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1523438

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	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	Unemployed People: Cost of Living
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional steps his Department is taking to support people seeking jobs with the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	65720
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2022 answer text <p>With 1.25 million job vacancies across the UK, our focus is firmly on supporting people to move into, and progress in work. This approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment - particularly where it is full-time - in substantially reducing the risks of poverty.</p><p> </p><p>To help people into work across Great Britain, our Plan for Jobs is providing broad ranging support for all Jobseekers with our Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP), Job Entry Targeted Support and Restart scheme. We are extending the support jobcentres provide to people in work and on low incomes to help them to increase their earnings and move into better paid quality jobs. This new in-work progression offer started to roll-out from April 2022. Once fully rolled out, we estimate that around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support. This will be provided by work coaches and focus on removing barriers to progression such as support with childcare or addressing skills gaps.</p><p> </p><p>This new progression offer is in addition to a change the government made last month to the Administrative Earnings Threshold in Universal Credit. By raising the threshold on 26<sup>th</sup> September 2022, approximately 114,000 more UC claimants on the lowest incomes will benefit from regular work coach support. The then Chancellor announced that we would go further and raise the threshold again from January 2023 to expand this support to approximately 120,000 more people.</p><p> </p><p>This is on top of the support already provided by increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour and giving nearly 1.7 million families an extra £1,000 a year (on average) through our changes to the Universal Credit taper and work allowances</p><p> </p><p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>This also includes up to £650 in cost-of-living Payments (paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324) which have targeted support at around 8 million low-income households on means-tested benefits. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people have received a one-off disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 and pensioner households will receive a one-off payment of £300 through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment from November.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support we have provided an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m, running from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 26/10/2022 16:48:48 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1523436

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	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	Older Workers
	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 help older members of the workforce (a) adapt to and (b) retrain in an evolving job market.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	65718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2022 answer text <p>As part of the 23 September Growth Plan announcement, the Chancellor announced funding for additional work coach support to over 50s. This will mean more jobseekers across Great Britain receive intensive, tailored support at jobcentres to help them get into, and progress in work, boosting their earnings ahead of retirement.</p><p> </p><p>This funding builds on the existing Spending Review settlement of £20m over the next three years for a new enhanced offer for people aged 50 and over to remain in, and return to work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to adult education and training and the Department for Education has already put in place a wide range of programmes for adults to gain the skills they need for employment, ensuring they have the opportunities to study, upskill and reskill at different points in their life.</p><p> </p><p>We invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (£1.34bn in 2022/23), we are ensuring that apprenticeships are responsive to the different needs of individuals, employers, and the economy, including ensuring older people can access apprenticeships to re-train or upskill.</p><p> </p><p>We have also launched the £2.4b National Skills Fund, which is a significant investment to deliver new opportunities to generations of adults who may have been previously left behind. From 2025 will also introduce a lifelong loan entitlement, enabling more flexible and modular study across higher and further education.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 26/10/2022 16:57:35 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1420644

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether virtual assessments will remain in-place for universal credit applicants who are classified as clinically extremely vulnerable.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	119542
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2022 answer text <p>We are currently delivering health assessments through a variety of channels including face-to-face, and telephone and video assessments introduced in response to the pandemic. Whenever possible we will conduct a paper-based assessment. Any future decisions about assessment methods will be evidence-based and to ensure this we will draw on existing evidence as well as research and analysis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 09/02/2022 14:56:42 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1519727

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of non-medical staff performing assessments of Personal Independence Payment applicants on levels of accurate diagnoses.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	59720
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>There are no non-medical staff conducting health assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants. Health professionals (HPs) who conduct assessments include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and paramedics, who we believe have the required skills set for this type of assessment.</p><p> </p><p>It should be noted that the PIP assessment is not a medical assessment requiring the HP to diagnose a condition or its severity and recommend treatment options. Instead, it requires the HP to look at the impact of conditions and impairments on an individuals’ daily life and make a detailed functional assessment. This requires a very different skills set from those involved in the treatment of individuals, with less need for specialist knowledge.</p><p> </p><p>After the assessment has been completed, DWP case managers take a holistic view of a claimant’s functional capability and obtain medical advice where necessary, to underpin their findings. Their decision takes into consideration all available evidence such as the claim form, any additional evidence the claimant has provided (e.g. from a carer), any further evidence that the assessment provider has obtained, and the report from the assessment provider.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 18/10/2022 13:24:28 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1420573

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	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	Winter Fuel Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of offering people eligible for winter fuel payments the option of donating the sum they would receive to charity instead.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	119541
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>Winter fuel payments give reassurance, particularly to poorer pensioners, that they can keep warm during the colder months. The department currently issues over 11 million winter fuel payments within a small delivery window. Introducing an option on the notification for customers to donate their winter fuel payment would introduce complexity to the process. Recipients are of course free to donate the payment to a charity of their choice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 10/02/2022 16:50:21 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1316210

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2021
	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	Post Office Card Account
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on elderly people and people with mobility issues in towns and villages without bank branches of the discontinuation of the Post Office card system.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	3848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2021 answer text <p>The Department is committed to supporting the Department’s customers to access their benefit and pension payments as we transform our payment exception services.</p><p> </p><p>Access to a standard account through a bank, building society or credit union enables citizens to benefit from the wider range of financial services and to achieve greater financial inclusion.</p><p> </p><p>The Post Office delivers every day banking services for a large number of banks and building societies to enable citizens with a standard account to withdraw cash, free of charge, deposit cash and cheques and make balance enquires at any Post Office counter including mobile Post Office branches.</p><p> </p><p>The full range of every day personal banking services that the Post Office delivers from any Post Office branch, and for whom they deliver them, is available on the Post Office website <a href="https://www.postoffice.co.uk/everydaybanking" target="_blank">https://www.postoffice.co.uk/everydaybanking</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The new payment exception service will ensure that customers can continue to access cash in their local area.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 26/05/2021 13:21:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1657869

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2023
	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: Older People
	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 encourage businesses to employ (a) unemployed and (b) retired people aged over 60.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	197427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>The Default Retirement Age was abolished in 2011, most people can work for as long as they choose to, and the Government is committed to ensuring that employers are aware of the wealth of skills and experience that older workers bring to the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions engages with employers to encourage positive attitudes towards older workers. The Government appointed Andy Briggs as the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers who spearheads work to promote the benefits of older workers and having multigenerational workforces to employers across England, and the adoption of suitable work practices to increase the retention, retraining and recruitment of older workers.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2023, the Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression announced the appointment of Helen Tomlinson, as the Government’s Menopause Employment Champion, to drive awareness of issues surrounding the menopause and work and encourage employers to develop policies that create a more supportive environment to support women to stay in work, progress or re-join the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has signed the Age-friendly employer pledge, a nationwide programme run by the Centre for Ageing Better to promote age inclusive working practices. In turn, the National Employment and Partnership Team (NEPT) are engaging with employers and promoting the pledge to encourage others to sign up too.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2023 10:48:59 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1312041

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2021
	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	Post Office Card Account
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on elderly people and people with mobility issues in towns and villages without bank branches of the discontinuation of the Post Office card system.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	187209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2021 12:29:26 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1284768

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2021
	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	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
	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 potential merits of extending the one calendar month deadline to request a mandatory reconsideration to allow claimants sufficient time to compile necessary information in the context of delays caused by the covid-19 (a) outbreak and (b) lockdown announced in January 2021.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	150792
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2021 answer text <p>The law provides that if an application is made outside the one month time limit but within 13 months of the decision being disputed, the application will be admitted as in time where the claimant can show there were special circumstances for the late application.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants do not have to submit all of the supporting information within one month. When they apply for a Mandatory Reconsideration, they can inform the Decision Maker they intend to provide further information. In these cases, more time will be allowed for this to be provided and no decision will be made until it is received.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 12/02/2021 14:20:34 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

390878

	registered interest
	date	16/07/2015
	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	Local Government: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to increase the £30,000 threshold for the Local Government Pension Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	7546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Defined benefit pension arrangements offer a high level of security and, in some cases, very valuable guarantees. Therefore it is important that individuals carefully consider the implications of giving these guarantees up before proceeding with a decision to transfer out to access their benefits flexibly.</p><p> </p><p>The independent financial advice £30,000 threshold applies to transfers out of all funded defined benefit schemes, including public sector schemes such as the Local Government Pension Scheme. The Government has no plans to create a separate threshold for funded public sector schemes.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 22/07/2015 11:29:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy