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759449

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	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, when he plans to publish the criteria for exemption from employment and support allowance reassessments for people with long-term health conditions.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	9976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>This change will come into effect in autumn 2017 and will apply to those with the most severe health conditions and disabilities who are placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s Support Group and the Universal Credit equivalent.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with stakeholders to finalise the criteria, once completed, the amended guidance will be incorporated into the Work Capability Assessment Handbook published annually on GOV.UK. This change will be reflected in the summer 2018 update.</p><p> </p><p>Through the development of the criteria we have consulted with a range of organisations, including representatives from some of the major health and disability charities through a stakeholder representative group.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 9977 question first answered 14/09/2017 17:00:11 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

759450

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	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 organisations his Department consulted when drawing up the criteria for exemption from employment and support allowance reassessments for people with long-term health conditions.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	9977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>This change will come into effect in autumn 2017 and will apply to those with the most severe health conditions and disabilities who are placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s Support Group and the Universal Credit equivalent.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with stakeholders to finalise the criteria, once completed, the amended guidance will be incorporated into the Work Capability Assessment Handbook published annually on GOV.UK. This change will be reflected in the summer 2018 update.</p><p> </p><p>Through the development of the criteria we have consulted with a range of organisations, including representatives from some of the major health and disability charities through a stakeholder representative group.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 9976 question first answered 14/09/2017 17:00:11 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

759453

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	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, if he will make it his policy to maintain the exemptions from conditionality and sanctions accorded to people in the employment and support allowance support group.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	9986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>Currently DWP does not have plans to change its policy on exemptions from conditionality and sanctions, for those people in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/09/2017 13:49:53 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

759454

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	Employment: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to respond to the responses to his Department's consultation entitled, Work, Health and Disability: Improving Lives; and whether he plans to publish a White Paper on that subject.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	9987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>Improving Lives; the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper was published on 31 October 2016 and the consultation closed on 17 February 2017. The Green Paper explored a range of ways to improve the prospects and transform the lives of disabled people by removing barriers that prevent them from working, and helping ensure that they are able to remain in employment. We received around 6000 responses and engaged in a wide range of conversations with stakeholders during the consultation period. We are now carefully considering the consultation responses and next steps for longer-term reform and will set these out in the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/09/2017 13:55:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

759455

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	Personal Independence Payment
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 potential merits of exempting people with long-term progressive health conditions who are in receipt of the higher rate care and mobility personal independence payment components, from reassessment for that payment.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	9988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 July 2017 to <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-07-17/5325/" target="_blank">Question UIN 5325</a>.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/09/2017 13:47:00 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

759456

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
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 ensure that personal independence payments claimants who suffer from a condition for which there is not yet any medication are not disadvantaged by that fact in their assessments.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	9804
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>The assessment for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to treat people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability, whether or not medication is prescribed or used. The PIP assessment is not a medical assessment, requiring the Health Professional to diagnose a condition or its severity and recommend treatment options; instead it focuses on the claimant’s functional ability.</p><p>There is no automatic entitlement to PIP by virtue of a health condition (except in terminal illness cases), either for new claimants or those claimants who were in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and who are being reassessed under PIP.</p><p>The PIP Assessment Guide for Health Professionals includes guidance on the assessment criteria and how they should be applied. This guidance can be accessed on the gov.uk website:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/09/2017 13:52:59 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

759457

registered interest
date	11/09/2017
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	Access to Work Programme: Taxis
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment claimants who no longer receive mobility payment are having taxis paid for under the Access to Work scheme; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	9805
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2017 answer text <p>The data requested is not available.</p><p><br>Access to Work support for travel to work is dependent on whether an individual has an inability to use public transport to travel to work, not whether they are in receipt of PIP. Therefore, this information is not collected.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 14/09/2017 16:40:57 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

758769

registered interest
date	07/09/2017
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	Cancer
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support the Government provides to people who have terminal cancer and their families.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	9396
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2017 answer text <p>Children and young people with serious or critical illnesses such as cancer are able to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if they are aged under 16 or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if aged 16 and above. DLA and PIP are tax free allowances, which are designed to contribute to the extra costs incurred as a result of long-term health conditions and/or disabilities. Children and young people in receipt of DLA or PIP can receive up to £141.10 a week. Entitlement to DLA and PIP depends on the effects that severe disability has on a person’s life and not on a particular disability or diagnosis. This is because people living with the same illnesses or disabilities may not necessarily have the same care or mobility needs.</p><p> </p><p>Special considerations do however apply to children and adults who are terminally ill, and our arrangements recognise the particular difficulties faced by people who have only a short time to live. Their claims are fast-tracked and they are awarded the highest rate of the care component of DLA and the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP automatically without having to complete a qualifying period. This means that, if they claim straight away, they can get benefit as soon as they have been diagnosed as being terminally ill. The arrangements ensure that claims are dealt with quickly and sensitively. The legislation defines a person as terminally ill if ‘he suffers from a progressive disease and his death can reasonably be expected within six months’.</p><p> </p><p>People over the age of 16 who are unable to work due to an illness or disability can claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which has both a contributory strand accessible via a National Insurance contribution test and an income-related strand accessible via an income test. For cancer sufferers, a light touch evidence gathering process exists, to help determine eligibility. There is also a presumption that claimants receiving or recovering from cancer treatment will be placed in the Support Group which could entitle them to up to £109.65 per week, subject to suitable evidence from a healthcare professional such as a GP or oncologist.</p><p> </p><p>Carers may also be able to qualify for Carer’s Allowance, which is currently £62.70 a week if they meet the eligibility criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Trudi Hills, our Sector champion for banking, has been working with Macmillan to improve how the banking industry supports people when they receive a cancer diagnosis</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 9397 9398 question first answered 18/09/2017 15:41:29 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

758860

registered interest
date	07/09/2017
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	Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made on reviewing disabled people's access and amending regulations where necessary to improve disabled access to licensed premises, parking and housing.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	9306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2017 answer text <p>Government is concerned about issues raised in relation to access and inclusion of disabled people and the problems with ensuring businesses and service providers comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010. We are keen to remove the barriers that some disabled people face so they can take a full part in their communities; socialise with their friends; and live where they want to.</p><p> </p><p>Too many licensed premises are still difficult for disabled people to access. The House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act 2003 published its report in April 2017 and recommended that the 2003 Act should be amended to require that an application for a premises licence is accompanied by a disabled access and facilities statement. The Government will respond to the recommendation made by the Lords Select Committee in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The government is currently examining how the Blue Badge scheme works in practice for people with non-physical disabilities in order to ensure the rules and guidance are clear for both local authorities and citizens and to improve the way the scheme is administered across the country.</p><p> </p><p>The Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 introduced statutory obligations on the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to provide guidance on housing to meet the needs for older and disabled people, and we are in the process of developing that additional guidance in consultation with the sector and other interested parties. We have commissioned research into Part M of the Building Regulations and are considering the results of that research in order to determine whether there is a need to review current Building Regulation guidance.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the actions above, I am also working more widely to improve access for disabled people. Earlier this year I appointed eleven Sector Champions, leaders in their particular sectors, to champion accessibility for disabled people as consumers. Sectors covered include, retail, transport, hotels, banking and tourism. My officials are also working with those in DCLG and with the Changing Places Consortium to ensure that, when the opportunity arises Building Regulations will include provisions for fully accessible toilets. There are currently 1033 Changing Paces facilities in the UK</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/09/2017 15:33:16 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

758861

registered interest
date	07/09/2017
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	Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made on working with providers of (a) energy, (b) telecoms and (c) other essential services on reducing the extra costs that disability can incur.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	9307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>A Social Tariff is provided by BT (and KCom in Hull) in relation to telecommunications for those on particular benefits including disabled people.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to energy, a cap on the prices energy suppliers can charge customers on pre-payment meters, many of whom are disabled people and/or on low incomes, came into effect on 1 April 2017. The price cap covers around 4.5m households, saving many dual fuel customers £70 a year</p><p> </p><p>In addition, my colleague the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has written to Ofgem asking the regulator to advise what action it intends to take to safeguard customers on the poorest value tariffs. Ofgem is committed to helping the more disadvantaged in society and has launched work on measures to protect and empower vulnerable energy consumers. This work includes considering extending the current safeguard tariff in place for consumers on pre-payment meters.</p><p> </p><p>To support disabled and other people when asking work coaches in Jobcentres for advice on budgeting and saving money, DWP has prepared ‘Need help managing your money?’ a factsheet which has a section on household bills. It explains you should get in touch with your supplier if you’re having difficulty paying bills or to find out if they offer a cheaper tariff. It signposts to the Money Advice Service for further information on how to save money on household bills, including switching supplier. The factsheet also covers budgeting information, basic bank accounts and the basic phone and broadband packages mentioned above.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/09/2017 11:00:31 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green