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1013161

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Cooperatives and Social Enterprises
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what resources are available through Jobcentre Plus for people planning to set up social enterprises and co-operatives.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	195033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2018 answer text <p>The New Enterprise Allowance supports people to start their own business or develop their business if they are already self-employed. Businesses may include social enterprises or cooperatives.</p><p> </p><p>Since its launch in April 2011 up to the end of June 2018, there have been over 120,520 businesses set up through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches are also aware of local provision to which they can signpost people as appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 30/11/2018 15:12:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1020622

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the effect of single family payments of universal credit on people who are in violent or coercive relationships.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	199782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>We believe that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention. However, we recognise that there are circumstances in which split payments are appropriate, such as in the case of domestic abuse. Where this is the case, split payments are available on request. Both members of a couple do not need to be present to set up a split payment and consent is not required from the other partner to authorise a split payment. Claimants can request a split payment during a face to face meeting, a phone call, or online via their journal and do not have to provide evidence of abuse in order to be granted a split payment.</p><p> </p><p>Not all individuals who are suffering domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits with their individual circumstances. Work coaches receive training on domestic abuse and we will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, including signposting them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice and support.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 199783 question first answered 12/12/2018 15:50:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1020623

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the ease with which victims of domestic abuse can (a) request and (b) receive split universal credit payments.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	199783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>We believe that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention. However, we recognise that there are circumstances in which split payments are appropriate, such as in the case of domestic abuse. Where this is the case, split payments are available on request. Both members of a couple do not need to be present to set up a split payment and consent is not required from the other partner to authorise a split payment. Claimants can request a split payment during a face to face meeting, a phone call, or online via their journal and do not have to provide evidence of abuse in order to be granted a split payment.</p><p> </p><p>Not all individuals who are suffering domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits with their individual circumstances. Work coaches receive training on domestic abuse and we will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, including signposting them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice and support.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 199782 question first answered 12/12/2018 15:50:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1079344

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2019
	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	Private Rented Housing: Natural Gas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the number of private landlords who do not conduct annual gas safety inspections; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	227044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2019 answer text <p>Landlords are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to maintain their gas installations in a safe condition and to arrange annual safety checks, by Gas Safe registered engineers, of any appliances and flues that they provide for their tenants’ use.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) takes action against landlords who fail to meet this duty in line with the domestic gas events and enforcement advice (<a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/ocs/400-499/440_30.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/ocs/400-499/440_30.htm</a>) and HSE’s enforcement policy statement and enforcement management model (<a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcement.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcement.htm</a>) which is proportionate, targeted, consistent, transparent and accountable.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 07/03/2019 12:38:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1111024

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Carbon Monoxide: Alarms
	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 encourage festivals with glamping accommodation to ensure that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted to those facilities.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	243347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) leads on national occupational health and safety policy for the entertainments and leisure sector, whilst Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing the law at individual events, such as festivals, in their geographical area.</p><p> </p><p>Festival organisers have responsibilities under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety and health of members of the public affected by their business. These responsibilities extend to ensuring that equipment provided for use by those attending festivals is maintained and operated in a safe condition.</p><p> </p><p>Fatalities arising from exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) have occurred due to BBQs being taken into tents for cooking or as a source of heat. Where accommodation is provided, festival organisers are expected to take reasonably practicable measures to prevent these items being used in enclosed areas and raise awareness of the potential dangers.</p><p> </p><p>There is no legal requirement to provide CO alarms in temporary festival accommodation. However, where there is a risk of CO being produced, HSE strongly recommends the use of suitable alarms as a useful precaution.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has published event safety guidance to help event organisers comply with their legal duties (<a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm</a>) and continues to work closely with industry stakeholders to remind them of the risks from CO and the precautions to be taken. The Events Industry Forum also produces a guide, known as the Purple Guide, for the live event industry.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/04/2019 16:12:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1187501

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2020
	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	Self-employed: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on protecting self-employed workers from financial hardship during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	34308
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2020 answer text <p>The Chancellor has announced a Self-Employed Income Support Scheme that will help millions of people across the UK, with those eligible receiving a cash grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profit over the last three years. This covers 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment.</p><p> </p><p>The government has also announced a package of temporary welfare measures to support those on low incomes through the outbreak, including relaxing the Minimum Income Floor for all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. Taken together, these measures provide over £6.5bn of additional support through the welfare system.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/04/2020 15:36:24 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 16489 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188262

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus
	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 covid-19 outbreak, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) temporary workers, (b) people on zero and low hours contracts and (b) people that are self-employed may claim Statutory Sick Pay.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	37441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Gig workers or those on zero-hours contracts may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they meet all eligibility criteria. However, SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer of support.</p><p> </p><p>Many of those earning below £120 per week, who are not eligible for SSP, are already in receipt of benefits. For those on Universal Credit, their award will rise if their income falls.</p><p>Those who are not already in receipt of benefits may claim Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by COVID-19 or who are self-isolating will also be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance which is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 12:19:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188263

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide financial support for low-income households affected by the covid-19 outbreak; and whether her Department has plans to suspend the use of benefit sanctions during that period.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	37442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>DWP took the decision to temporarily suspend both the requirement to attend a face to face appointments and to conduct checks on conditionality compliance with work search for 3 months from 19<sup>th</sup> March 2020. This means no sanctions will be applied for these reasons for the 3 month period, though DWP still encourages people who can work to seek work.</p><p> </p><p>For people that are unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain their Universal Credit claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has been clear in its commitment to support those affected in these difficult times and we have made a number of changes to the welfare system to ensure people are receiving the support they need. These changes include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>making it easier to access benefits. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment. Both Universal Credit and Contributory ESA can now be claimed by phone or online;</li><li>increasing the standard rate of Universal Credit and working tax credit for this year by around £1000 per year;</li><li>temporarily relaxing the application of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 to ensure that the self-employed can access UC at a more generous rate;</li><li>making Statutory Sick Pay available from day 1 – as opposed to day 4 - where an eligible individual is sick or self-isolating; and</li><li>increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers at least 30% of the market rents in an area – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Taken together, these measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system and, along with other job and business support programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in response to the covid-19 outbreak.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We currently have no plans to cancel or suspend pre-existing sanctions. Claimants who were sanctioned before Covid 19 can continue to apply for hardship payments and are no worse off as a result of the pandemic. We continue to review our policies as the situation evolves.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 05/05/2020 10:12:06 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 17549 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188264

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2020
	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: Immigrants
	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 Public Health England's guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of financial support for people with no recourse to public funds to enable them to follow that guidance.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	37443
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Access to DWP income-related benefits such as Universal Credit flows from an individual’s immigration status. The Home Office determine whether persons granted leave to enter or remain in the UK are eligible to access public funds.</p><p>Those unable to access DWP income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit, may be eligible to access DWP contributions-based benefits, providing they meet eligibility criteria.</p><p>Government measures to support workers and their families through Covid-19 are also available for those who meet the eligibility criteria. These include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-employed Income Support Scheme and Statutory Sick Pay.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 15:03:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1192332

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2020
	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	Access to Work Programme: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the operation of the Access to Work programme; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	41895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>Access to Work is continuing to provide support for people with a disability or health condition whether they are working in the workplace or are working from home. Access to Work service delivery teams are deploying available resources in line with the agreed priority areas and responding flexibly to meet customer demand. DWP remains committed to ensuring disabled people continue to receive support they need to move into and maintain employment and has prioritised payments.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, to support disabled people during COVID-19 Access to Work has introduced various measures, these include:</p><ul><li><strong>Prioritising new applications from key workers</strong> and those with jobs starting within the next 4 weeks;</li><li><strong>Extending the timeframe</strong> customers have to submit payment claim forms to <strong>9 months</strong>;</li><li><strong>Accepting </strong>employer and support worker signatures<strong> via email</strong>;</li><li><strong>Extending Support Worker</strong> awards that are coming <strong>to an end by 6 months;</strong></li><li><strong>Adapting </strong>the way our <strong>assessments </strong>are undertaken to support customers who don’t know what support they need and/or where coping strategies are required as part of the Mental Health Support Service.</li><li><strong>Accepting e mail claim forms </strong>from customers who request this as a reasonable adjustment</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/05/2020 14:09:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman