Linked Data API

Show Search Form

Search Results

1141922
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-07-24more like thismore than 2019-07-24
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Poverty more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the National School Breakfast Programme feeding an estimated 280,000 children, (2) the number of pupils receiving Free School Meals, (3) the incidence of food banks, food pantries and similar help in kind, throughout England and Wales; and what consideration they are giving, as a result of any such assessment, to reviewing their policies to address destitution, food and fuel poverty and ensure sufficient services to prevent poverty. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL17466 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-08-05more like thismore than 2019-08-05
answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling poverty in all its forms by building a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. A child growing up in a home where all adults are working is around 5 times less likely to be in poverty than a child in a household where nobody works. Since 2010, there are around 1 million fewer workless households and 667,000 fewer children in such households.</p><p>To help make sure every child gets the best start in life, the Department for Education is investing up to £26 million in a programme to establish or improve breakfast clubs in over 1,700 schools, targeting most disadvantaged areas. The programme’s effectiveness will be reviewed once it concludes next year. Additionally, over 1.2 million of the most disadvantaged children receive a free school meal.</p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the incidence of food banks or similar charity-based provision in England and Wales. However, new questions have been added to the Family Resources Survey to develop a food insecurity measure from 2021 to help better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p><p>This Government spend more on family benefits than any other country in the G7, at 3.5% of GDP (OECD, 2015 data), demonstrating a commitment to providing a strong safety net for those that need it.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott more like this
question first answered
remove maximum value filtermore like thismore than 2019-08-05T15:49:45.287Z
answering member
4174
label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1140015
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Poverty more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to review their policies to address poverty, and (2) to ensure sufficient services for and assistance to those at risk of destitution. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL17250 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-07-23more like thismore than 2019-07-23
answer text <p>This Government is committed to a sustainable solution to poverty in all its forms, by building a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. We have acted to increase the incomes of the poorest in society, for example, by increasing the National Living Wage and announcing a £4.5 billion cash boost to Universal Credit in the last Budget. We are also working with the Social Metrics Commission, and other experts in the field, to develop new experimental statistics which will help us to find new and better ways to analyse poverty in this country. These will be published in 2020 and, in the long-run, could help us target support more effectively.</p><p> </p><p>Through our Jobcentre network, we are taking wider action to support vulnerable claimants. Work coaches are upskilled to recognise and help claimants with a wide range of complex employment barriers and work with external partners to offer individualised, specialist support to help people to turn their lives around.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-07-23T13:46:36.207Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-23T13:46:36.207Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1140019
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Food Poverty more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of people who need to use food banks. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL17254 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-07-23more like thismore than 2019-07-23
answer text <p>This Government is committed to a sustainable solution to poverty in all its forms, by building a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. Households where all adults are in work are around 6 times less likely to be in relative poverty than adults in a household where nobody works. Compared to 2010, there are 3.7 million more people in work and around 1 million fewer workless households.</p><p> </p><p>We have worked with food insecurity experts, the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government to introduce a new set of food security questions in the Family Resources Survey starting from April 2019. This means that we will, in future, be able to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity across the UK and for specific groups, to better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-07-23T13:37:04.85Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-23T13:37:04.85Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1137378
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-07-08more like thismore than 2019-07-08
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Welfare State more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a new "safety net" to prevent people from becoming destitute; and what consideration they have given to re-establishing a national assistance board to assist in this endeavour. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL16985 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
answer text <p>This Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need it. We continue to spend over £95 billion a year on working age welfare benefits. We have a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans for those who need extra support, and Jobcentre managers work closely with external partners to help vulnerable claimants. Our local government finance settlement means that over this year and next, councils will get over £10 billion in direct grants from central government to continue to offer a range of vital services to their local communities. We have no plans to re-establish a national assistance board.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-07-17T15:04:19.59Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-17T15:04:19.59Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1130234
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-06-05more like thismore than 2019-06-05
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Poverty more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last discussed (1) low and insecure incomes, (2) issues emerging from the rollout of Universal Credit, and (3) increased demand for food banks, with representatives of the relevant voluntary agencies; and what was the outcome of those discussions. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL16095 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular meetings with key stakeholders to discuss a diverse range of issues that fall within the Department’s remit and impact on the lives of claimants. Many of these contacts occur at a local level between Jobcentres and external stakeholders which serve or represent their local communities, and such contacts are not recorded centrally, and to provide this information would incur disproportionate cost to the Department.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is designed to react and respond quickly to feedback from our stakeholders and claimants to improve the service we offer; ensuring welfare payments reach those who need them most, and effectively supporting those with insecure or fluctuating incomes. At a national level we meet regularly with stakeholders, partners and third party organisations to discuss Universal Credit and invite views and collaboration, for example, on the design of the processes for moving people onto Universal Credit. This includes identifying and tackling barriers and concerns.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the Government is committed to building an economy that works for everyone. Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) the Government protects the lowest paid within our society.</p><p> </p>
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-06-19T11:32:43.13Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-19T11:32:43.13Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1130235
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-06-05more like thismore than 2019-06-05
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit: Repayments more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for modifiying the repayment of Universal Credit advance payments in order to take into account individual circumstances such as debts related to (1) utilities, (2) Council Tax, and (3) previous loans. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL16096 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
answer text <p>The Department recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance, and from October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>The average advance amount for new claims is around £400, which can be repaid over a period of 12 months, at a rate of £33.33 per month. Therefore, in the majority of cases, advance payment recovery is small in comparison to the whole Universal Credit award, with a current average award of £658 per month.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that exceptional circumstances may occur to claimants that were not foreseen when the advance was taken out. Help is available for those struggling to meet the recovery rate once recovery begins and if the claimant is facing unexpected financial hardship they can ask the Department for a deferral of the repayment of any advance they have taken out. The deferral periods are up to 3 months for a new claim, benefit transfer or change of circumstances advance and up to 6 months for a Budgeting advance.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant has a reduction in benefit due to a Fraud Penalty or Conditionally Sanction that equals or exceeds 40% of their Universal Credit standard allowance then no advance repayment will be taken. If there is insufficient Universal Credit in payment due to reductions such as earnings, other income and capital yield to take the full amount of advances repayment, a lesser amount will be taken.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-06-19T11:35:17.333Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-19T11:35:17.333Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1124869
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-05-07more like thismore than 2019-05-07
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Food Banks: Somerset more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports showing a 23 per cent increase in demand for food parcels between 2017 and 2019 at Somer Valley foodbank, Somerset; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for any such increase. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL15544 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-05-21more like thismore than 2019-05-21
answer text <p>The Government does not collect official data on the use of food banks, therefore has not made such assessments.</p><p>We have worked with food insecurity experts, the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government to introduce a new set of food security questions in the Family Resources Survey starting from April 2019. This means that we will in future be able to monitor the prevalence and severity of household food insecurity across the UK and for specific groups, to better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-05-21T14:32:30.673Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-21T14:32:30.673Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1078973
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-02-27more like thismore than 2019-02-27
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to extending (1) the fortnightly payment system used in Northern Ireland, and (2) the more flexible payment system used in Scotland, for Universal Credit to the rest of the UK. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL14095 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-03-13more like thismore than 2019-03-13
answer text <p>On 11 January the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced a number of measures that will provide increased support for Universal Credit claimants, including supporting claimants who would benefit from getting paid more frequently. To support this, the Department is running a pilot in 14 jobcentres across England and Wales to actively explain and promote more frequent payments to customers at the outset of their Universal Credit claim. The trial will last for four weeks, followed by a period of evaluation. This analysis will take place over a 3-month period to track the trial cohort to identify take up rates, effects on payment timeliness, effects on phone calls and reversion rates.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-03-13T15:11:25.267Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-13T15:11:25.267Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1029115
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-12-19more like thismore than 2018-12-19
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they anticipate take-up of income-related benefits to improve after the roll out of Universal Credit; if so, what improvement they anticipate; and over what time period. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL12463 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-01-08more like thismore than 2019-01-08
answer text <p>We anticipate a further 700,000 households will get entitlements they were not claiming under the legacy system, worth on average £285 per month as Universal Credit is a more accurate system and will ensure people will receive the right entitlement. Within the legacy system, there are £2.4bn of unclaimed benefits not taken up by people who need them.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-01-08T17:56:18.99Zmore like thismore than 2019-01-08T17:56:18.99Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter
1024852
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2018-12-13more like thismore than 2018-12-13
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions remove filter
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that when a claimants Universal Credit is stopped because they have been admitted to hospital it is re-started without delay when they are discharged. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Hylton more like this
uin HL12293 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2018-12-20more like thismore than 2018-12-20
answer text <p>A single claimant who becomes a hospital in-patient will be treated as having a Limited Capability for Work. As such, they retain their entitlement to Universal Credit and as such there is no end to their Universal Credit claim, and no requirement for them to reclaim.</p><p> </p><p>If the hospitalised claimant is part of a couple, their joint claim will continue, so long as the claimant is or is expected to be discharged within six months. When one partner remains in hospital for longer than six months, we would expect the joint claim to end and an individual claim to be made. Where this is the case and a new claim is made, an advance will be available for up to 100 per cent of the standard allowance, ensuring financial support while a claim is completed.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Buscombe more like this
question first answered
less than 2018-12-20T15:14:17.84Zmore like thismore than 2018-12-20T15:14:17.84Z
answering member
3349
label Biography information for Baroness Buscombe more like this
tabling member
2018
label Biography information for Lord Hylton remove filter