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228848

registered interest
date	20/03/2015
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	Employment Schemes: Wales
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times ministers or officials from his Department visited Wales since April 2012 to discuss the Jobs Growth Wales programme.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	228593
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>DWP Ministers or Officials have not visited Wales since April 2012 to discuss the Jobs Growth Wales Programme.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 25/03/2015 10:15:10 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223707

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effective delivery of local welfare schemes by English local authorities.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	225365
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>We spoke at length to a number of local authorities last autumn when conducting a review of local welfare schemes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The findings were published, including examples of best practice, on 5<sup>th</sup> November 2014. A copy of the report was sent to all the local authorities that received funding and a copy placed in the House library. It can also be found on the Gov.uk website here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>None of those local authorities we spoke to raised concerns about people being incorrectly referred to local welfare provision support rather than being considered for a Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA). There were some suggestions that this may have happened on occasion when STBAs were first introduced in April 2013, so the department issued revised guidance and instructions to staff at the time. The relevant DWP guidance was also shared with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 225362 225363 question first answered 02/03/2015 12:54:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223709

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received about instances of people being sent from Jobcentre Plus to apply to the local welfare scheme instead of being offered a short-term advance of benefits; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	225363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p>We spoke at length to a number of local authorities last autumn when conducting a review of local welfare schemes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The findings were published, including examples of best practice, on 5<sup>th</sup> November 2014. A copy of the report was sent to all the local authorities that received funding and a copy placed in the House library. It can also be found on the Gov.uk website here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>None of those local authorities we spoke to raised concerns about people being incorrectly referred to local welfare provision support rather than being considered for a Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA). There were some suggestions that this may have happened on occasion when STBAs were first introduced in April 2013, so the department issued revised guidance and instructions to staff at the time. The relevant DWP guidance was also shared with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 225362 225365 question first answered 02/03/2015 12:54:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223711

registered interest
date	25/02/2015
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
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 promote the sharing of best practice in the administration of local welfare schemes.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	225362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>We spoke at length to a number of local authorities last autumn when conducting a review of local welfare schemes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The findings were published, including examples of best practice, on 5<sup>th</sup> November 2014. A copy of the report was sent to all the local authorities that received funding and a copy placed in the House library. It can also be found on the Gov.uk website here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/370775/2-local-welfare-provision-review-nov-2014.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>None of those local authorities we spoke to raised concerns about people being incorrectly referred to local welfare provision support rather than being considered for a Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA). There were some suggestions that this may have happened on occasion when STBAs were first introduced in April 2013, so the department issued revised guidance and instructions to staff at the time. The relevant DWP guidance was also shared with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 225363 225365 question first answered 02/03/2015 12:54:22 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223401

registered interest
date	24/02/2015
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	Older Workers
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 has taken to implement the commitments in Fuller Working Lives - a framework for action, published by his Department in June 2014.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	225231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2015 answer text <p>Since June 2014 this Government has:</p><p> </p><p>- Appointed Dr Ros Altmann CBE as the Business Champion for Older Workers to actively promote the business case and benefits of employing older workers, seeking to engage and influence both strategically and in terms of practical advice. Dr Altmann has engaged with over 80 organisations and attended numerous events and speaking engagements. Ministers have attended three meetings of Dr Altmann’s working group and have also met with her to discuss her emerging findings. She will shortly be making her recommendations to the Government.</p><p>- Announced new pilots that will be based on our current sector based work academies and Work Experience programmes, but tailored to the needs of older claimants.</p><p>- Extended the right to request flexible working, which can help older workers to stay in the labour market.</p><p>- Launched the advice element of Fit for Work, which helps with sickness absence and provides an occupational health assessment and health and work advice to employees, employers and GPs.</p><p>- Completed the first stage of the Inclusive Technology Prize to inspire innovation from individuals and small businesses to develop assistive living technology.</p><p>- Funded ‘Carers in Employment’ pilots in nine Local Authorities.</p><p>- Launched a small scale pilot in Gloucestershire, designed to support Carers Allowance claimants whose engagement with Jobcentre Plus is optional.</p><p>- Started working with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). In September 2014 (partnering with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP) we held a national conference on economic growth, focussing on retaining and recruiting older workers.</p><p>- Announced two trials that will explore what may provide effective support for older claimants looking at career reviews and IT and digital support.</p><p>- Announced the introduction of regional ‘Champions’ in Jobcentre Plus. These Jobcentre Plus staff will work with both Work Coaches and local employers to raise the profile of and highlight the benefits of employing older claimants.</p><p>- Carried out polling research to explore the attitudes of the over 50s, and employer attitudes to Fuller Working Lives to help shape policy and messaging. This also allowed us to further understand the perceived benefits and barriers to later life working. More information on attitudes-of-over-50s can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attitudes-of-the-over-50s-to-fuller-working-lives" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attitudes-of-the-over-50s-to-fuller-working-lives</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In Spring 2015 we will publish a new older workers employer toolkit, and NIACE’s final report on Mid-Life career review will be completed which will make number of recommendations based on the research findings.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 27/02/2015 13:09:04 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

223402

registered interest
date	24/02/2015
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	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 the average amount of funding provided by his Department to a local authority is for personal budgeting support when universal credit is implemented in a local authority area.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	225230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2015 answer text <p>Funding for councils is developed on a local volumes basis, in the light of OBR forecasts an average has not yet been calculated.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 27/02/2015 12:59:18 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

176926

registered interest
date	30/01/2015
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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has held in 2015 to date with his ministerial colleagues at the Department for Communities and Local Government on the operation of local welfare assistance schemes.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	222820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>There have been no meetings on the operation of these schemes in 2015.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 04/02/2015 11:39:32 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

176183

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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	Social Rented Housing: Landlords
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress his Department has made in sharing data with registered social landlords.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	222357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2015 answer text <p>The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I.2015/46) were laid on 23 January 2015 and come into force on 13 February 2015.</p><p> </p><p>Commencing on 16 February 2015, registered social landlords, local authorities and arms length management organisations will be notified when one of their tenants makes an application for Universal Credit, or when a person already receiving Universal Credit becomes a tenant of theirs.</p><p> </p><p>The data shared will be limited to that required by the landlord to identify the tenant and enable them to confirm that Universal Credit has been claimed. This will enable the landlord, at the earliest possible opportunity, to decide whether they wish to offer, or refer the claimant to, additional welfare support.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 02/02/2015 17:43:17 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

168735

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	Jobcentre Plus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on claimants of the removal of telephones from Jobcentre Plus offices.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	217675
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>We have replaced our Customer Access Phones with a new assisted service for claimants who attend the Jobcentre and are unable to access DWP services without our help.</p><p> </p><p>The level of support we provide to those claimants identified as having complex needs and/or requiring additional support to access our services has not changed.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 11/12/2014 15:21:58 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

168737

registered interest
date	08/12/2014
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	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, if he will make it his policy for his Department to collect information on the length of time taken for benefit payments to be made; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	217673
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2014 answer text <p>The department uses a range of metrics to track and manage timeliness of payments within the benefits system. I refer the Rt.Hon. Member to the reply I gave to his previous Parliamentary Question UIN<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons,lords&amp;use-dates=True&amp;answered-from=2014-10-29&amp;answered-to=2014-10-29&amp;dept=29&amp;uin=211860" target="_blank">211860,</a>on the 29<sup>th</sup> October 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 11/12/2014 15:36:58 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms