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790200

registered interest
date	15/11/2017
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	European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to seek formal agreement to participate in the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Aberavon
tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
uin	113251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that all important functions currently carried out by public bodies at an EU level can be carried out at a UK level in time for exit day. Whether the UK will wish to seek agreement to continue as an EIOPA member once we leave the European Union will depend on the outcome of the broader negotiations about the UK’s trade in financial services.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2017 14:45:13 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

790209

registered interest
date	15/11/2017
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	Tata Steel: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provision was made for advice to be given to members of the Tata Steel pension scheme on their pension options after the creation of the new pensions scheme; and what the cost to the public purse of that provision was.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	113174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) is providing information to members on the effect on their pension rights of either staying in the original scheme which will move in to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) or transferring to the new scheme. This includes newsletters, a website, bespoke option packs and access to free and impartial helplines. The Trustee cannot provide financial advice but members who may want independent advice are signposted to the <a href="http://www.unbiased.co.uk" target="_blank">www.unbiased.co.uk</a> website. They are also warned to check that the Independent Financial Advisor from whom they receive advice is authorised by the FCA to advise on defined benefit pensions by looking them up on FCA’s register. The BSPS trustee is also warning members about the risk of bad advice and scams in its communication with members.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not provide formal advice to any pension scheme members. The Department is not authorised to provide financial advice. However, the free service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service may be able to clarify or explain information that members have received from their scheme to help them better understand their options.</p><p> </p><p>The Pensions Regulator has encouraged the BSPS trustee to repeat the warnings to members at the ongoing road show meetings it is holding with members to ensure they are fully informed about their options. The PPF has been invited to these roadshows to answer questions and provide information on how the PPF operates. The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the PPF regarding the number of BSPS members requesting transfer valuations since this is a matter for the Trustee rather than the PPF or the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Government is in ongoing discussion with the FCA on the issue of cold calling and wider issues concerning advice. These discussions will take account of the circumstances surrounding Tata Steel. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is aware of concerns around this issue and is urgently arranging to meet the firms in Swansea that hold the permission to advise on pension transfers in order to set out their expectations of advisers. The FCA can use their supervisory tools where they suspect authorised firms of being involved in pension scams. These tools include restrictions on a firm’s permission to do certain types of business. When unauthorised firms carry on regulated pension business, the FCA has the power to investigate and take action through the criminal and civil courts.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 113175 113176 113177 question first answered 20/11/2017 12:23:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

790210

registered interest
date	15/11/2017
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	Tata Steel: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department provides free advice to Tata Steel pension scheme members on their pension options.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	113175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) is providing information to members on the effect on their pension rights of either staying in the original scheme which will move in to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) or transferring to the new scheme. This includes newsletters, a website, bespoke option packs and access to free and impartial helplines. The Trustee cannot provide financial advice but members who may want independent advice are signposted to the <a href="http://www.unbiased.co.uk" target="_blank">www.unbiased.co.uk</a> website. They are also warned to check that the Independent Financial Advisor from whom they receive advice is authorised by the FCA to advise on defined benefit pensions by looking them up on FCA’s register. The BSPS trustee is also warning members about the risk of bad advice and scams in its communication with members.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not provide formal advice to any pension scheme members. The Department is not authorised to provide financial advice. However, the free service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service may be able to clarify or explain information that members have received from their scheme to help them better understand their options.</p><p> </p><p>The Pensions Regulator has encouraged the BSPS trustee to repeat the warnings to members at the ongoing road show meetings it is holding with members to ensure they are fully informed about their options. The PPF has been invited to these roadshows to answer questions and provide information on how the PPF operates. The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the PPF regarding the number of BSPS members requesting transfer valuations since this is a matter for the Trustee rather than the PPF or the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Government is in ongoing discussion with the FCA on the issue of cold calling and wider issues concerning advice. These discussions will take account of the circumstances surrounding Tata Steel. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is aware of concerns around this issue and is urgently arranging to meet the firms in Swansea that hold the permission to advise on pension transfers in order to set out their expectations of advisers. The FCA can use their supervisory tools where they suspect authorised firms of being involved in pension scams. These tools include restrictions on a firm’s permission to do certain types of business. When unauthorised firms carry on regulated pension business, the FCA has the power to investigate and take action through the criminal and civil courts.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 113174 113176 113177 question first answered 20/11/2017 12:23:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

790211

registered interest
date	15/11/2017
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	Tata Steel: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had or plans to have with the Pension Protection Fund on the number of Tata Steel pension scheme members requesting valuations to transfer their pots out of the scheme.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	113176
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) is providing information to members on the effect on their pension rights of either staying in the original scheme which will move in to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) or transferring to the new scheme. This includes newsletters, a website, bespoke option packs and access to free and impartial helplines. The Trustee cannot provide financial advice but members who may want independent advice are signposted to the <a href="http://www.unbiased.co.uk" target="_blank">www.unbiased.co.uk</a> website. They are also warned to check that the Independent Financial Advisor from whom they receive advice is authorised by the FCA to advise on defined benefit pensions by looking them up on FCA’s register. The BSPS trustee is also warning members about the risk of bad advice and scams in its communication with members.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not provide formal advice to any pension scheme members. The Department is not authorised to provide financial advice. However, the free service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service may be able to clarify or explain information that members have received from their scheme to help them better understand their options.</p><p> </p><p>The Pensions Regulator has encouraged the BSPS trustee to repeat the warnings to members at the ongoing road show meetings it is holding with members to ensure they are fully informed about their options. The PPF has been invited to these roadshows to answer questions and provide information on how the PPF operates. The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the PPF regarding the number of BSPS members requesting transfer valuations since this is a matter for the Trustee rather than the PPF or the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Government is in ongoing discussion with the FCA on the issue of cold calling and wider issues concerning advice. These discussions will take account of the circumstances surrounding Tata Steel. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is aware of concerns around this issue and is urgently arranging to meet the firms in Swansea that hold the permission to advise on pension transfers in order to set out their expectations of advisers. The FCA can use their supervisory tools where they suspect authorised firms of being involved in pension scams. These tools include restrictions on a firm’s permission to do certain types of business. When unauthorised firms carry on regulated pension business, the FCA has the power to investigate and take action through the criminal and civil courts.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 113174 113175 113177 question first answered 20/11/2017 12:23:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

790212

registered interest
date	15/11/2017
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	Tata Steel: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had or plans to have with the Financial Conduct Authority on the specific targeting of cold calls to Tata Steel pension members by financial advisers.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	113177
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) is providing information to members on the effect on their pension rights of either staying in the original scheme which will move in to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) or transferring to the new scheme. This includes newsletters, a website, bespoke option packs and access to free and impartial helplines. The Trustee cannot provide financial advice but members who may want independent advice are signposted to the <a href="http://www.unbiased.co.uk" target="_blank">www.unbiased.co.uk</a> website. They are also warned to check that the Independent Financial Advisor from whom they receive advice is authorised by the FCA to advise on defined benefit pensions by looking them up on FCA’s register. The BSPS trustee is also warning members about the risk of bad advice and scams in its communication with members.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not provide formal advice to any pension scheme members. The Department is not authorised to provide financial advice. However, the free service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service may be able to clarify or explain information that members have received from their scheme to help them better understand their options.</p><p> </p><p>The Pensions Regulator has encouraged the BSPS trustee to repeat the warnings to members at the ongoing road show meetings it is holding with members to ensure they are fully informed about their options. The PPF has been invited to these roadshows to answer questions and provide information on how the PPF operates. The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the PPF regarding the number of BSPS members requesting transfer valuations since this is a matter for the Trustee rather than the PPF or the Government.</p><p> </p><p>Government is in ongoing discussion with the FCA on the issue of cold calling and wider issues concerning advice. These discussions will take account of the circumstances surrounding Tata Steel. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is aware of concerns around this issue and is urgently arranging to meet the firms in Swansea that hold the permission to advise on pension transfers in order to set out their expectations of advisers. The FCA can use their supervisory tools where they suspect authorised firms of being involved in pension scams. These tools include restrictions on a firm’s permission to do certain types of business. When unauthorised firms carry on regulated pension business, the FCA has the power to investigate and take action through the criminal and civil courts.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 113174 113175 113176 question first answered 20/11/2017 12:23:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

789185

registered interest
date	14/11/2017
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: North West Durham
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people in North West Durham Constituency will be affected by the Support for Mortgage Interest benefit becoming a loan.
tabling member constituency	North West Durham
tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
uin	113010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>There are an estimated <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/603004/outturn-and-forecast-spring-budget-2017.ods" target="_blank">124,000 SMI claimants</a>. We are not able to provide estimates of SMI claimants at a constituency level.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 20/11/2017 12:26:12 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

789187

registered interest
date	14/11/2017
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	Pensions: Regulation
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 11 October 2017 to Question 106439, on pensions, other than Master Trusts, if the Government will establish an approved list of regulated pension schemes with regulated underlying investments that are deemed safe; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	112927
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>It is not the Government’s role to determine whether the individual underlying investments of pension schemes are safe or not. The Government has, however, legislated to require trustees or managers of occupational pension schemes to ensure the quality and security of their scheme’s investment portfolio. This includes ensuring that scheme assets are predominantly invested in investments admitted to regulated markets.</p><p> </p><p>Pension providers of workplace personal pensions need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in order to carry out this activity. The FCA is also responsible for the regulation of the investment market and financial advisers. FCA already holds a register of firms that are or have been regulated by them or the Prudential Regulation Authority. The register is open to the public. FCA also produces a warning list that the public, including trustees, can use to check an investment or pension opportunity to avoid scams.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2017 12:05:42 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

789188

registered interest
date	14/11/2017
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	Pensions: Regulation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he will respond to the consultation, Pension Protection Fund: draft regulations to take account of bridging pensions, published on 31 August 2017.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	112928
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>This consultation, which closed on 1 October 2017, sought views on the approach to address the bridging pensions anomaly within Pension Protection Fund compensation. The vast majority of consultation respondents agreed that the anomaly should be addressed. However, a significant number were in favour of an alternative approach which more closely reflected the original pension scheme rules and after careful consideration, the Government has decided to proceed with this alternative. On Friday 17 November 2017, my Department launched a technical consultation on the draft regulations to implement this scheme rules based approach.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/11/2017 12:19:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

789189

registered interest
date	14/11/2017
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	Work Capability Assessment: Autism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that training offered to those carrying out work capability assessments complies with statutory obligations under the Autism Act 2009.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	112979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Autism Act 2009 does not impose any specific statutory obligations on DWP or its Providers. The Department is, however, fully committed to improving the services it provides for people with autism. Part of the Department’s Autism Strategy Action Plan focuses on key areas for improvement, including promotion of the autism agenda to our Assessment Provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments. In order to improve the skills and knowledge of Healthcare Professionals that undertake Work Capability Assessments, the Department supported the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments in the development of condition specific training on autism which is quality assured by external reviewers.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2017 15:50:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

789190

registered interest
date	14/11/2017
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	Employment
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 change in the rate of (a) employment and (b) unemployment since 23 June 2016.
tabling member constituency	Wellingborough
tabling member printed	Mr Peter Bone
uin	112991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>Since May-July 2016, the employment rate has increased by 0.6 percentage points to reach 75.0 per cent in July-September 2016. The unemployment rate has decreased by 0.7 percentage points to 4.3 per cent over the same period, the lowest rate since 1975.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/11/2017 12:13:33 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	1581 label Biography information for Mr Peter Bone