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1045612

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2019
	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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the universal credit payment system so that claimants paid on a four-weekly basis for part-time or casual work do not have their benefit payment substantially reduced as a result of receiving two work payments four weeks apart in one calendar month.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Bill Grant
	uin	210704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments reflect, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income falls, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>Some claimants receive earnings from work multiple times within an assessment period if they are paid via four-weekly, fortnightly, or weekly patterns. This in turn may reduce, or in some cases, nil the Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month. We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are aware and it is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p> </p><p>Claimants can always discuss the implications of this with their case managers and work coaches and can be referred to Personal Budgeting Support to help them manage their budgeting.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence of erroneous or late reporting by employers, and HMRC have recently updated guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/01/2019 17:10:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

987719

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2018
	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	What recent changes the Government has made to universal credit to protect the incomes of the most vulnerable claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Bill Grant
	uin	907057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>We have already spent £1.5 billion on improvements during the first assessment period. We have already committed more money to protect the most vulnerable, including the 500,000 people currently receiving the Severe Disability Premium. A million disabled people will be better off.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/10/2018 16:11:09 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

969088

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2018
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	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 carried out an impact assessment on the effect of the change to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s on their families and dependents.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Bill Grant
	uin	171396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2018 answer text <p>Successive Governments have taken care to give proper consideration to the impact of the proposals made in the Pensions Acts of 1995, 2007 and 2011, which each made changes to the State Pension age that affected women born in the 1950s. The exact form of the assessments has changed over time as the requirements on Government to carry out standardised impact assessments have changed.</p><p>The Pensions Act 1995 legislated to equalise men and women’s SPa at 65, over a 10 year period between 2010 and 2020. Standardised impact assessments had not been introduced at the time, but an overview of the options and evidence considered when developing the policy is provided in the 1993 white paper ‘Equality in State Pension age’. (See attached)</p><p>The Pensions Act 2007 legislated to introduce a timetable for the increase of SPa to 66, 67 and 68, so that these rises took place by 2026, 2036 and 2046.</p><p>The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2007 can be found here: <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204130650/http:/www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pensions-bill-ria.pdf" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204130650/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pensions-bill-ria.pdf</a></p><p>The Pensions Act 2011 brought forward the equalisation of the male and female State Pension age at 65 by 18 months, so that it takes place by November 2018 rather than April 2020. It also brought forward the increase from 65 to 66 by five and a half years, so that it takes place by October 2020 rather than March 2026.</p><p>The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2011 can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181462/pensions-bill-2011-ia-annexa.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181462/pensions-bill-2011-ia-annexa.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/09/2018 09:53:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

967854

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2018
	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: Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants there are in the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Bill Grant
	uin	170392
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2018 answer text <p>The latest available information on the number of people on Universal Credit by parliamentary constituency and local authority is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 12/09/2018 16:38:29 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

720814

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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: Autism
	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 launch a national programme to promote the employment potential of autistic people to employers.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	70516
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>The Department is actively promoting the employment potential of all disabled people across Britain, including those with autism, to employers via the Disability Confident Scheme. To further support employers, the Hidden Impairments National Group, established by DWP, provides an “Uncovering Hidden Impairment toolkit” which is free of charge to employers.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 24/04/2017 12:05:10 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson

720815

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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: Autism
	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 record the number of autistic people in employment as part of the Labour Force Survey; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that autistic people are benefitting from increased employment rates.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	70517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>Over a number of years employment data on people with specific long term health conditions has been collected by the Office for National Statistics using the Labour Force Survey. This important survey has allowed the Department to produce useful time series statistics on the employment rates of individuals with long term health conditions, where this information is collected. The Labour Force Survey includes a large range of health conditions that survey respondents can report they experience; however this does not currently include autism as one of the named health conditions and there are no plans to begin collecting this data.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is working with Autism Alliance UK on a national training programme for Jobcentre Plus staff (so that they can better support claimants with autism into work). In addition, the Department has helped to develop a Disability Passport - About Me - to support disabled people, including those with autism, who are seeking jobs and those helping them. Disabled people can share it with their work coach or adviser, to help improve communication and put any reasonable adjustments in place at the earliest opportunity.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, Improving Lives – the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper sets out the Government’s proposals for improving work and health outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. We are now considering consultation responses and the next steps for longer term reform.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 24/04/2017 12:10:02 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson

712528

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2017
	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	Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on behalf of DEC, Compaq and Hewlett Packard pensioners with pre-1997 pension contributions in resolving their case.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	68483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2017 answer text <p>I have met senior representatives from the company to present the pensioners’ arguments and make clear my interest in the matter.</p><p> </p><p>However, the company is meeting its legal obligations.</p><p> </p><p>Any increases to pensions in payment are likely to mean significant additional expenditure for any scheme and its sponsoring employer. Therefore, the Government has no plans to require all schemes to pay increases on pre-1997 pensions.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 23/03/2017 15:45:31 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson

711116

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2017
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what advice his Department issues to personal independence payment claimants on their right to have a recorded home assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	67931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2017 answer text <p>Any claimant can request a home consultation for Personal Independence Payment, however a claimant may specifically require a home consultation where their diagnosis suggests extreme difficulty travelling to an assessment due to their health condition or impairment.</p><p> </p><p>All PIP claimants are entitled to use their own equipment to record assessments, within an assessment centre or at their home. This equipment should meet DWP standards. You can find standards for recording PIP assessments, for each Assessment Provider, on their respective websites, or by using the following links:</p><p> </p><p>Atos: <a href="http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation" target="_blank">http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation</a></p><p>Capita: <a href="http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/assessment-process.html" target="_blank">http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/assessment-process.html</a></p><p> </p><p>The Health Professional does not need to separately consider the recording of a recorded assessment, as they will have conducted the assessment themselves and produced a report; however a copy the recording will be held securely for 14 months following. The Department will consider evidence from the recorded home assessment report in the same way it considers all PIP assessments; by treating people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 67930 question first answered 22/03/2017 13:07:20 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson

711117

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2017
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria his Department uses to determine eligibility for recorded home assessments for personal independence payment; what support his Department provides for vulnerable claimants who require home assessments; and what processes are undertaken by his Department to consider the evidence from recorded home assessments.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	67930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2017 answer text <p>Any claimant can request a home consultation for Personal Independence Payment, however a claimant may specifically require a home consultation where their diagnosis suggests extreme difficulty travelling to an assessment due to their health condition or impairment.</p><p> </p><p>All PIP claimants are entitled to use their own equipment to record assessments, within an assessment centre or at their home. This equipment should meet DWP standards. You can find standards for recording PIP assessments, for each Assessment Provider, on their respective websites, or by using the following links:</p><p> </p><p>Atos: <a href="http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation" target="_blank">http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation</a></p><p>Capita: <a href="http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/assessment-process.html" target="_blank">http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/assessment-process.html</a></p><p> </p><p>The Health Professional does not need to separately consider the recording of a recorded assessment, as they will have conducted the assessment themselves and produced a report; however a copy the recording will be held securely for 14 months following. The Department will consider evidence from the recorded home assessment report in the same way it considers all PIP assessments; by treating people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 67931 question first answered 22/03/2017 13:07:20 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson

705734

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2017
	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 and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Seventh Report of the Work and Pensions Committee, Disability Employment Gap, HC56, if he will make it his policy to postpone the introduction of the new rate of employment and support allowance for people in the work-related activity group until new programmes to support such people are introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
	tabling member printed	Corri Wilson
	uin	65724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2017 answer text <p>We intend to proceed with our reforms to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) because we believe they are the best way to ensure that we provide the right support for those who are unable to work due to a health condition or disability. That support is not limited to just money, but also practical help for ESA claimants to take steps towards and into work, while keeping an important safety net in place for those who are vulnerable or unable to work.</p><p> </p><p>This change will only apply to new claims from 3 April 2017 and will only affect those in the ESA Work Related Activity Group</p><p> </p><p>Existing ESA claimants with a current claim prior to 3 April will not be affected and will continue to get the same level of financial support, with additional protections, including when reassessed and placed in the Work Related Activity Group, set out in regulations.</p><p> </p><p>A key part of our reforms is the allocation of a total of £330m for new, voluntary employment support for people with limited capability for work, over four years starting from April 2017, and an extra £15 million through a top up to the existing Flexible Support Fund in both 2017/18 and 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p>This additional funding means that from April 2017 we will be offering people newly placed in the Work Related Activity Group, and it’s Universal Credit equivalent, more assistance to move closer to the labour market and when they are ready into work.</p><p> </p><p>As well as the £330m set out above, the 2015 Spending Review announced the new Work and Health Programme, which will focus support on people with a disability or health condition. In addition to beginning a commercial process to let contracts with a total value in excess of £400m for the Work and Health Programme in the rest of England and Wales, the Department has announced its intention to provide around £100m of funding to London and Greater Manchester to develop, procure and deliver localised versions of the new Work and Health Programme to fit the needs of their residents. We are also in discussion with the Scottish Government about devolving an appropriate level of funding for equivalent support they may wish to offer.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 06/03/2017 13:16:50 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4448 label Biography information for Corri Wilson