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177931

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what systems are in place to ensure that a previous finding of maladministration against the Child Support Agency does not occur again under the same circumstances.
	tabling member constituency	North East Somerset
	tabling member printed	Jacob Rees-Mogg
	uin	223492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>Where the Child Support Agency (CSA) identifies maladministration it is committed to addressing this through training, education, amending procedures and formal action with the individuals concerned.</p><p> </p><p>The CSA is also subject to scrutiny from a variety of external bodies including the Parliamentary &amp; Health Service Ombudsman, DWP Independent Case Examiner and National Audit Office. These bodies will follow up on their initial reports, to confirm that the maladministration has been put right.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 10/02/2015 14:39:25 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4099 label Biography information for Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

223707

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2015
	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effective delivery of local welfare schemes by English local authorities.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	225365
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>We spoke at length to a number of local authorities last autumn when conducting a review of local welfare schemes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The findings were published, including examples of best practice, on 5<sup>th</sup> November 2014. A copy of the report was sent to all the local authorities that received funding and a copy placed in the House library. It can also be found on the Gov.uk website here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>None of those local authorities we spoke to raised concerns about people being incorrectly referred to local welfare provision support rather than being considered for a Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA). There were some suggestions that this may have happened on occasion when STBAs were first introduced in April 2013, so the department issued revised guidance and instructions to staff at the time. The relevant DWP guidance was also shared with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 225362 225363 question first answered 02/03/2015 12:54:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223709

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2015
	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received about instances of people being sent from Jobcentre Plus to apply to the local welfare scheme instead of being offered a short-term advance of benefits; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	225363
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>We spoke at length to a number of local authorities last autumn when conducting a review of local welfare schemes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The findings were published, including examples of best practice, on 5<sup>th</sup> November 2014. A copy of the report was sent to all the local authorities that received funding and a copy placed in the House library. It can also be found on the Gov.uk website here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>None of those local authorities we spoke to raised concerns about people being incorrectly referred to local welfare provision support rather than being considered for a Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA). There were some suggestions that this may have happened on occasion when STBAs were first introduced in April 2013, so the department issued revised guidance and instructions to staff at the time. The relevant DWP guidance was also shared with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 225362 225365 question first answered 02/03/2015 12:54:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

169048

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that women who have less than the 10 years' National Insurance Contributions required to qualify for a state pension will be informed of their options before introduction of the new state pension.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	217989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>We have launched a multi-channel campaign to help people understand the reforms to the state pension system, as well as actions people may be able to take to increase their State Pension. The campaign is testing the effectiveness of our communications channels and messages for reaching our priority audiences. The campaign has involved press, radio and online advertisements, and an enhanced package of online information at GOV.UK. We have also teamed up with YouTube to launch ‘PensionTube’, an online hub bringing together pensions-related content from the video sharing service, making it easier for people to find information both from the Government and trusted independent sources.</p><p> </p><p>One of the changes we are making is the introduction of the Minimum Qualifying Period, which means that people will normally need to have 10 qualifying years of National Insurance prior to reaching State Pension age in order to receive any State Pension. The introduction of the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme in 1978, the subsequent conversion of those years to qualifying years of National Insurance credits and the replacement of that scheme with credits for parents and carers in 2010 have protected National Insurance records, particularly women’s. National Insurance credits can also be awarded in other circumstances and are for the most part awarded automatically with certain benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Those who still have gaps in their National Insurance record may be able to increase their state pension by making voluntary National Insurance contributions.</p><p> </p><p>The introduction of the Minimum Qualifying Period is expected to affect a small minority of women in the UK. Indeed, by the 2030s, we expect that around 80 per cent of women reaching State Pension age will get the full rate of the new State Pension.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 15/12/2014 13:06:38 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

175334

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2015
	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	Winter Fuel Payment: 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, what the eligibility criteria are for a UK pensioner living in France to receive winter fuel payments.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	221740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2015 answer text <p>This year, all EU residents, with a genuine and sufficient link to the UK, qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if they are born on or before 5 July 1952 and satisfy the conditions of the qualifying week, 15 to 21 September 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Full details of eligibility and how to make a claim for a Winter Fuel Payment is available at GOV.UK</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility</a></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>From the 21 September 2015, Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be payable to individuals in Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Gibraltar, Malta and Cyprus, where the average winter temperature is warmer than the warmest region of the UK.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 27/01/2015 12:29:24 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

222662

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2015
	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	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of increasing the other funeral expenses category of the social fund funeral payments scheme in line with inflation since the level was set at £700 in 2003.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
	uin	224546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2015 answer text <p>There has been no estimate as we do not know what people would have claimed if the limit was higher. However, it is vital that the Government ensures that any scheme funded by the taxpayer is managed properly and the money spent wisely. The funding offered from both Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and Budgeting Loans continues support towards the cost of a funeral, including necessary costs in full, whilst maintaining a fiscally viable fund.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 26/02/2015 14:30:37 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff

168400

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2014
	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	Living Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) his Department's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by his Department who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) white British and (ii) from an ethnic minority background.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	217450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The salaries of all DWP staff are at least the level of the Living Wage</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold comprehensive information for the workforces of all of our contractors.</p><p> </p><p>Telereal Trillium our FM contractor ensures that London based staff are paid the London Living Wage and that the minimum wage is paid elsewhere.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 217429 217471 question first answered 15/12/2014 17:02:38 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

168401

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2014
	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	Living Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of (a) his Department's staff and (b) staff working for companies contracted by his Department who are paid less than the Living Wage are (i) women and (ii) men.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	217471
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>The salaries of all DWP staff are at least the level of the Living Wage</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold comprehensive information for the workforces of all of our contractors.</p><p> </p><p>Telereal Trillium our FM contractor ensures that London based staff are paid the London Living Wage and that the minimum wage is paid elsewhere.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 217429 217450 question first answered 15/12/2014 17:02:38 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

177231

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2015
	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 Money Purchase Schemes
	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 plans to take to ensure that schemes identified by the Independent Project Board as having excessive charges take effective and timely action in response and will be subject to sanctions if they do not do so.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington South
	tabling member printed	David Mowat
	uin	222839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>The recent audit of charges and benefits in legacy pension schemes was undertaken by an Independent Project Board, on which the Department for Work and Pensions was represented.</p><p> </p><p>In their report, published on 17 December 2014, the Board made clear that action must be taken quickly to address high charges.</p><p> </p><p>I have since met with the key providers to discuss their plans to ensure members receive value for money. Whilst the details of these discussions are confidential, a picture is emerging of industry action, with several providers outlining significant steps to address high charges. For example, preparations for the default fund charge cap which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will apply to schemes used for automatic enrolment from April, have already triggered a reduction in charges in many schemes. Moreover, some schemes with relatively higher charges are delivering valuable benefits, such as guaranteed investment returns, which may be better than anything available on the market today, and which it may be in members’ interests to keep.</p><p> </p><p>Both the Government and the Financial Conduct Authority have powers to extend the charge cap to legacy schemes, if this is necessary to protect consumers.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 09/02/2015 14:19:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4080 label Biography information for David Mowat

168734

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2014
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants have had their JSA sanctioned whilst going through the employment and support allowance appeals process.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	217734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. It should be noted that Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is payable whilst a person is appealing against a decision finding them fit for work. However, claimants may choose to claim JSA if they wish.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 11/12/2014 15:44:35 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham