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1233828

registered interest
date	14/09/2020
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	Hospitality Industry and Tourism: Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) tackle unemployment and (b) promote job retention in the tourism and hospitality sector.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	905930
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government’s Job Retention and Eat Out to Help Out schemes have provided unprecedented support to the tourism and hospitality sector</p><p> </p><p>The August 2020 statistics[1] show that the accommodation and food services sector has seen 77% of employments furloughed, with over £4.7 billion claimed through CJRS. 87% of employers in this sector have furloughed at least one employment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>By midnight on 31 August more than 100 million meals were eaten by diners as part of Eat Out to Help Out, with the 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme making 130,000 claims worth £522 million[2].</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For those in the sector that have unfortunately been made unemployed, I am working with colleagues from across government to ensure these people can access support to pivot into sectors where jobs are available.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, my department is working closely with other government departments, external organisations and local partners to support people into work. The Kickstart scheme was recently announced to help young people aged 16-24 find 6-month work places, while the start of Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) and Job Finding Support Service will follow.</p><p> </p><p>As my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in his Plans for Jobs statement[3] in July, DWP is also doubling the number of work coaches in Job Centres to help provide the urgent support needed for jobseekers to find work, including those in the tourism and hospitality sector.</p><p> </p><p>As well as this, DWP designed two websites that were launched in April, Jobhelp and Employer Help, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognising both a radically different labour market as some sectors contract and others expand. Jobhelp[4] offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-august-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-august-2020</a></p><p> </p><p>[2] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-diners-eat-100-million-meals-to-protect-2-million-jobs" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-diners-eat-100-million-meals-to-protect-2-million-jobs</a></p><p> </p><p>[3] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/a-plan-for-jobs-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/a-plan-for-jobs-2020</a></p><p>[4] <a href="https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 17:03:34 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1233829

registered interest
date	14/09/2020
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	Kickstart Scheme: Small Businesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps she is taking to encourage SMEs to participate in the Kickstart scheme.
tabling member constituency	Orkney and Shetland
tabling member printed	Mr Alistair Carmichael
uin	905948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>We are determined that small businesses play a key part in the Kickstart Scheme. We are actively encouraging a range of organisations to step forward as intermediaries, this includes the Chambers of Commerce, Local Authorities and charities – so they can support small employers offer Kickstart roles to young people.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 15:57:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1442 label Biography information for Mr Alistair Carmichael

1232788

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
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: Coronavirus
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 will take protect shielding workers returning to the workplace.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	87688
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was involved in cross-government work, Safer Workplaces, coordinated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which produced guidance on the safety measures businesses will need to adopt as they reopen. It contains practical steps to achieve social distancing and hygiene in the workplace. The guidance also covers who should be at work; including those who are at high risk (also referred to as extremely clinically vulnerable in recent guidance) or those who live with people at high risk.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance “Working Safely During Coronavirus COVID-19” was first published on 11 May 2020 and is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Restrictions on people who had previously been shielded have been paused and Public Health England has published guidance to help those people to safely return to work: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:46:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1232793

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
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 recent assessment she has made of the effect of universal credit benefit caps on people who are in receipt of statutory sick pay.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	87499
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The benefit cap will not apply if total household earnings, which include Statutory Sick Pay, in each assessment period are at least £604 and households may be exempt for a period of nine-months if they have a sustained work history.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants can approach their local authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment if they need additional support to meet rental costs.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:41:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1232801

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Health and Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a health and safety committee will be formed for the Benton Park site, where a request has been made under Regulation 9 of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 by two safety representatives.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	87535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is fully committed to its collaborative approach with Trade Union representatives and to meeting Health and Safety legislative requirements; as such it has a full Safety Committee Structure in place that includes the provision for such a meeting to be held in relation to the Benton Park site, and does so.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:43:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1232812

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
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	Kickstart Scheme
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 publish further guidance on the kickstart scheme to clarify recommendations on the skills development element expected of employers entering that scheme; and what steps her Department is taking to publicise that scheme to small and medium size cultural and sport charities.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	87611
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The department is working with employers and organisations of all sizes and sectors, encouraging them to participate in Kickstart and provide opportunities for young people. We know employers, large and small, are considering applying to the Scheme and are keen to find out more. Our 637 Jobcentres are securing local employer and intermediary commitment, bringing forward bids across the country.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance has been published through the gov.uk site on the requirements of Kickstart, and officials will continue to update this as the scheme evolves.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:44:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1232457

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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 plans her Department has to support universal credit claimants who are shielding due to disability and long-term health conditions as benefit sanctions are reintroduced as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	86736
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>A claimant’s work related requirements are agreed in discussion with their Work Coach and tailored to their individual capability, capacity and specific circumstances, ensuring they are realistic and achievable. Claimants will not be asked to do anything unreasonable in light of the impact of their health condition, and any work related requirements will be compatible with public health guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant has failed to meet their requirements, we will look at any evidence of good reason, including individual circumstances and health considerations, such as shielding, when considering if a sanction is warranted.</p><p> </p><p>An equality analysis has been undertaken by the Department for Work and Pensions on the reinstatement of conditionality across affected benefits, and provided to the Secretary of State so she can fulfil her Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) responsibilities. The reintroduction of conditionality and sanctions represents a return to business as usual and not a change in policy which requires direct consultation. The operation of these policies are reviewed on an ongoing basis through consultation with stakeholders.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 86737 question first answered 11/09/2020 11:35:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1232458

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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 assessment she has made of the effect of the reintroduction of benefit sanctions in July 2020 effect on universal credit claimants who are still shielding due to (a) disability or (b) long-term health conditions.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	86737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>A claimant’s work related requirements are agreed in discussion with their Work Coach and tailored to their individual capability, capacity and specific circumstances, ensuring they are realistic and achievable. Claimants will not be asked to do anything unreasonable in light of the impact of their health condition, and any work related requirements will be compatible with public health guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant has failed to meet their requirements, we will look at any evidence of good reason, including individual circumstances and health considerations, such as shielding, when considering if a sanction is warranted.</p><p> </p><p>An equality analysis has been undertaken by the Department for Work and Pensions on the reinstatement of conditionality across affected benefits, and provided to the Secretary of State so she can fulfil her Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) responsibilities. The reintroduction of conditionality and sanctions represents a return to business as usual and not a change in policy which requires direct consultation. The operation of these policies are reviewed on an ongoing basis through consultation with stakeholders.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 86736 question first answered 11/09/2020 11:35:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1231802

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the ethnic breakdown is of her Department’s workforce at each civil service grade.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	86058
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The declaration of ethnic origin is entirely voluntary within our internal HR reporting system. As a consequence, we do not hold an exhaustive record of all DWP employee ethnic origin, which could be used to provide a response to the question being asked.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 10/09/2020 16:59:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1231803

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) recruitment and (b) progression of its BAME staff.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	86059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department is committed to the Civil Service ambition to become the UK’s most inclusive employer and increasing the representation of under-represented groups to make DWP more diverse.</p><p> </p><p>We are undertaking work to better understand the lived experiences of BAME colleagues and the career progression barriers they face. For example, we have implemented Listening Circles and held Let’s Talk About Race conversations throughout our organisation and are using the insight and feedback captured to help inform our departmental Race Priorities and Plan.</p><p>We have strengthened our commitment to Sponsorship and have extended this to all of our Senior Civil Servants with the expectation that their personal intervention will support BAME colleagues to move into new roles/projects to further develop their skills, or move to a role on promotion.</p><p>To further support career progression we also continue to actively promote Civil Service development opportunities which include: Future/Senior Leaders Scheme; the Civil Service Ethnic Diversity Programme; and access to the Civil Service Race to the Top staff networks.</p><p>We have introduced a departmental Catalyst programme which provides under-represented colleagues at Grades 6 and 7 with access to development opportunities, inspirational speakers and senior sponsorship to support their career and leadership journeys.</p><p>We have implemented a number of improvements to our recruitment and selection methods which include: improved marketing of DWP as a diverse and inclusive employer of choice; mandated ethnic minority representation for our senior recruitment panels; implemented anonymised recruitment to minimise bias; and introduced a new strengths based approach to our recruitment.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 10/09/2020 17:03:10 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra