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793033

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	Support for Mortgage Interest
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 of the changes to support for mortgage interest, to be introduced in April 2018, on individuals with shared ownership of their property.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	114818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Eligibility for SMI loans and the type and level of provision offered will be the same as for SMI as a benefit to provide the same protection against repossession. Any charges placed to secure the SMI loan will only be placed on the claimant’s share of the equity in the property. Help with a shared owner’s rental liability will be available as now, through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/11/2017 15:46:50 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

793044

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	Funeral Payments
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 on concern about the adequacy of the funeral fund to cover basic funeral costs; and whether he plans change to that fund.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	114829
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">DWP have advertised 1,053 External Vacancies since January 2015 containing 21,432 posts. The breakdown provided by Government Recruitment Services is provided as requested overleaf. It is worth considering these vacancies are not guaranteed to have been filled.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">These are the vacancies we advertised. Not all roles advertised were filled and therefore this data will include repeat adverts.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Month</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Number of Vacancies</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Number of Posts</strong> <strong>Advertised</strong></del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">8</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">214</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">353</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">9</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">60</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">8</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">62</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">13</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">54</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">20</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">311</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">326</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">26</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1698</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1479</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">13</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">469</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">28</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">397</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Dec-15</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">14</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">239</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">14</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">290</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">47</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1274</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">50</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">2107</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">74</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1309</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">31</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">500</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">58</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1081</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">26</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">214</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">34</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">804</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">61</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1251</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">50</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">542</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">34</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">567</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Dec-16</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">5</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">48</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jan-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">101</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1540</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Feb-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">35</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">483</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Mar-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">131</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Apr-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">4</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">22</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">May-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">42</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">891</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jun-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">64</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">1238</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Jul-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">24</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">433</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Aug-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">21</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">243</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Sep-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">18</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">66</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Oct-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">30</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">605</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial">Nov-17</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">29</del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">131</del></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>Total</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>1053</strong></del></p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial"><strong>21432</strong></del></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department has had a number of discussions with representatives from the funeral industry and groups supporting bereaved people about Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and in particular the maximum amount of £700 available for other costs. We have made clear that we will ensure that Funeral Expenses Payments continue to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial for eligible claimants. Average payments have increased year-on-year to meet these necessary costs. We have had to make difficult choices about welfare spending and it has not been possible to increase the £700 maximum for other costs. However, we have made interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans available for funeral costs in addition to Funeral Expenses Payments.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have also been carrying out reforms to the Funeral Expenses Payments Regulations which are coming into force in April 2018. The reforms focused primarily on clarifying a number of issues around eligibility and to simplify the process for claiming a Funeral Expenses Payment. The formal response to the consultation on the Reform of the Funeral Expenses Payment Regulations was published on 3 July 2017 and can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656887/consultation-response-reforms-to-funeral-expenses-payments.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656887/consultation-response-reforms-to-funeral-expenses-payments.pdf</a>.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 28/11/2017 16:52:20 question first ministerially corrected 29/11/2017 12:23:58 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage previous answer version 25531 answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

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

793085

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	Housing Benefit: Students
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 student loans income is taken into account for housing benefit when those loans will be repaid.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	114870
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>Housing Benefit is an income-related benefit and to ignore the availability of a loan would discriminate unfairly against the majority of students who are not entitled to it.</p><p> </p><p>The loan is counted as income because Housing Benefit is not intended to subsidise the financial support available through the educational maintenance system. If the loan were not taken into account, the student would be receiving support that duplicated what was already available via a student loan.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/11/2017 16:56:49 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

793094

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	Independent Case Examiner
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to reduce waiting times for complaints received by the Independent Case Examiner.
tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
tabling member printed	Ronnie Cowan
uin	114879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2017 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner’s Office provides a demand led service, with the result that waiting times fluctuate depending on the number of complaints it receives. The Office is currently experiencing high levels of referrals. Resources are monitored and reviewed annually, in addittion to which the Office continues its practice of identifying and implementing appropriate process efficiencies</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 29/11/2017 11:47:59 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4465 label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan

793126

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	Social Security Benefits: Appeals
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 salary is of the presenting officers who will represent the Department at personal independence payment and employment support allowance tribunals.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	114911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2017 answer text <p>The majority of presenting officers within DWP are at the Executive Officer (EO) grade. The</p><p>information requested is not available specifically for presenting officers, however, the average</p><p>annual salary for an individual on DWP’s EO generalist pay scales is £25,631.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/11/2017 15:49:33 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle