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1109134

registered interest
date	02/04/2019
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons her Department does not undertake a single capability for work assessment for benefit claimants instead of multiple assessments when claimants are applying for more than one benefit.
tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
uin	240012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to assessing people with health conditions and disabilities fairly and accurately, helping people to access the right support.</p><p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Universal Credit (UC) are paid for different purposes with different assessment criteria. PIP is designed to help people with long-term health conditions or disabilities to live independently, whereas ESA/UC is to support people with health conditions or disabilities who are not able to work, and support them towards work where possible. Therefore, we have separate assessments in place, but only the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in ESA/UC is used to assess capability for work.</p><p>The Secretary of State recently announced our intention to test the feasibility of using a single assessment to determine eligibility for ESA/UC and PIP where claims have been made for both benefits. We want to establish if its introduction would improve the customer experience and to ensure it delivers high quality, accurate outcomes.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/04/2019 15:53:11 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

1109157

registered interest
date	02/04/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
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 make it her policy to revise the ESA65B letter to GPs to make it clear that a patient may appeal a fit for work decision made through a work capability assessment and a fit note is needed for the patient to obtain employment and support allowance payments until the appeal is heard.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	239928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department is updating the current ESA65B letter, with input from medical organisations, to clarify when a fit note should be provided for Employment and Support Allowance purposes.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/04/2019 16:02:24 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1109161

registered interest
date	02/04/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which bodies record how many ESA65B letters have been sent to GPs in (a) the Brighton and Hove area (b) other areas since the wording of that letter was revised; and if he will take steps to obtain and publish that information.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	239929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not hold information on the number of ESA65B letters sent to GPs.</p><p>The ESA65B letter is normally automatically issued to GPs by the Department’s IT system in every case where an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimant has been found ‘fit for work’ following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).</p><p>If a claimant states that they do not agree to information about the determination of their WCA being shared with their GP, the claim will be maintained clerically and the papers noted that the letter is not to be issued.</p><p>The latest ESA statistics, which show the number of claimants found fit for work, can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/04/2019 16:18:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1109219

registered interest
date	02/04/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
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 effectiveness of her Department ensuring that (a) work capability and (b) personal independence payment assessments are undertaken by suitably qualified staff.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	240107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>Health Professionals that carry out Work Capability and Personal Independence Payment assessments on behalf of the department must have the following qualifications and experience:</p><p> </p><p>• are an occupational therapist, nurse (level 1), physiotherapist, doctor or (paramedic - PIP only)</p><p>• fully registered with the relevant licensing body (doctors must have a licence to practise)</p><p>• the licensing body has not placed restrictions on the health professional's registration</p><p>• at least 2 years post full registration experience.</p><p> </p><p>Health Professionals are subject to a rigorous recruitment process followed by a comprehensive training programme in disability assessment for both physical and mental health conditions and have to be approved by the department. Health Professionals are then required to complete a programme of continuing professional development.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/04/2019 11:05:11 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1108704

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	Occupational Health: Construction
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 merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that construction companies of all sizes provide at least one employee with occupational health awareness training.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	239294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>All employers, including construction companies, are already required through existing legislation to ensure employees have appropriate occupational health related training. Employers have a general duty to provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, appropriate information, instruction and training as necessary to ensure the health of their employees. This training must be relevant, proportionate and effective so that employees are aware of the health hazards they face and the measures in place to control the risks arising from them. <br></p><p>This training can be undertaken in several ways, including via an existing national construction industry training framework. The Health and Safety Executive provides further information on training to assist employers in complying with their legal duties: <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/delivering/do/organising/training.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/managing/delivering/do/organising/training.htm</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/04/2019 14:38:26 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1108715

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	Working Links
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March to Question 235318 on Working Links, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the process of awarding the (a) Work Programme Leavers and (b) Links to Work contracts Working Links (Employment) Ltd.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	239224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department has taken part (a) of the question to be in relation to The Work Programme provision let in 2011, there is no Work Programme Leavers programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has taken part (b) of the question to be in relation to the ESF Links to Work Provision let in 2016.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department complies with Public Procurement rules and Procurement Regulations in all sourcing activity. Internal governance, departmental assessment against Government Commercial Office Standards and Internal Audit reports monitor compliance.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 12:57:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1108716

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	Working Links
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March 2019 to Question 235320 on Working Links, over what period her Department’s Employment Category team carried out the due diligence process on Fedcap Employment.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	239225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The DWP Employment Category team undertook initial due diligence on the Fedcap Group in August 2018 when Fedcap first entered the UK market. Since then they have kept that due diligence up to date and impacted the changes arising from the Working Links takeover in February 2019.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 13:04:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1108717

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	Working Links
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 March 2019 to Question 235321 on Working Links, if she will introduce financial safeguards to protect the viability of the Community and Voluntary Sector in the event of a Department contractor collapsing with money owing to sub-contractors.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	239226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The Administrator has statutory duties and obligations in relation to the management of a company and its property/assets during the period of any administration – these are covered by the Insolvency Act 1986. Any appropriate safeguards or commercial changes which DWP introduces will be subject to the normal application of insolvency law and procedure. DWP will seek to learn lessons as a result of the Working Links administration, and will implement appropriate commercial changes where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 13:07:48 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1108718

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	Working Links
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at the time of Working Links (Employment) Ltd's collapse what contacts they held with her Department; what the total value was of each of those contracts; and how much her Department had paid to Working Links (Employment) Ltd in relation to each of those contracts.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	239227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>Working links held 3 Work Programme contracts, 5 Work Choice contracts, 6 European Social Fund contracts and were on the low value Dynamic Purchasing System.</p><p> </p><p>Work Programme and Work Choice were in exit mode, following cessation of referrals in March 2017 and November 2018 respectively, at the point of administration.</p><p> </p><p>Copies of the contract and contract values are accessible on the following site. <a href="https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search" target="_blank">https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search</a></p><p> </p><p>In accordance with the Government transparency commitment I can confirm that the DWP publishes a list of all financial transactions over £500 and £25,000</p><p> </p><p>For spend over £25,000 follow the below link:-</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://data.gov.uk/dataset/ccdc397a-3984-453b-a9d7-e285074bba4d/spend-over-25-000-in-the-department-for-work-and-pensions" target="_blank">https://data.gov.uk/dataset/ccdc397a-3984-453b-a9d7-e285074bba4d/spend-over-25-000-in-the-department-for-work-and-pensions</a></p><p> </p><p>Explanatory notes on your findings on spend over £25000 can be found by following the below link:-</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-monthly-payments-explanatory-notes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-monthly-payments-explanatory-notes</a></p><p> </p><p>For spend over £500 follow the below link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/what-dwp-spends" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/what-dwp-spends</a></p><p> </p><p>Explanatory notes on your findings on spend over £500 can be found by following the below link:-</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-government-procurement-card-monthly-payments-explanatory-notes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-government-procurement-card-monthly-payments-explanatory-notes</a></p><p> </p><p>Departmental contracts held by Working Links were on a payment by results basis and, therefore, actual spend will not align to the contract value as the latter is based on 100% performance.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 13:23:40 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1108750

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	Child Maintenance Service: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) points of dissatisfaction and (b) complaints have been logged with the Child Maintenance Service in each year for which information is available.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	239268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>In terms of volumes of dissatisfactions, the table below refers. This includes all Dissatisfaction actions that have been opened, regardless of the outcome.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total Dissatisfactions</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>4,988</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>8,038</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>13,574</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>24,255</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Caseload at year end</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>180,100</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>291,000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>391,800</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>463,300</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>% of Caseload</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2.8%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2.8%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>3.5%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5.2%</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The latest statistics on complaints received by the Child Maintenance Service are published in Table 17 of the Child Maintenance Service statistics, which highlights the number of complaints received by the Child Maintenance Service each quarter. It is available online at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme</a>.”</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 11:24:16 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows