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1167386

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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, with reference to the Written Statement of 5 March 2019, Health and Disability Announcement, HCWS1376, what progress her Department has made on undertaking a review of the commitment to get more disabled people into work.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	7629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>We set out our continued commitment to improving employment rates for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions in Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability. The goal is to see an increase in the number of disabled people in work from 3.5 million in Q1 2017 to 4.5 million in Q1 2027. In the first two years of the goal (Q1 2017 to Q1 2019), the number of disabled people in employment increased by 404,000. We welcome the continuing positive trends, and remain committed to unlocking the potential of all disabled people searching for work. We still have a significant way to go before achieving the goal.</p><p> </p><p>No single measure can capture everything that we want to achieve and we will continue to monitor improvements in the employment rate gap and other measures alongside the goal.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/11/2019 13:42:46 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1156175

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensioners: Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 282280, what proportion of claimants transferring from disability living allowance who were over 65 on the date of their application for personal independence payment have (a) requested a mandatory reconsideration and (b) appealed to a tribunal.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4976
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>On 12<sup>th</sup> September 2019 the Department published new experimental statistics tracking initial decisions following a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment through to Mandatory Reconsiderations (MR) or appeals, available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2019</a></p><p> </p><p>Based on these new experimental statistics, 24% of claimants transferring from Disability Living Allowance who were over 65 on the date of their application for PIP have requested an MR and 11% have lodged an appeal, after an initial decision following a PIP assessment.</p><p> </p><p>These figures cover initial decisions following a PIP assessment since PIP was introduced up to March 2019, and for MRs and appeals to June 2019. They do not include decisions, MRs and appeals relating to decisions prior to an assessment being completed (disallowances due to failure of basic eligibility criteria or non-return of the Part 2 form within the time limit and have not been marked as requiring additional support, or disallowances following the claimant failing to attend the assessment without good reason).</p><p> </p><p>PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants.</p><p> </p><p>MR and appeal figures include those awarded PIP at initial decision as well as those disallowed.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to MR or appeal.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/10/2019 14:32:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1156177

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 281695, how many people over 65 claiming disability living allowance have not yet been advised by her Department to apply for personal independence payment.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	4977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>The specific information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/10/2019 14:35:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1151076

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2019
	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: Suicide
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 30 September 2019 to Question 290669 on Social Security Benefits: Suicide, if she will place in the Library a copy of the note setting out the (a) (i) reasons and (ii) justifications for that response and (b) full costs of answering that Question.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	2695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2019 answer text <p>The answer of the 30<sup>th</sup> September to Question 290669 had no separate note, however, in the interests of transparency for information and ease of reference, I can advise that the following points were considered in providing the previous answer:</p><p> </p><p>There is no requirement for a coroner to inform the Department of the outcome of an inquest unless it specifically relates to the Department, for example Reg. 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report. There was no corporate memory for Coroners cases prior to the Coroners Focal Point being set up in 2016. Despite the existence of the Focal Point, we know that Coroners interact with areas of the Department without liaising with the Focal Point nor Legal Services.</p><p> </p><p>When submitting evidence to Inquests, the Department would not necessarily know the inquest related to a suicide as cause is not established at that point.</p><p> </p><p>There is no requirement for Coroners to advise the department of findings of suicide. Communication from Coroners can enter the Department at multiple points. There is therefore no robust central record of these contacts. To establish that we are certain we have all information to answer such questions would require a broad spectrum query to be sent out to the business. Answering the question would require us to contact the multiple possible entry points through which a Coroner can contact the Department. Conduct a thorough search. Collate the information and provide the answer within the limited time allowed by a named day question. This is not possible within the costs laid out in Parliamentary guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The Department takes the welfare of vulnerable clients seriously and where the department is made aware of a suicide of a customer a review is undertaken. This process is being updated and strengthened to further improve how we identify, review and learn from serious cases, including those involving suicide.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/10/2019 15:15:15 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1150147

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	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: Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 13 September 2018 to Question 171307, what steps her Department takes to monitor the personal wellbeing of claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The services provided by the Department are designed to make a positive difference to citizen’s life circumstances, through helping more people into work, simplifying the benefits systems, providing support to disabled people and providing security in later life.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has over 100m transactions with customers each year. We do not record well-being measures against each of these transactions, however our case managers are trained to take action in the case of customers discussing suicide or self-harm, alongside being able to signpost customers to additional support such as bereavement assistance where appropriate.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 22/10/2019 13:14:42 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1151485

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her predecessor's speech to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation on 9 May 2019, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce the maximum length of financial sanctions for welfare claimants from three years to six months, (b) improve access to the labour market for underrepresented groups, (c) double membership to the Disability Confident scheme and (d) consult on reforming statutory sick pay.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	3706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>In respect of (a) `reduce the maximum length of financial sanctions for welfare claimants from three years to six months,` we laid legislation to reduce the maximum length of higher-level sanctions from three years to six months on 16 October 2019. We are now working to update communications and Learning and Development products ahead of the legislation coming into force on 27 November 2019.</p><p>In respect of (b) `improve access to the labour market for underrepresented groups:`</p><p> </p><ul><li>We are committed to ensuring that everyone - irrespective of their gender - is able to enter work, progress in work and realise financial security. We are making Universal Credit work better for women, including building the capability of Work Coaches and supporting women in low-paid employment or multiple jobs to increase their earnings. We are also supporting women on Universal Credit to progress from low paying jobs, through a programme of research and trials into the barriers they face and into what works to tackle those barriers.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>To improve access to the labour market for ethnic minorities<strong>, </strong>we are providing targeted employment support in 20 areas across Great Britain with high levels of ethnic minority unemployment. In these areas, Jobcentre Plus works with employers and local authorities, wider public services and the voluntary sector to overcome barriers to employment faced by different ethnic groups. Lessons learned are shared across the wider Jobcentre Plus network.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>To support older people in remaining and returning to work, we abolished the default retirement age and extended the right to request flexible working.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In 2017, we published the Fuller Working Lives Strategy, which aims to increase the retention, retraining and recruitment of older workers, by bringing about a change in the perceptions &amp; attitudes of employers, and by challenging the views of working in later life and retirement amongst individuals. We also appointed the Business Champion for Older Workers to spearhead our work to support employers to retain, retrain and recruit older workers.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>In respect of people with disabilities, The Work and Heath Programme (WHP), which is working with local providers to offer co-ordinated support to those with multiple employment barriers, will help 275,000 people over 5 years, including 220,000 disabled people.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Other DWP initiatives include Intensive Personalised Employment Support Programme (IPES) due to launch before the end of 2019, Access to Work and Disability Confident. In addition, our Jobcentres offer tailored support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers, backed by the Personal Support Package which is a 4 year, £330 million package of employment support targeted at claimants with disabilities and health conditions.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In respect of those at a disadvantage in the labour market, five DWP locally funded innovation pilots were launched between February and June 2018, aimed at providing tailored support to tackle long term barriers to work and in-work progression for those on low pay.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In respect of (c) `double membership to the Disability Confident scheme:` We are actively working with internal and external stakeholders, including the high profile Business Leaders Group, other representatives of Business and Jobcentre Plus, to promote the Disability Confident scheme and encourage employer sign up. As of 13th September 2019, the latest published figures show that 13,600 employers had signed up to the scheme and that number is growing week by week.</p><p> </p><p>In respect of (d) ‘consult on reforming statutory sick pay,’ we published the consultation `health is everyone’s business` in mid-July and it closed on 7 October. We have received a good response from a range of stakeholders and we are currently reviewing the detailed responses to inform decisions on next steps.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/10/2019 15:52:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1149239

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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	Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who will sit on her Department's new independent Serious Case panel.
	tabling member constituency	Battersea
	tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
	uin	657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>A combination of independent experts and Directors from the Department will sit on the new Serious Case Panel. To get the balance right the Department will work with stakeholders as the Panel is developed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/10/2019 16:22:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1148810

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to reduce the maximum travel times for claimants of Personal Independence Payment which are set out in the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Service – Service Requirement document of May 2012; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	187
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2019 answer text <p>The department has set clear requirements in terms of geography and travel time to a PIP assessment and continues to ensure assessment providers adhere to this requirement. There are no current plans to reduce the existing travel time of 90 minutes by public transport though best endeavours are taken to schedule assessment appointments in centres near to a claimant. This limit of 90 minutes is an absolute maximum and the department expects that only a small minority of claimants will have to make a journey of this duration. New assessment centres have opened, and continue to open, to ensure the needs of claimants are met.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 186 question first answered 18/10/2019 11:31:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1148774

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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, whether she plans to permit Universal Credit claimants to backdate a claim due to ill health in circumstances where medical evidence is provided by a GP.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	168
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit claims may be backdated, by up to one calendar month, in some circumstances for vulnerable claimants who may be delayed in claiming Universal Credit through no fault of their own. More specifically, in cases where medical evidence satisfies the Department that a claimant had an illness that prevented them from making a claim sooner, Universal Credit can be awarded from an earlier date.</p><p> </p><p>In order to provide the best possible support to our claimants it is important that the Department are able to engage with claimants at the earliest possible opportunity, whether to support them back into work or to provide other support and guidance. It is therefore important that backdating provisions are used in specific circumstances, and that all claimants are encouraged to contact us at the earliest opportunity.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/10/2019 11:06:26 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1148726

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy that jobcentre staff should inform claimants of universal credit that they should make a claim for new-style employment and support allowance or jobseeker's allowance if they are likely to be eligible for those benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
	tabling member printed	Mark Tami
	uin	43
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department is committed to providing the best possible support for all claimants irrespective of which benefit they are in receipt of, or in the process of claiming.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentre staff undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. All Work Coaches within Jobcentres receive specific training regarding identifying when new style Employment and Support Allowance and new style Jobseekers Allowance are appropriate, and have the knowledge and skills to support claimants throughout the process.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, the Department provides benefit eligibility information to help people make decisions surrounding benefits to which they may be entitled, along with details about how to claim them. This is available through Jobcentre Plus offices and via the GOV.UK website.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 482 question first answered 21/10/2019 14:22:31 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami