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100915

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2014
	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	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will initiate a review of the operation of the shared accommodation rate.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	221887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Department has no plans to review the way the Shared Accommodation Rates are calculated. The Rent Officer Services set the rates in line with the current DWP policy for uprating Local Housing Allowance and with reference to evidence of achieved rents in the local area.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014/15, 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates have been increased by 4% in those areas where there is the greatest divergence between LHA rates and local rents.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 30/10/2014 15:58:12 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

166448

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2014
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to increase awareness among pensioners of the benefits for which they are eligible.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	216051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2014 answer text <p>Four months before people reach State Pension age, the Department writes, inviting them to claim their State Pension. An information leaflet about the State Pension is enclosed with that letter; it provides details of how to claim Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The easiest way for customers to claim Pension Credit is by telephone removing the need to complete lengthy application forms; they can also claim Housing Benefit at the same time, and are advised of Pension Credit when they claim their State Pension.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>DWP has also introduced a web-based Pension Credit toolkit at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>Its purpose is to provide customer representative organisations with all the information needed in order to talk to pensioners about Pension Credit and other benefits they may be entitled to such as Attendance Allowance. In partnership with Age UK, local authorities and other groups, a structured campaign was undertaken to create awareness of the Toolkit amongst those who support our customers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 01/12/2014 12:48:04 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

622723

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2016
	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, what steps his Department is taking to ensure parity of treatment for people with physical and mental health issues when applying for benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	50730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2016 answer text <p>DWP is totally committed to delivering good quality services that are accessible to all customers. We offer services through face to face, telephone and a range of digital channels, ensuring that the needs of all customer groups are considered. All DWP digital services meet Government accessibility standards and have assisted digital plans in place to support customers that need help to apply for benefits online. A Ministerial Taskforce of disability organisations meets several times a year to advise and support DWP in making customer information and contact more accessible and understandable. We have recently amended the “how to claim” pages for all benefits on GOV.UK, to make it clearer how disabled customers can request information in alternative formats. DWP is also trialling Video Relay Service and Next Generation Text Services for Deaf and hard of hearing customers so they receive as good a service from telephony agents as non-disabled customers. Specialist services are available for relevant groups and training is given to colleagues to identify and support customers with mental health conditions and learning difficulties.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 04/11/2016 14:04:16 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

1041466

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2019
	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	Escape Rooms: Safety
	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 safety of escape rooms in the UK following deaths in a Polish escape room on 6 January 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	208427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The enforcement of health and safety law in most leisure facilities, including escape rooms, is carried out by Local Authorities. Responsibility for assessing and managing health and safety risks in any business rests with the operator of the business and not the enforcement authority. Enforcement of fire safety legislation in escape rooms is a matter for the local fire and rescue service for that area.</p><p> </p><p>The general duty to ensure the safety of members of the public in Great Britain is set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the specific requirement to assess and control risk is contained in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Fire safety responsibilities are contained within The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales. In Scotland this is Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulation 2006. Businesses that comply with the relevant legislation will be doing enough to ensure the safety of participants.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/01/2019 15:34:19 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127548

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the timeframe for fixing problems with GOV.UK Verify in respect of universal credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Design and delivery of the GOV.UK Verify platform is the responsibility of the Government Digital Service (GDS) and its partners. The Department for Work and Pensions, along with other government departments is a user of this service, and provides feedback to GDS about its operation, recognising that people wanting to claim Universal Credit, or check their State Pension, can choose to use it to confirm their identity. The Department has no access to this information and claimants have direct contact with identity providers (also called ‘certified companies’).</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to consider options to provide the easiest and most secure digital services for our claimants.</p><p /><p>There are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2019 11:54:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127549

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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, if she will change the rules on universal credit joint applications to enable couples to verify their ID in person at separate times.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>At present, there are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: online using the gov.uk verify service; in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p><p> </p><p>If an appointment is needed to verify a claimant’s ID in person, both members of a “couple claim” are not required to attend at the same time. The current process is that separate appointments will be arranged for each partner, at a time that is convenient for them.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2019 12:04:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1404580

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2022
	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 and Support Allowance: Devon
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in (a) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, (b) Plymouth Moor View and (c) South West Devon constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	107721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 19<sup>th</sup> January to question number <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-14/104377" target="_blank">104377</a>.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 21/01/2022 12:22:05 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433697

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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: Pain
	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 revise the guidance for personal independence payment assessments relating to chronic pain following the updated guidance from NICE in relation to the prescribing of medication to manage these conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2022 answer text <p>Entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is assessed based on the daily living and mobility needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not issue specific guidance to PIP assessors on chronic pain conditions or their management. However, the PIP Assessment Guide (PIPAG) contains guidance for Health Professionals (HP) carrying out PIP assessments, including how pain and medication such as painkillers should be considered. The PIPAG is regularly updated to ensure guidance for HPs remains relevant and accurate.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 28/02/2022 15:30:41 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433698

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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: Pain
	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 personal independence payments where chronic pain is the primary health condition are (a) refused at the initial application stage and (b) overturned at the mandatory reconsideration stage or appeal stage.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2022 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The table below provides information on initial decisions, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals following a Personal Independence Payment assessment where the primary condition has been determined as chronic pain. Chronic pain has been taken as anyone listed in the chronic pain syndromes subgroup (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and chronic pain syndromes– other), non-specific back pain and specific back pain. The proportion of these figures as a percentage of initial decisions is also included.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Initial decisions</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Disallowed at initial decision</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Changed at reconsideration or appeal after being disallowed at initial decision</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>515,520</p></td><td><p>168,130 (33%)</p></td><td><p>33,050 (6%)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ul><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</li><li>Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.</li><li>These figures include initial decisions following assessment for PIP New Claims and Reassessments from the start of the benefit in April 2013 up to 30th June 2021, the latest date for which published data is available.</li><li>These figures cover mandatory reconsideration and appeal decisions at a tribunal hearing up to 31st September 2021.</li><li>Decisions that were changed at mandatory reconsideration that were further changed at appeal have only been counted once.</li><li>A change at appeal includes those that were overturned and those that were lapsed.</li><li>A lapsed appeal is where DWP changed the decision in the customer’s favour after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at a tribunal hearing.</li></ul> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 01/03/2022 15:12:10 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433699

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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: Pain
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to assess the suitability of the personal independence payment assessment criteria for people with chronic pain.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>PIP is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise from needs related to a long-term health condition or disability, such as a chronic pain condition. Entitlement is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from the health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently over 151,000 people in receipt of PIP whose primary disabling condition is a chronic pain condition.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 23/02/2022 16:55:56 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard