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911236

registered interest
date	24/05/2018
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, how many women had their application for support for a child conceived without consent whilst claiming universal tax credit refused since 6 April 2017.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
uin	147950
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>Statistics relating to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit will be published this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:34:53 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

911238

registered interest
date	24/05/2018
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sanctions were made against claimants of universal credit in the last financial year; how many of those people sanctioned asked for a mandatory reconsideration; and how many decisions on those sanctions for which such a reconsideration was requested were upheld.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
uin	147951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>Statistics on the volume and outcomes of Universal Credit sanction decisions and mandatory reconsiderations up to January 2018, the latest available at the time of request, are published and can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p>We take a number of steps to make sure our decisions are fair. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances into account, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good cause they have provided, before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.</p><p><strong> </strong>If a claimant disagrees with a decision, they can ask for the decision to be reconsidered and subsequently can appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:26:58 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

911240

registered interest
date	24/05/2018
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hardship payments have been made to universal credit claimants while they were under sanctions.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
uin	147952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>We have a well-established system of hardship payments available as a safeguard if a claimant demonstrates that they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs, including accommodation, heating, food and hygiene, as a result of their sanction.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants are provided with information about hardship payments when a sanction referrral is made to a Decision Maker and also following the application of a sanction. This includes assistance, if required, with applying for a hardship payment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:24:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

910224

registered interest
date	23/05/2018
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	Jobcentres: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many job centres have closed in each constituency in each year between 2010 and 2018.
tabling member constituency	Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
tabling member printed	Yvette Cooper
uin	147339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>In March 2018, the 20-year contract covering the majority of DWPs current estate of over 900 sites came to an end. This presented an opportunity to re-evaluate what we needed from our estate. The increased use of our online services in recent years, coupled with reductions in unemployment and improved efficiency, meant that 20% of the rent being paid by DWP was going toward space we were not using.</p><p> </p><p>Given this, it is right that we reconfigure our Jobcentre estate and make the jobcentres fit for the 21st century. This is not about reducing services, but about taking the opportunity to stop spending money on empty space so we can spend more on supporting those in need.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>On 5 July 2017, the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that some smaller jobcentres would merge with larger ones, and others would be co-located in local government premises. Merging our staff and services from some smaller or underutilised jobcentres, into larger jobcentres nearby, makes better use of space and reduces costs to the taxpayer while still maintaining the same excellent level of customer service.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to retaining a jobcentre network and continuing to serve people in all areas of the UK to make sure they can continue to access the tailored services they need.</p><p> </p><p>The attached list contains the information requested.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 15:43:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma attachment 1 file name Acrobat Document.pdf title Jobcentre Closures
tabling member	420 label Biography information for Yvette Cooper

910251

registered interest
date	23/05/2018
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of universal credit claimants in employment that have been sanctioned in the most recent three months for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	147352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit provides us with the opportunity to support people to progress, and we are building the evidence about what works, such as through a large-scale Randomised Control Trial.</p><p> </p><p>This trial tested different degrees of in-work support and conditionality to support people to progress. Through targeted work coach support, requirements were agreed to support individuals to take reasonable action to help them to earn more where appropriate. The trial finished on 31 March 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The following link provides figures for the data collected so far on sanctions for in work claimants:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/in-work-progression-trial-update-april-2015-to-october-2016" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/in-work-progression-trial-update-april-2015-to-october-2016</a></p><p> </p><p>This shows that up to the end of October 2016, 319 sanctions had been applied to 15,455 trial participants: approximately 2%. This means that 98% of all trial participants were not sanctioned. The trial started on 20 April 2015, so the 319 sanctions cover the time period from the start of the trial to the end of October 2016. The majority of the sanctions that were applied were low level: 92% of all sanctions applied were for failing to attend meetings or phone calls without good reason.</p><p> </p><p>Further statistical information regarding the number of sanctions and suspensions for in-work claimants within the Randomised Control Trial will be published in Autumn 2018.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:45:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

910254

registered interest
date	23/05/2018
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, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2017 to Question 7537, what the evidential basis is for the research that showed that the majority of universal credit claimants are comfortable managing their budgets.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	147353
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>The Universal Credit Extended Gateway Evaluation provided evidence that indicated that a large majority of Universal Credit claimants are comfortable managing their budgets.</p><p> </p><p>The report can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/481865/universal-credit-extended-gateway-evaluation.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/481865/universal-credit-extended-gateway-evaluation.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:10:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

910383

registered interest
date	23/05/2018
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: Care Leavers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to flag care leavers in the universal credit system as currently with job seekers allowance.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	147302
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit already captures information on claimants with complex needs, including care leavers, as part of the claimant profile.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/06/2018 13:54:21 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

909291

registered interest
date	22/05/2018
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: North Wales
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 the roll-out of universal credit at (a) Rhyl Job Centre and (b) throughout North Wales.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	146759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2018 answer text <p>Rhyl Jobcentre rolled out Universal Credit in April 2018. Welsh jobcentres are in the latter part of the rollout schedule and the rollout dates can be viewed in the Universal Credit Transition Rollout Schedule:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/693928/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/693928/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>As part of the implementation activities DWP are working closely with local stakeholders including the Welsh Local Government Association and the Welsh Universal Credit Advisory Group to ensure a safe and secure delivery across Wales</p><p> </p><p>We made a written ministerial statement on 22 March 2018 about changes to the Universal Credit rollout schedule (primarily for Welsh speaking sites) to allow for introduction of a Welsh language capability. The written ministerial statement can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;dept=29&amp;keywords=welsh" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statements/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;dept=29&amp;keywords=welsh</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2018 14:16:14 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

909333

registered interest
date	22/05/2018
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 assessment her Department has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the number of benefits claims.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	146821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2018 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Currently there are 870,000 claimants on Universal Credit, which is around 12% of the final figure which will be on Universal Credit after rollout is complete and existing benefit and tax credit caseloads have migrated across over the next few years.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 31/05/2018 14:23:24 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

909338

registered interest
date	22/05/2018
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	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment of the effectiveness of support provided to parents for the cost of childcare under universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	146826
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives for all of our claimants, including parents, to move into and progress in work, and it is working. There are now 11.5 million parents in work (a rate of 82.4%), while 67.4% of lone parents are now in employment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government now provides more support than ever before to help parents with the costs of childcare, including providing 15 hours a week of free childcare in England for all 3 and 4 year olds and disadvantaged 2 year olds, and doubling free childcare available for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours a week. We have also increased the level of support for childcare costs within Universal Credit from 70% to 85%, its highest ever level. This gives parents up to £646.35 per month for one child and £1108.04 per month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>We know that the longer someone is out of the jobs market, the harder it can be to return when they are ready. That is why, unlike legacy means-tested benefits, Universal Credit does not have a minimum of 16 hours per week to be entitled to the Universal Credit childcare offer. Instead, it supports the Universal Credit principle that work pays, regardless of the number of hours worked. Parents will also be helped to prepare for work when their youngest child is two, and look for work when they are three. This will give them the best chance of finding a job which fits in with their caring responsibilities. Work-related requirements are tailored to individual circumstances and compatible with child care responsibilities. Work coaches can consider caring responsibilities when setting availability and work search hours. This will also include work preparation activities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 31/05/2018 13:21:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord