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1486478

registered interest
date	05/07/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Broadband
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of schools in England that do not have access to gigabit broadband.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	31183
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>Building on the £30 million investment for the Connect the Classroom pilot programme, the department is investing up to a further £150 million on Connect the Classroom to upgrade more schools that fall below our Wi-Fi connectivity standards in priority areas. The Connect the Classroom pilot started in 2021 and engagement with schools who qualify for the additional £150 million of investment began June 2022.</p><p>National connectivity data does not cover private business fibre connections procured by schools or the take-up of a high-speed internet service by a school. The previous analysis of publicly available data of access to infrastructure showed that 3,835 schools are in postcodes that do not have access to full fibre or are currently not in areas of proposed commercial build within the next five years. This covered schools which do not have access to gigabit infrastructure, but does not consider new activity planned since this time.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 31184 question first answered 21/07/2022 18:13:42 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1486479

registered interest
date	05/07/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: WiFi
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to implement the Connect the Classroom pilot project.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	31184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>Building on the £30 million investment for the Connect the Classroom pilot programme, the department is investing up to a further £150 million on Connect the Classroom to upgrade more schools that fall below our Wi-Fi connectivity standards in priority areas. The Connect the Classroom pilot started in 2021 and engagement with schools who qualify for the additional £150 million of investment began June 2022.</p><p>National connectivity data does not cover private business fibre connections procured by schools or the take-up of a high-speed internet service by a school. The previous analysis of publicly available data of access to infrastructure showed that 3,835 schools are in postcodes that do not have access to full fibre or are currently not in areas of proposed commercial build within the next five years. This covered schools which do not have access to gigabit infrastructure, but does not consider new activity planned since this time.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 31183 question first answered 21/07/2022 18:13:42 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1256553

registered interest
date	30/11/2020
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 effectiveness of (a) universal credit and (b) the policy of payment of costs in arrears in helping parents meet childcare costs.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	122831
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2020 answer text <p>In Universal Credit, working families can claim up to 85%, increased from 70% in legacy benefits, of their eligible registered childcare costs each month. This equates to a maximum support of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>The current childcare offer is comprehensive, broad ranging and reflects different family circumstances, covering children over a range of ages. We believe that helping parents with their childcare costs is one of the best ways to help people into work, support families with the cost of living, and ensure every child has the opportunity of a high quality early education.</p><p> </p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes 15 hours per week free childcare for disadvantaged 2 year olds and 3 &amp; 4 year olds. This doubles to 30 hours per week free childcare for working parents of 3 &amp; 4 year olds.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 120957 question first answered 04/12/2020 12:51:49 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1255489

registered interest
date	25/11/2020
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 and Training: Lone Parents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support single parents to (a) stay in work, (b) return to work and (c) retrain.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	120956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2020 answer text <p>We are committed to helping parents into work. Childcare is essential in enabling parents to work, although we recognise that this can cause additional financial difficulty. Universal Credit claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to 70 per cent on the legacy system. Work allowances for working parents and people with disabilities were increased by £1000 from April 2019. 2.4 million households will be up to £630 better off (per year), in a package worth £1.7bn by 2023/24.</p><p /><p>Universal Credit Work Coaches have flexibility and autonomy to build individual support packages to help the individual into work and help those with low incomes. Work Coaches utilise additional packages to support individuals such as Self-Employment, New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) and funding from the Flexible Support Fund to help individuals overcome their barriers to enter employment.</p><p> </p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes 15 hours per week free childcare for disadvantaged 2 year olds and 3 &amp; 4 year olds. This doubles to 30 hours per week free childcare for working parents of 3 &amp; 4 year olds.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/12/2020 14:59:49 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1255491

registered interest
date	25/11/2020
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 adequacy of the level of childcare costs that can be claimed under universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	120957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2020 answer text <p>In Universal Credit, working families can claim up to 85%, increased from 70% in legacy benefits, of their eligible registered childcare costs each month. This equates to a maximum support of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>The current childcare offer is comprehensive, broad ranging and reflects different family circumstances, covering children over a range of ages. We believe that helping parents with their childcare costs is one of the best ways to help people into work, support families with the cost of living, and ensure every child has the opportunity of a high quality early education.</p><p> </p><p>The UC childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes 15 hours per week free childcare for disadvantaged 2 year olds and 3 &amp; 4 year olds. This doubles to 30 hours per week free childcare for working parents of 3 &amp; 4 year olds.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 122831 question first answered 04/12/2020 12:51:49 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1242457

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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, whether provisions are in place for universal credit claimants who go into arrears as a result of having to pay upfront fees when moving home before their universal credit has been paid.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	102142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit is assessed and paid monthly, which reflects how the majority of the UK workforce is paid and helps prepare households to budget on a monthly basis, which will ease the transition into work. It also helps households to take advantage of cheaper tariffs for essential costs such as utility bills.</p><p> </p><p>A Universal Credit Change of Circumstances Advance can be made available to existing claimants that experience a change of circumstance which results in a significant increase in entitlement, where the claimant cannot wait until the end of the assessment period to receive the increase.</p><p> </p><p>For those individuals who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The payments are awarded at the discretion of the Local Authority and can provide help with on-going housing costs, or one-off expenses such as rent in advance, deposits or removal costs.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided £180m in DHP funding to local authorities to support vulnerable claimants with housing costs in the private and social rented sector in England and Wales for 2020/21. This includes an extra £40m as announced last year at the spending round.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 102143 102144 question first answered 19/10/2020 14:51:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1242461

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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 the timing of universal credit payments on the (a) assistance that people receive and (b) costs that people incur when moving home.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	102143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit is assessed and paid monthly, which reflects how the majority of the UK workforce is paid and helps prepare households to budget on a monthly basis, which will ease the transition into work. It also helps households to take advantage of cheaper tariffs for essential costs such as utility bills.</p><p> </p><p>A Universal Credit Change of Circumstances Advance can be made available to existing claimants that experience a change of circumstance which results in a significant increase in entitlement, where the claimant cannot wait until the end of the assessment period to receive the increase.</p><p> </p><p>For those individuals who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The payments are awarded at the discretion of the Local Authority and can provide help with on-going housing costs, or one-off expenses such as rent in advance, deposits or removal costs.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided £180m in DHP funding to local authorities to support vulnerable claimants with housing costs in the private and social rented sector in England and Wales for 2020/21. This includes an extra £40m as announced last year at the spending round.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 102142 102144 question first answered 19/10/2020 14:51:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1242462

registered interest
date	12/10/2020
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 discussions she has had with with housing associations on the effect on universal credit claimants of upfront fees when moving home.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	102144
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit is assessed and paid monthly, which reflects how the majority of the UK workforce is paid and helps prepare households to budget on a monthly basis, which will ease the transition into work. It also helps households to take advantage of cheaper tariffs for essential costs such as utility bills.</p><p> </p><p>A Universal Credit Change of Circumstances Advance can be made available to existing claimants that experience a change of circumstance which results in a significant increase in entitlement, where the claimant cannot wait until the end of the assessment period to receive the increase.</p><p> </p><p>For those individuals who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. The payments are awarded at the discretion of the Local Authority and can provide help with on-going housing costs, or one-off expenses such as rent in advance, deposits or removal costs.</p><p> </p><p>We have provided £180m in DHP funding to local authorities to support vulnerable claimants with housing costs in the private and social rented sector in England and Wales for 2020/21. This includes an extra £40m as announced last year at the spending round.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 102142 102143 question first answered 19/10/2020 14:51:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1132054

registered interest
date	13/06/2019
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 steps he is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants paying rent weekly do not face a one-week shortfall in their universal credit housing element in 2020.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	264450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>No-one will face a one-week shortfall in their Universal Credit (UC) housing element in 2020 as no year contains 53 weeks. This perceived issue of there being a one-week shortfall due to there being 53 weeks in a year arises where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday and, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, requiring 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53<sup>rd</sup> payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year.</p><p> </p><p>Where a tenant makes a 53<sup>rd</sup> rent payment in a given year, this payment will cover some days in the subsequent year. This will mean the following month only has four payment dates and, as such, the claimant will be ‘overpaid’ for their housing and their shortfall will be recovered.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day’s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 11:44:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1125584

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
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	Food Banks
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of benefit claimants of who travel out of area to access a food bank.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	252588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department doesn’t maintain records on the number of food bank users. People can be referred to a food bank through a range of local referral partners. Although Jobcentre staff can also signpost claimants in writing to a food bank in line with national guidance, they are not required to maintain records on whether a customer has been issued with a signposting slip. As part of their wider community outreach work, Jobcentre managers can work with food banks in their area if they are invited to do so, to ensure that people are receiving all the support they are entitled to.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/05/2019 13:33:04 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore