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1147829

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
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: Scotland
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 time taken for universal credit payments to be made to claimants on trends in the level of food bank use in Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	293692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not keep official statistics on food bank use, so no such assessment has been completed. Some food aid providers produce statistics on the number of food parcels distributed, but the Government has no plans to require individual food banks to keep records as this would place a significant burden on charitable and voluntary organisations.</p><p> </p><p>We have listened to feedback on how we can improve Universal Credit to support our claimants and acted quickly, making improvements such as extending advances, removing waiting days, and introducing housing benefit run on. These changes are giving support to vulnerable people who need it most, whilst at the same time helping people get into work faster.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in Scotland, the Department delivers Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government, providing the option of Universal Credit being paid twice a month rather than monthly, and having Universal Credit housing element being paid directly to landlords.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 08/10/2019 10:07:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1147830

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
answering body	Scotland Office
answering dept id	2
answering dept short name	Scotland
answering dept sort name	Scotland
hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that people are able to access free-to-use cash machines throughout Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	293693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>I have regular discussions on important Scottish economic matters with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p><p> </p><p>Technology has transformed banking for millions of people, but we know that many still rely on cash. That is why we are co-ordinating work across government, regulators and industry so we can protect access for everyone who needs it.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>LINK, the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network, has publicly committed to maintain the broad geographic spread of ATMs and has put in place specific arrangements to protect remote free-to-use ATMs one kilometre or further from the next nearest free-to-use ATM. More recently, LINK has committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there is a cluster of five or more retailers – that do not have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within 1 kilometre.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 08/10/2019 15:04:00 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1147847

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
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	Pension 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 her Department is taking to ensure that information relating to Pension Credit eligibility is accessible to people who are classed as being digitally excluded.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	293694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>There are over 1.6 million people already claiming £5.4 billion in Pension Credit but the Government wants to ensure that all pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP uses a wide range of channels, in addition to <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>, to communicate information about benefits to potential claimants. We target activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension, Attendance Allowance or when they report a change in their circumstances which could result in them becoming eligible for Pension Credit. Staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres as well as DWP visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits including Pension Credit either to individuals or community groups. Staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit also provide information about Pension Credit</p><p><br> For general enquiries about Pension Credit, potential customers can telephone the freephone Pension Service helpline on 08007310469 and the easiest way to make a claim is via the freephone claim line 0800991234. Anyone wishing to make a claim by post can request a paper application form.</p><p>The Government wants to make sure that all older people receive the support they are entitled to and we therefore also welcome and encourage initiatives to promote take up of Pension Credit by national and local organisations who may often be the first place people turn to for information and help.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/10/2019 11:26:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1147850

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
answering body	Scotland Office
answering dept id	2
answering dept short name	Scotland
answering dept sort name	Scotland
hansard heading	Public Sector: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent assessment his Department has made of public satisfaction with public services in Scotland.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	293696
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>In a recent Scottish Government Household survey, we see that public satisfaction in health, schools, education and public transport in Scotland has dropped to 51.7%, its lowest level since 2007, which is extremely disappointing. These policy areas are devolved to the Scottish Government and they must do more to improve public services for the people of Scotland.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Dumfries and Galloway answering member printed Mr Alister Jack question first answered 08/10/2019 15:02:39 answering member 4619 label Biography information for Mr Alister Jack
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1146463

registered interest
date	26/09/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Households: Rents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of rent levels on household income.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	291399
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The English Housing Survey provides data on the proportion of income that is spent on rent in both the Private Rented Sector and the Social Rented Sector. This information is available online:<br> <br> <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817630/EHS_2017-18_PRS_Report.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817630/EHS_2017-18_PRS_Report.pdf</a> and<br> <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/829741/EHS_SRS_report_revised_Sept_19.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/829741/EHS_SRS_report_revised_Sept_19.pdf</a>'.</p> answering member constituency Tatton answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 08/10/2019 10:52:39 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney