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1108819

registered interest
date	01/04/2019
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	Asbestos: Industrial Diseases
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they are making to the announcement by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health that diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos are killing 5,000 people a year and that more than 130 companies or individuals have been ordered to stop work activities over the past year after being found to be non-compliant.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL14926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes the efforts by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to raise awareness of the health risks arising from workplace exposure to asbestos. The announcement by IOSH highlights the need for employers and employees to remain vigilant when undertaking work which may disturb asbestos. The Health and Safety Executive and Local Authority inspectors will continue to take action in cases of non-compliance with the law, as indicated in the IOSH announcement.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/04/2019 16:17:38 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1105833

registered interest
date	28/03/2019
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	Poverty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their commitment to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, what steps they are taking to ensure that people living more than 50 per cent below the poverty line in the UK are not left behind.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stroud
uin	HL14919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to delivering a sustainable long-term solution to poverty, by building a strong economy and ensuring that the benefit system works with the tax system and the labour market, to support employment and higher pay.</p><p>The Government does not publish data on those living more than 50% below the poverty line as comparisons of household income and expenditure suggest that those households reporting the very lowest incomes may not have the lowest living standards, meaning such a measure is likely to be unreliable.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions, through its Jobcentre Plus network and local delivery partners, provides support for vulnerable customers or those with complex needs to address barriers so that they can move forward with their lives.</p><p> </p><p>A report on progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda will be presented to the UN’s High Level Political Forum in July as part of the UK’s Voluntary National Review. The Department for Work and Pensions is leading work across Government to assess progress against the first of these goals: ‘End poverty in all its forms everywhere’.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/04/2019 16:27:51 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4546 label Biography information for Baroness Stroud

1105359

registered interest
date	26/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many families are subject to the benefit cap.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL14822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>Households can have their benefits capped either under Housing Benefit, or under Universal Credit, and the latest statistics were published in February 2019, covering households capped to November 2018.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Point-in-time caseload: Number of households capped by family type at November 2018, GB</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>Single, no child dependant</p></td><td><p>Single, with child dependant(s)</p></td><td><p>Couple, no child dependant</p></td><td><p>Couple, with child dependant(s)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Housing Benefit</strong></p></td><td><p>52,650</p></td><td><p>3,540</p></td><td><p>38,850</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>10,210</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Universal Credit</strong></p></td><td><p>9,810</p></td><td><p>1,600</p></td><td><p>5,920</p></td><td><p>..</p></td><td><p>2,290</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Data Sources:</strong> DWP 100% Single Housing Benefit Extract and DWP Universal Credit Official Statistics Database</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table Notes:</strong></p><ol><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers less than 10 have been replaced with '..'</li><li>Figures include households that have had their Housing Benefit or Universal Credit full service capped. Universal Credit full service is available to all claimant types but only in certain areas of the country at November 2018.</li><li>Figures for Universal Credit may be revised in future publications, as Universal Credit awards may be retrospectively revised.</li></ol><p> </p><p>The Housing Benefit caseload data is taken from DWP Stat-Xplore, whilst the Universal Credit caseload data is taken from the official statistics caseload tables, published on 7th Feb 2019.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/04/2019 16:01:20 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1105360

registered interest
date	26/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of households subject to the benefit cap that have moved into work in comparison with the number of households that have moved into work that are not subject to that cap.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL14823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department published its evaluation of the original benefit cap levels “Benefit cap: Analysis of Outcomes of capped claimants” in December 2014. From the findings the Government estimated that capped households were 4.7 percentage points (41%) more likely to flow into work after a year compared to similar uncapped households.</p><p> </p><p>Households working more than 16 hours a week and eligible for working tax credits or entitled to Universal Credit and earning at least £542 (£569 from April 2019) a month are exempt from the benefit cap.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics published on 7 February 2019 show that in November 2018, out of a total of 196,840 capped Housing Benefit awards since May 2013, 55,360 were no longer capped because they had moved into work. In addition, out of a total of 19,660 Universal Credit awards capped since October 2016, 2,420 were no longer capped because they had earnings above the earnings threshold (currently £542). These figures will include some households that would have moved into work in the absence of the cap.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 02/04/2019 16:28:37 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1104645

registered interest
date	25/03/2019
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: Social Security Benefits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued, or intend to issue, to advise mixed age couples to claim (1) pension credit, and (2) pension age housing benefit before 15 May.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL14770
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government announced on 14 January that the mixed age couple policy change legislated for in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 will come into force on 15 May, following the roll out of Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Information was placed on GOV.UK regarding the change and how people could be affected for the purposes of claiming Pension Credit and Housing Benefit for pensioners. This sets out that mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners at the point of change will not be affected for as long as they remain entitled to either benefit. It also makes clear that mixed age couples who would be eligible for either benefit on 14 May but who have not yet claimed will have until 13 August to make a backdated claim from that date.</p><p> </p><p>Following the announcement, we are implementing comprehensive plans to raise awareness of the change among people who may be affected. We have written directly to mixed-age couples who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners to ensure they know about the change and how they could be affected if their circumstances change on or after 15 May. The Department has also engaged with a number of relevant organisations, including Age UK, Citizen’s Advice and Local Authority representatives. A factsheet about the change has been provided, to help ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres will be able to provide information and advice, as will staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/04/2019 16:34:12 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1104664

registered interest
date	25/03/2019
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	Arcadia Group: Pensions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to, or met, the Pensions Regulator in the last three months in connection with Arcadia Group.
tabling member printed	Lord Myners
uin	HL14789
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The Pensions Regulator carries out its functions independently. The Department has not made any representations to the Pensions Regulator in relation to the Arcadia Group in the last three months.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 04/04/2019 16:46:09 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	3869 label Biography information for Lord Myners

1092779

registered interest
date	21/03/2019
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the sample size used to inform the design of the benefit cap policy.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL14730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2019 answer text <p>The rationale behind the benefit cap policy is set out in the Impact Assessment, which supported the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. The final update was published in August 2016 and is attached.</p><p> </p><p>DWP and HMRC administrative data was used to inform the design of the benefit cap policy, and sample data was not used.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 03/04/2019 16:07:11 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe attachment 1 file name welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-cap.pdf title Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 Impact Assessment
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1092795

registered interest
date	21/03/2019
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	Housing Benefit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 20 March (HL14427), what guidance they have given to local authorities to assess the amount of housing benefit to which those individuals identified as entitled to income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from incapacity benefit would have been entitled, and on the steps taken to compensate those individuals for any loss.
tabling member printed	Baroness Sherlock
uin	HL14746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2019 answer text <p>As part of the ESA underpayment exercise we are informing local authorities of any new, past awards of income-related ESA in line with our business as usual procedures; including guidance on treatment of awards for past periods. This will support local authorities to consider any possible impacts of the ESA underpayment exercise and pay any arrears of past Housing Benefit that are due.</p><p> </p><p>Our focus is on paying arrears to claimants in line with the primary legislation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 03/04/2019 14:45:47 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock

1092427

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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	World Down Syndrome Day
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark the UN's World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March; and what steps they are taking to ensure that people with Down syndrome have equal opportunities in all aspects of society.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL14684
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK Government marked this year's World Down Syndrome Day by co-sponsoring and participating in a key side event called &quot;Leave no one behind&quot; at the 21<sup>st</sup> Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva. The event's theme was “Ensuring all persons with Down Syndrome can access meaningful employment and an adequate standard of living on a full and equal basis with others.”</p><p> </p><p>The Government is fully committed to its vision - to create a society that works for everyone, where all can participate fully and be included. Therefore, Government Departments have invested in a range of programmes and initiatives to ensure that disabled people including persons with Down Syndrome are not left behind in all aspects of society such as in employment, education, health, housing, transport and sport.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 02/04/2019 15:28:58 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1088578

registered interest
date	13/03/2019
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 Fund: Employment and Support Allowance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for Social Fund payments that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any such missed payments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Sherlock
uin	HL14538
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>It is not possible to provide an estimate of the number of claimants affected, due to differences in the way that these payments are administered and because of the variation in individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>For example, some Social Fund Payments, such as Sure Start Maternity Grant and Funeral Expense Payments, have to be claimed. Some claimants on contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) may not have made a claim to the Social Fund at all, while others may have qualified for Social Fund payments through an entitlement to other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit and Child Tax Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically to those who are entitled and payments may only be made for the most recent winter. However, we are looking at amending the regulations to ensure that those eligible for Cold Weather Payments from December 2017, when we began the ESA underpayment exercise, be paid any arrears that may be due. An estimate of the numbers who may be affected by the change to the regulations could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Baroness Buscombe question first answered 26/03/2019 14:39:44 answering member 3349 label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe
tabling member	4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock