929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>​For 65 years, the Marshall Scholarship programme has created lasting bridges between the US and the UK by funding intellectually distinguished young Americans to undertake postgraduate studies in Britain. Marshall scholars become advocates for greater depth and breadth of interaction, co-operation and mutual understanding between the two countries, with many going on to senior positions in politics, business, the law and other fields. The Government increased the programme's funding in 2017, allowing up to 50 scholarships to be awarded per year. This increased investment reflects the strengthened commitment of the British Government to the value of this programme and to the Special Relationship. The Tailored Review of the programme this year concluded that it continues to support UK-US relations, and in line with the review's recommendations, we will be building on work to develop our processes for evaluating the programme's impact.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/06/2019 16:31:46 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4699 label Biography information for Baroness Meyer

1128084

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	EU Countries: Embassies
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what upgrades and enhancements they have made to (1) staffing, and (2) facilities, at embassies in the EU27 nations since the EU referendum.
tabling member printed	Lord Radice
uin	HL15933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has created approximately 550 EU Exit roles in the UK and overseas. We have used these roles to strengthen our diplomatic network in the UK and across Europe so that we are better able to represent and promote British interests and engage with our European partners in support of a successful EU Exit. In addition, other staff are also engaged on EU Exit planning as part of their wider responsibilities. We continue to keep staffing levels under constant review to ensure that they are appropriate to deliver the Government's objectives.</p><p>We undertake regular reviews of our estate portfolio around the world. This is a continuing process to ensure the estate is fit for purpose and offers the best value for money in delivering Her Majesty's Government objectives. No major estates projects were undertaken because of the result of the referendum. A number of Posts have carried out small changes to their office layouts as well as routine maintenance.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 06/06/2019 16:32:11 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	510 label Biography information for Lord Radice

1128213

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
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, how many people have had deductions under universal credit paused; and what the average length of the pause was in the last (a) month and (b) 12 months.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	257511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 06/06/2019 17:06:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1128214

registered interest
date	22/05/2019
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, how many people with underlying debts resulting in deductions under universal credit had those debts written off in the last (a) month and (b) 12 months.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	257512
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 06/06/2019 17:12:20 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1128811

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Working Links
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 21 May 2019 to Question 254799, on Working Links, for what reasons Working Links Ministry of Justice Permitted Subcontractors are receiving payments and protections but Working Links Permitted Subcontractors for her Department are not.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	259183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department refers to the responses to 2 previous PQs (254799 and 257591) which addressed this question on 17<sup>th</sup> May and 28<sup>th</sup> May respectively. This answer confirms those responses.</p><p> </p><p>The MOJ are making payments to a small number of Permitted Sub Contractors on the basis of a) the unique nature of their services (statutory services) and b) the structure of their current market in the context of the transformation announced on 16<sup>th</sup> May 2019.</p><p>There is no defined term within DWP contracts for Permitted Subcontractors.</p><p> </p><p>The Department considered the impact on stakeholders and sub-contractors, based on the Administrator’s statement of affairs at the point of Working Links going into administration, and has worked with both the Administrator and Fedcap, who have taken over a number of Working Links contracts, to minimise the impact on those supply chain partners owed monies by Working Links at the point of administration.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has met all of its obligations in regard to the contracts, including payments, leading up to and as a consequence of the administration.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:46:42 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1128840

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, how many households with three or more children made a new claim for universal credit during the period between April 2017 and January 2019 on the ground that they were within the six month period of a previous and now closed universal credit claim.
tabling member constituency	North West Durham
tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
uin	259448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:40:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1128885

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, how many people who claimed an advance on their first universal credit payment were placed in the limited capability for work related activity group following a work capability assessment, in each of the last five years in each UK region.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
uin	259404
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 13:24:11 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1128931

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: 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 progress has been made on introducing video or audio recording of personal independence payment assessments as standard.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	259304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to continually improving the Personal Independence Payment service. As part of this, in November 2018, we started to pilot video recording of PIP assessments. The pilot is examining the potential benefits of video recording face-to-face assessments. We will be evaluating this pilot and will use the findings to inform our approach to video recording in the future.</p><p> </p><p>There is an existing process for those who wish to audio record their face-to-face assessment. The video recording pilot does not affect these existing arrangements.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 14:54:18 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1128932

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	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 many deduction from earnings requests were issued by the Child Maintenance Service in the last 12 months by local authority area; and how many of those deductions are being made.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	259305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259306 259307 259308 question first answered 06/06/2019 10:00:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1128933

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	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 maintenance has been collected using Deduction of Earnings Requests in the last 12 months by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	259306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259305 259307 259308 question first answered 06/06/2019 10:00:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1128934

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	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 many Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEOs) were issued by the Child Maintenance Service in the last 12 months by local authority area; and how many of those deductions are currently being made.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	259307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259305 259306 259308 question first answered 06/06/2019 10:00:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1128935

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	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 many times the Child Maintenance Service has used enforcement powers to fine employers who have not met an instruction from a Deduction from Earnings Order by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	259308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 259305 259306 259307 question first answered 06/06/2019 10:00:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1128975

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Occupational Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support employers to improve workplace health.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	259190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The HSE is undertaking a programme of targeted activity with employers to help them put in place suitable and proportionate preventative measures designed to address three key work-related ill health issues; musculoskeletal disease, work-related stress and occupational lung disease. This programme involves a substantial body of cross-cutting interventions (including publicity and awareness-raising activities, sector-specific initiatives, and regulatory interventions) and forms part of HSE’s contribution to the health and safety strategy – <em>Helping Great Britain Work Well – </em>launched in 2016<em>.</em></p><p>The DWP and DHSC Joint Work and Health Unit is overseeing progress across 40 recommendations that were made in <em>Thriving at Work: The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers</em> published in October 2017 these range from short term deliverables to longer term reform. Government is committed to working with the authors of the review and key stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that employers of all sizes act to implement the core and enhanced standards and help them, and their employees, realise the benefits of healthy, inclusive workplaces.</p><p> </p><p>One of the review’s recommendations was about transparency as a significant opportunity to encourage cultural change around mental health. We have worked with partners, including employers, to develop a framework to support organisations to record and voluntarily report information on disability and mental health in the workplace. This framework was published on 22<sup>nd</sup> November 2018 and is aimed at large employers with 250 or more employees. To improve information and advice for employers we are working with Mind and the Royal Foundation to continue developing their Mental Health at Work website (<a href="https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk" target="_blank">https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk</a>) which launched on 11<sup>th</sup> September 2018.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 13:18:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

1128976

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Small Businesses: Occupational Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to increase access for small businesses to occupational health advice.
tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
uin	259191
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 employers are legally required to assess the risk of ill health that may result from activities undertaken in the workplace, and act on that assessment. The approach applies to all employers and directs them to take preventative action. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets standards and provides a range of resources and guidance for employers. As part of this work, the HSE is undertaking a programme of targeted activity with employers to help them put in place suitable and proportionate preventative measures designed to address three key work-related ill health issues; musculoskeletal disease, work-related stress and occupational lung disease. This programme involves a substantial body of cross-cutting interventions (including publicity and awareness-raising activities, sector-specific initiatives, and regulatory interventions) and forms part of HSE’s contribution to the health and safety strategy – <em>Helping Great Britain Work Well – </em>launched in 2016<em>.</em></p><p>We plan to consult later this year on measures to encourage and support all employers, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to play their part in retaining and reintegrating employees who are struggling with their health or who are off sick. This includes measures to improve access to cost effective and high quality occupational health services.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 15:45:02 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

1129072

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: ICT
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 list the countries hosting cloud-based data as contracted by her Department.
tabling member constituency	Leigh
tabling member printed	Jo Platt
uin	259455
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>DWP host cloud-based data in the following countries:</p><p> </p><p>United Kingdom</p><p>Eire</p><p>Netherlands</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:51:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4673 label Biography information for Jo Platt

1129146

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Cardiff
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 provide an update on plans to relocate jobs in her Department from Merthyr Tydfil to a new hub north of Cardiff.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	259345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>In 2017 we announced plans to create a new hub in Treforest, north of Cardiff.</p><p> </p><p>Building work on the new hub began in January 2019 and the 133,000 sq ft Treforest building is currently on track and due for completion in the last quarter of 2020.</p><p> </p><p>We plan to move staff based in Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda into Treforest between 2021 and 2023.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:46:36 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1129148

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Cardiff
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 effect on the economy of Merthyr Tydfil town centre of the proposal to move 250 jobs in her Department from Merthyr Tydfil to a new hub north of Cardiff.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	259347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>As a large employer, the Department understands the potential impact that a closure or relocation of an office may have. However, the economic impact of employment is dispersed beyond the specific location of a workplace because people also spend their money where they live.</p><p> </p><p>Where the Department does move staff to a new place of work, it is unlikely that a significant proportion of them would also move their place of residence and so will still continue to contribute to the economy of their home base.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, as Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda is a leased building the landlord may offer the premises to a new tenant.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:41:18 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1129153

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, what information her Department holds on the demographic of (a) universal credit claimants and (b) universal credit claimants that have taken out an advance.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	258968
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Statistics on demographics of those on Universal Credit, including age, gender and postcode area, can be found under the ‘People on Universal Credit’ dataset available 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 on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Demographic data on Universal Credit claimants who received an advance is collected but is not published regularly as part of the official statistics. Data relating to advance payments associated with a UC award, rather than individual claimants, can be provided by region, constituency and local authority.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 06/06/2019 16:00:59 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1129156

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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 answer of 20 May 2019 to Question 254733, what information her Department uses to verify the statement that if a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	258971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Claimants’ circumstances are always taken into account when applying debt repayment thresholds to avoid undue hardship.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance, and from October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions, where it relates to benefit debt, a social fund loan or rent arrears, they can request that a reduction be considered. Similarly, if a claimant is having difficulty repaying a benefit overpayment, they can request a reconsideration of the amount that is being taken. Reductions are always based on the individual circumstances of the claimant, rather than the amount of the overpayment, which helps to ensure that a sustainable repayment plan based on affordability is put in place.</p><p> </p><p>The claimant should provide reasonable evidence to support their request. This could include information about the household income and expenditure where hardship is claimed on financial grounds. Where hardship is claimed because either the claimant or a member of their family is seriously ill, they would need to provide supporting evidence to explain how or why recovery would be detrimental to the health or welfare of the claimant or their family.</p><p> </p><p>A Repayment Negotiation Framework based on the individual circumstances of the customer, rather than the size of the debt and repayment period has been developed. This makes the process much simpler, and ensures both on and off benefit customers are treated fairly. This framework is contained within the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide which can be found on Gov.uk via the link below. The Repayment Negotiation Framework can be found on page 38, paragraph 5.68.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/616116/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/616116/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 06/06/2019 16:55:08 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1129210

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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: 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, how many claimants of universal credit have been found to have limited capability for work through a work capability assessment.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	258937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. The Department will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 258938 question first answered 06/06/2019 15:07:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1129211

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, how many people are receiving universal credit on the basis of limited capability to work.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	258938
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. The Department will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 258937 question first answered 06/06/2019 15:07:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1129214

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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: Disability
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 make it her policy to collate and publish data which includes all of a claimants’ disabling conditions.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	258939
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department publishes the primary medical condition for recipients of the following benefits: Employment &amp; Support Allowance (ESA), Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance (IB/SDA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).</p><p> </p><p>Secondary medical condition is collated for ESA and IB/SDA but there are no plans to publish this information. There are also no plans to collate and publish all medical conditions a benefit recipient has.</p><p> </p><p>Medical information is not currently held in a way which can be collated and quality assured to report aggregate information about a Universal Credit claimant’s health condition.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 16:03:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1129215

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Confident employers have employed a disabled person since achieving Disability Confident status.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	258940
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>DWP does not track individual Disability Confident employers’ workforces. However, last year we published the results of survey research, commissioned from Ipsos MORI, which explored the effect that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on employers’ recruitment and retention attitudes and practices with regards to disabled people.</p><p> </p><p>The researchers interviewed employers of all sizes, ranging from very small organisations with low levels of staff turnover to large companies employing thousands. Across all employers interviewed, half said they had recruited at least one person with a disability, long-term health or mental health condition as a result of joining the scheme. Among larger employers, nearly two thirds reported the same.</p><p> </p><p>The full report may be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-survey-of-participating-employers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-survey-of-participating-employers</a></p><p> </p><p>Last year we also published the ‘Voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing: A framework to support employers to voluntarily report on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace’. This framework was developed in partnership with large employers and expert partners (including leading charities) to support organisations to record and voluntarily report information on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>The government believes that transparency and reporting are effective levers in driving the culture change required to build a more inclusive society. The framework is a short guide to support employers to take a first step on the journey towards greater transparency.</p><p> </p><p>The framework can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-reporting-on-disability-mental-health-and-wellbeing/voluntary-reporting-on-disability-mental-health-and-wellbeing-a-framework-to-support-employers-to-voluntarily-report-on-disability-mental-health-an" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-reporting-on-disability-mental-health-and-wellbeing/voluntary-reporting-on-disability-mental-health-and-wellbeing-a-framework-to-support-employers-to-voluntarily-report-on-disability-mental-health-an</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 15:01:33 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1129221

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the average time between mandatory reconsideration and appeal for personal independence payment claimants.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	259348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave 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=234691" target="_blank">234691</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 16:17:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1129257

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, if she will review the merits of the higher deduction from universal credit payments for maternity allowance than for maternity pay.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
uin	259377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a means tested system of support and where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).</p><p>Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is a form of earnings. As a result, statutory maternity pay is therefore subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:33:04 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1129263

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Plumbing: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the publication of the white paper on the plumbers’ pension scheme.
tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
tabling member printed	Layla Moran
uin	259424
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government published a detailed White Paper on Defined Benefit pensions on 23 March 2018. This included a discussion on issues facing multi-employer schemes like the plumbers’ pension scheme. Chapter 4 of this White Paper: ‘Protecting defined benefit pensions’ sets out the government’s position on employer debt and is available on the government website at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 06/06/2019 13:09:41 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran

1129288

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, how many people have lost severe disability premiums as a result of transferring to universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
uin	259297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 15:13:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1129289

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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, when she plans to announce the conclusions of the review into universal credit recipients affected by the loss of the severe disability premium.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South
tabling member printed	Stewart Malcolm McDonald
uin	259298
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>On Friday 3 May 2019, the High Court handed down a judgment in relation to Universal Credit and the SDP.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently considering the options open to us and will respond in due course.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/06/2019 14:37:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4461 label Biography information for Stewart Malcolm McDonald

1129385

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Correspondence
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 ensure her Department stops sending correspondence after a claimant has died.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	259386
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>DWP has recently introduced improvements to the way in which it actions Tell Us Once notifications following registration of a death with a Registrar. Improved automation supports timely action across DWP service areas with clearance routinely completing within 24 hours of receipt. This investment and ongoing focus on preventing multiple letters after the notification of death is proving successful, although it is accepted that there may be cases where external factors compromise this achievement.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/06/2019 16:33:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1128439

registered interest
date	23/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Housing: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide more funding for rural housing in the forthcoming spending review.
tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
tabling member printed	Scott Mann
uin	257782
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken a number of steps to support rural housing, including through the National Planning Policy Framework where we clarified our approach to rural exception sites to make it clear that local authorities should support opportunities to bring forward sites that will provide affordable housing to meet identified local needs. Decisions on public spending will be made in the round as part of the Spending Review process. HM Treasury will work closely with MHCLG to deliver the government’s housing priorities through this process.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 06/06/2019 14:06:44 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

1129040

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to review the adequacy of childcare funding in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	259045
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The government recognizes how important an issue childcare is to families with young children. That is why the UK government will be spending almost £6 billion a year on childcare support in 2019/20 – a record amount. The Welsh government also offers childcare support, on top of that provided by the UK government through the benefits system. Spending decisions beyond 2019/20 will be a matter for the Spending Review.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 06/06/2019 14:08:24 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1129117

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cash Dispensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to invest in technological improvements to the UK's ATM network.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	258979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the Government’s Summary of Responses to the Call for Evidence on Cash and Digital Payments in The New Economy, industry continues to develop a range of ways to safeguard access to cash, from investment in ATMs and cashback from retailers, to shared business banking hubs. The Government supports further industry collaboration to promote innovative ways of managing, accessing and depositing cash. The management and deployment of ATMs is a commercial matter for ATM market participants.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government has invested heavily in maintaining a stable network of Post Office branches, with investment of around £2 billion since 2010. Anyone can use their LINK enabled bank card to take out money for free at the counter of every one of the 11,500 Post Offices in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 06/06/2019 13:16:57 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1129133

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Solar Power: VAT
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will keep VAT to five per cent on new solar panel installations.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
uin	259470
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>To comply with a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Government is required to make changes to the reduced rate of VAT for the installation of certain energy saving materials.</p><p> </p><p>The changes have been made to comply with the ruling, whilst maintaining as much of the relief as possible. The VAT treatment of the vast majority of solar panel installations is expected to be unaffected by the changes.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 06/06/2019 09:34:19 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1129193

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Mortgages: Interest Rates
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to enable mortgage customers who were trapped when their mortgages were sold to vulture funds to take advantage of lower interest rates; and if he will launch an inquiry.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	259027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>The Treasury recognises that mortgage prisoners can be in a difficult and sometimes stressful situation. However, the servicer of these mortgages must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means that customers are protected by the FCA’s principle of Treating Customers Fairly; their Mortgage Conduct of Business rules; and customers have recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service.</p><p> </p><p>The Treasury has also worked closely with the FCA to consider how to remove the regulatory barriers that might prevent some customers from accessing better deals.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA are now consulting on changes that will move the required affordability assessment from an absolute test to a relative one. This will enable lenders to more easily accept switching consumers, providing they are up-to-date with repayments and are not borrowing more.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA consultation closes on 26 June 2019.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 06/06/2019 13:14:54 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1129706

registered interest
date	04/06/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Railways: Franchises
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what role his Department has in assessing the awarding of rail franchise tenders.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	259990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>HM Treasury approval is sought at interim stages of rail franchise competitions to provide the necessary assurances that any award remains affordable and value for money.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 06/06/2019 14:12:31 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1128878

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Bus Services: Staffordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing government support to subsidise bus services in Staffordshire.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	259033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>£250m of Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) payments have been made to bus companies and local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Bus operators in Staffordshire were paid a total of £1,016,186 BSOG in 2018-19 to help meet some of their fuel costs in running local bus services.</p><p> </p><p>Staffordshire County Council received a total of £174,967 in BSOG during 2018-19 to support subsidised local bus services.</p><p> </p><p>BSOG spend figures are published on Gov.uk and can be found via this link <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-services-grants-and-funding#bsog-spend</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government will consider whether to make any changes to BSOG as part of the forthcoming spending review.</p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 06/06/2019 09:56:01 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1128893

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Overcrowding
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to allocate additional funding to the railways to reduce the level of overcrowding on train services.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	259410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2019 answer text <p>More than 4,000 extra weekly services have been added to the network nationally in the last two years, with over 2,000 further services due to be added in the next few years. In addition, as part of a significant investment by Government and train operators to transform the railways, over 7,800 new railway carriages have been ordered since 2010; out of these, 4,500 new carriages will be introduced by the end of 2022, benefitting passengers across the country.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also agreed a Network Rail settlement for England and Wales of £47.9bn for Control Period 6, aimed at maintaining and renewing the railway to enable existing and future services to run reliably.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harrogate and Knaresborough answering member printed Andrew Jones grouped question UIN 259411 question first answered 06/06/2019 13:24:09 answering member 3996 label Biography information for Andrew Jones
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan