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 question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1507545

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2022
	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	Pay: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications of differential increases in (a) wages and (b) private rent for her Department's policies, in the context of lower growth in wages than private rent since 2016.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	54526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2022 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 13/10/2022 15:02:36 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1471969

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2022
	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: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department is taking steps to support young people with autism into work.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	22428
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2022 answer text <p>Employment support is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to supporting young people with learning disabilities and/or autism move closer to the labour market or into work, and we have a number of initiatives to support people with Autism through Jobcentres across Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP Youth Offer provides intensive support through the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to work, and Youth hubs. Our Work Coaches and Youth Employability Coaches are supported by Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) who offer advice and expertise on how best to help disabled people into work.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has been working with the National Autistic Society to design and develop a service delivery framework for people with Autism. The service delivery framework aims to transform the service available to jobseekers on the autism spectrum. This trial is now complete with all 15 sites having passed their accreditation test. We are considering how best to take the Jobcentre Plus Autism Accreditation forward.</p><p> </p><p>For those learning disabled and autistic people who do find themselves excluded from the workplace, starting this Autumn, DWP will invest £7.2 million in Local Supported Employment services, working with around 20 Local Authorities to enable more social care users with a learning disability and autistic social care users to access the support needed to help them get into work and remain in employment.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, Young people with Autism can access further employment support through Jobcentres including priority access to the Work and Health Programme in England and Wales, for people with health conditions, and Intensive Personalised Employment Support provision across the UK, which provides highly personalised packages of employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions who require specialist support to achieve sustained employment. Access to Work is also available, which is a demand-led discretionary grant scheme that provides funding for the extra disability-related costs people have when starting work or maintaining employment.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, Supported Internships are aimed at young people with a learning disability or autism who have an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan. Supported internships usually last for 12 months and provide support from a specialist job coach. Whilst the Department for Education lead on this in England, the Department for Work and Pensions provides support through Access to Work where needed.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 29/06/2022 14:24:39 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1440728

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2022
	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	Biocidal Products
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Government department or agency is responsible for overseeing the correct use of biocides in (a) all settings and (b) hospital settings.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	139360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2022 answer text <p>There is a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place in Great Britain to protect workers from health risks associated with exposure to all hazardous substances (including biocides) in the workplace through the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, which are owned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).</p><p> </p><p>The COSHH Regulations 2002 (as amended) apply to all work-related use of biocides including in hospitals and all other health and social care settings.</p><p> </p><p>The use of biocides in Great Britain in all settings, including hospitals and other areas of social care, is regulated mainly by HSE. Local Authorities regulate their use in residential care homes.</p><p> </p><p>HSE provides guidance on who regulates health and safety legislation at a particular workplace on its webpages ‘<a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/authority.htm" target="_blank">Is HSE the correct enforcing authority for you?</a>’. Guidance is also provided on HSE’s <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/using.htm" target="_blank">website</a> for users who are expected to have received appropriate information, instruction and training in the use of biocides.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive North Ireland (HSENI) is responsible for regulating the use of biocides in Northern Ireland under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and can provide more detail, including how the Northern Ireland Protocol may affect their regulatory framework.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 22/03/2022 16:52:31 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

793054

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2017
	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	Bereavement Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department offers for people in the work-place who have suffered a bereavement; and if he will make a statement..
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	114839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Bereavement Support Payment provides short-term financial support to people of working age whose deceased spouse or civil partner had paid sufficient National Insurance contributions. It focuses support on the 18 month period after the death of a spouse or civil partner in order to help with the immediate costs of bereavement.</p><p> </p><p>Bereavement Support Payment consists of an initial payment and up to 18 monthly instalments payable to the surviving spouse or civil partner. Recipients with children can receive an initial payment of £3,500 and monthly payments of £350, whilst those without can receive an initial payment of £2,500 and monthly instalments of £100. It is not taxable and is paid on top of any income-related benefits the household receives thus not disadvantaging low income families. It can be paid regardless of whether the surviving spouse or civil partner is in work.</p><p> </p><p>Those in receipt of a means-tested benefit or tax credits may qualify for a Funeral Expenses Payment if they are responsible for arranging a funeral. Funeral Expenses Payments provide help towards the cost of a simple respectful funeral. They cover specified necessary costs, for example burial or cremation fees, plus a contribution of up to £700 towards other costs such as funeral directors fees.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/11/2017 16:53:21 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

604956

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2016
	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	Universal Credit: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of universal credit in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	49111
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2016 answer text <p>We are in regular discussions with Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities teams. This includes sharing lessons learnt to support the introduction of Universal Credit. Officials from Northern Ireland also attend programme governance meetings, including the Programme Board.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 24/10/2016 15:43:11 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1386550

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2021
	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: Fraud
	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 tackle benefits fraud.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	90416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2021 answer text <p>The Department takes fraud against the benefits system very seriously and has taken huge steps to reduce and minimise fraud and error, including during the last 18 months, at a time where the Department processed an additional 3 million new Universal Credit claims. In the last 18 months we have:</p><ul><li>Expanded our Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service that coordinate the detection of, and response to, fraud risk from organised crime groups seeking to exploit the benefit system.</li><li>Invested £44m into the Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service to expand the pre-payment ‘risking’ techniques and maintain the new Enhanced Checking Service for high risk claims.</li><li>Revisited over 900,000 high risk claims paid during the early period of Covid-19, generating potentially £400m in savings.</li></ul><ul><li>Announced £510m investment this month to support a number of new initiatives over the next three years. This will facilitate a targeted review of Universal Credit claims, the development of a new Debt Enforcement Function and further recruitment into the Counter Fraud and Compliance and Debt Directorate so that we can continue to respond quickly and effectively to threats. This includes funding for around 2,000 trained specialists to identify and stop scammers.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We regularly liaise with Northern Ireland counterparts on both a case specific basis and on wider fraud and error issues.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 17/12/2021 14:05:23 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1437380

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2022
	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	Housing Benefit: Overpayments
	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 level of overpayment of housing benefit in each year since 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	133186
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>Statistics on Housing Benefit fraud volumes and incorrectly overpaid benefits are published 6 monthly.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/housing-benefit-recoveries-and-fraud-data" target="_blank">Housing Benefit: debt recoveries and fraud data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p>These figures are based on data from Local Authorities.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 07/03/2022 17:55:42 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1436470

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2022
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what fiscal steps she is taking to tackle levels of child poverty in (a) families with three or more children and (b) other families in response to rising costs of living.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	131180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2022 answer text <p>This Government is committed to reducing child poverty and supporting all low-income families, and believes work is the best route out of poverty. Our approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of parental employment - particularly where it is full-time – in substantially reducing the risks of child poverty and in improving long-term outcomes for families and children. In 2019/20, children in households where all adults were in work were around six times less likely to be in absolute poverty (before housing costs) than children in a household where nobody works.</p><p> </p><p>Our multi-billion-pound Plan for Jobs, which has been expanded by £500 million, and the new 'Way to Work’ campaign is a national drive to get half a million people who are out of work into jobs in the next four months.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is providing £12 billion of support to ease cost of living pressures, including help for working families, low-income households and the most vulnerable. We are increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 an hour, cutting the Universal Credit taper rate and increasing the Work Allowance to make sure work pays, freezing fuel duties to keep costs down, and providing targeted support to help households with their energy bills. A further £9 billion has been announced to protect against the impact of rising global energy prices.</p><p> </p><p>To support low income families further, we have increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers to £4.25, helping eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins. We are also investing over £200m a year to continue our Holiday Activities and Food programme which is already providing enriching activities and healthy meals to children in all English Local Authorities.</p><p /> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 09/03/2022 11:00:15 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1405150

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2022
	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	Cost of Living
	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 support families who are not entitled to tax credits and whose wages have not risen to manage (a) energy costs and (b) the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	109227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>The UK has a strong welfare safety net that supports people whether they are in or out of work through Universal Credit and the legacy benefits it is replacing including tax credits, Employment and Support Allowance and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. In 2021/22, DWP will spend around £110bn on welfare benefits for people of working age.</p><p> </p><p>As our economic recovery continues and with around 1.25 million vacancies across the UK there are many further opportunities for people to move into and progress in work and increase their earnings. Building on our Plan for Jobs, we launched ‘Way to Work on 27 January, a new campaign to help more people into work by matching jobseekers to the thousands of jobs available across the country.</p><p> </p><p>We understand the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. We are providing support worth around £12bn this financial year and the next, to help families - changing the Universal Credit taper and work allowance which means, nearly two million households will keep, on average, £1000 a year, freezing fuel duties to keep costs down, and providing targeted support to help households with their energy bills.</p><p> </p><p>For the lowest earners we are further increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 from April 2022, meaning a full-time worker on the National Living Wage will see their annual earnings rise by over £1,000; we have set a target for the National Living Wage to reach two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, provided economic conditions allow.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some people require extra support over the winter, which is why vulnerable households across the country can access the £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund provides £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula applies in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive)</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 31/01/2022 17:52:26 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

177609

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2015
	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	Translation Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce translation and interpretation costs in benefit offices.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	223193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>From April 2014, DWP has not offered Interpreters as a matter of routine to new Jobseeker Allowance (JSA) claimants. There is an expectation that all new JSA claimants will have a level of English which enables them to compete and be successful in the UK labour market. JSA claimants are encouraged to use friends and family as interpreters if this is appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 10/02/2015 15:30:19 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon