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1465076

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2022
	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: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets his Department has set for standard waiting times for new claimants of PIP to receive their first payment.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	6868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>There is no target for the completion of a claim to PIP through to the first payment. However, we are committed to ensuring that people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner. We always aim to make an award decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to review all the available evidence, including that from the claimant, any supporting evidence supplied and the advice from an assessment.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 6869 question first answered 25/05/2022 13:58:28 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1465077

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2022
	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: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to assess performance standards for average clearance times for new claims made under normal rules for Personal Independence Payments.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	6869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>There is no target for the completion of a claim to PIP through to the first payment. However, we are committed to ensuring that people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner. We always aim to make an award decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to review all the available evidence, including that from the claimant, any supporting evidence supplied and the advice from an assessment.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 6868 question first answered 25/05/2022 13:58:28 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1038325

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Disadvantaged
	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 level of social exclusion is in rural areas; and what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	206832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong>Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England, indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they feel they often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with 6%). In addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they belong to their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas (61%).</p><p> </p><p>The cross-government team on tackling loneliness are working with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and to share insights and learn from one another.</p><p> </p><p>In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act in May 2018, the government reiterated its commitment to rural proofing all policies from the earliest stages so that they take account of the needs and circumstances of rural areas. Defra supports this through the provision of guidance and statistical information.</p><p>DWP undertakes analytical research through a range of trials and proof of concept, which considers claimants in rural and urban settings. To ensure DWP services are relevant to the needs of the individual and locality, JCP staff monitor local developments, with a focus on overcoming barriers to gain employment. Where there is a perceived gap, the Flexible Support Fund can be used to provide additional financial support.</p><p> </p><p>In delivering a personalised service, claimant needs are taken into account when arranging any attendance. Work coaches personalise the support they provide for each claimant based on individual need and circumstance, including the offer of home visits or postal signing where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 206845 question first answered 16/01/2019 15:26:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1038346

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Disadvantaged
	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 her Department has made of (a) how widespread social exclusion is in rural areas and (b) the effect of her Department’s policies on social exclusion in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	206845
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong>Through the evidence gathered in the 2017-18 Community Life Survey in England, indicators linked to social exclusion do not show a significant difference between urban and rural areas. Adults living in rural areas are less likely to say that they feel they often/always feel lonely than people living in urban areas (3% compared with 6%). In addition, adults living in rural areas are more likely to say they feel they belong to their immediate neighbourhood (68%) than those living in urban areas (61%).</p><p> </p><p>The cross-government team on tackling loneliness are working with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations to ensure our work is complementary and to share insights and learn from one another.</p><p> </p><p>In its response to a House of Lords’ report on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act in May 2018, the government reiterated its commitment to rural proofing all policies from the earliest stages so that they take account of the needs and circumstances of rural areas. Defra supports this through the provision of guidance and statistical information.</p><p>DWP undertakes analytical research through a range of trials and proof of concept, which considers claimants in rural and urban settings. To ensure DWP services are relevant to the needs of the individual and locality, JCP staff monitor local developments, with a focus on overcoming barriers to gain employment. Where there is a perceived gap, the Flexible Support Fund can be used to provide additional financial support.</p><p> </p><p>In delivering a personalised service, claimant needs are taken into account when arranging any attendance. Work coaches personalise the support they provide for each claimant based on individual need and circumstance, including the offer of home visits or postal signing where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 206832 question first answered 16/01/2019 15:26:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061159

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Winter Fuel Payment: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk received winter fuel payments in each of the last five winter periods; and what the annual cost of winter fuel payments in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk was in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Figures for the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency are given in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>25,020</p></td><td><p>24,760</p></td><td><p>24,460</p></td><td><p>24,150</p></td><td><p>23,770</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Figures for the annual cost of Winter Fuel Payment from the past five winters is not available at constituency level.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/02/2019 12:46:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061160

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Cold Weather Payments: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk received cold weather payments in each of the last five winter periods; and what the annual cost of cold weather payments in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk was in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>The Cold Weather Payment scheme is administered at weather station level rather than any other standard GB geography such as constituency level. The coverage area for each weather station is determined by the Met Office which assesses the most appropriate weather station for each postcode area. Cold weather payments are triggered when the average temperature recorded at the weather station has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0<sup>o</sup>C or below over seven consecutive days, during the Cold Weather season (November to March).</p><p> </p><p>The constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk covers all or part of the following postcode areas: DG14, EH37, EH38, EH43 and TD1-15.</p><p> </p><p>The above postcode areas are covered by four weather stations: Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh. Qualifying individuals living in this area will have received a payment in respect of a seven-day period of Cold Weather, as shown in <strong>Table 1</strong>.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Table 1 Estimated number of Cold Weather Payment recipients, by year and weather station</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>6,000<sup>1</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>72,000<sup>1</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5,000<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>5,000<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>19,000<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>35,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>34,000<sup>2</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p><sup>1</sup> There were two triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received two payments in that year. <sup>2</sup> There were four triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received four payments in that year. <sup>3</sup> There were five triggers at this weather station; recipients will have received five payments in that year.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Estimated expenditure for Cold Weather Payment recipients covered by Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh weather stations can be seen in <strong>Table 2,</strong> along with the annual total for the four weather stations.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Table 2 Estimated Expenditure of Cold Weather Payments, by year</strong> <strong> and weather station</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.3m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£3.6m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.2m</p></td><td><p>£0.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.6m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£0.9m</p></td><td><p>£0.9m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£3.4m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£1.1m</p></td><td><p>£1.1m</p></td><td><p>£0.0m</p></td><td><p>£7.9m</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Charterhall, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Eskdalemuir and Salsburgh weather stations cover the following postcode areas, in <strong>Table 3</strong>, which include constituencies other than Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. We estimate that 313,000 payments to 117,000 recipients, totalling £7.9 million expenditure, were made in this area as a whole in respect of the triggers in 2017/18. We are not able to break this figure down to a lower level.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Table 3 Postcode sectors mapped to Weather Stations</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Weather station</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Postcode Sectors Covered</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Charterhall</p></td><td><p>NE71, TD1-6, TD8, TD10-15.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Edinburgh Gogarbank</p></td><td><p>EH1-42, EH47-49, EH51-55, FK1-7, FK9-10, KY3, KY11-12.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eskdalemuir</p></td><td><p>DG3-4, DG10-11, DG13-14, ML12, TD7, TD9.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Salsburgh</p></td><td><p>EH43-46, G65, G67-68, ML1-3, ML6-11.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><ol><li>The number of recipients and payments given here is an estimate as information on the exact number is not readily available. These figures are produced by determining the volume of eligible recipients in each weather station area at the start of the winter season and using these figures throughout the winter to estimate payments and expenditure based on the actual triggers recorded.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="2"><li>The number of payments made is not necessarily the total number of individuals benefitting from a Cold Weather Payment. Any individuals making a joint claim for one of the qualifying benefits, such as a couple living together, will receive one payment between them rather than one payment each. Furthermore, if a weather station triggers more than once throughout a cold weather season then the recipients will receive more than one payment.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="3"><li>Estimates of Cold Weather Payments are published weekly during the Cold Weather season. The latest published estimates can be found at the link below:</li></ol><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-fund-cold-weather-payments" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-fund-cold-weather-payments</a></p><p> </p><ol start="4"><li>The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (CWP) scheme provides help to individuals on benefits who are the most vulnerable to the cold. Eligibility to receive CWP is detailed on the Cold Weather Payment Eligibility page which can be found at the link below:</li></ol><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/02/2019 09:57:03 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061168

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Cancer
	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 merits of changing disability living allowance and personal independence payments to enable young cancer patients to get payments backdated from the day of diagnosis.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>Other than for those who are terminally ill, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability rather than a diagnosis. Primary legislation sets out that a claimant cannot be entitled to DLA or PIP for any period prior to the date of claim.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/02/2019 13:45:09 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1061169

	registered interest
	date	14/02/2019
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Terminal Illnesses
	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 extend the Special Rules for Terminal Illness process for personal independence payments to include people with unpredictable terminal illnesses such as Motor Neurone Disease.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	221824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2019 answer text <p>As for the entitlement conditions generally, the special rules for terminal illness in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are not condition-based. At the end of October 2018, there were 751 claimants with Motor Neurone Disease in receipt of PIP under the special rules for terminal illness.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I have met with the Honourable Member for Bridgend, Madeleine Moon MP, the Chair of the All-Party Group on Motor Neurone Disease on a number of occasions, and will continue to work with her alongside other stakeholders.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/02/2019 13:29:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1124929

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: Housing
	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 automatic payment of the housing cost element of universal credit directly to the landlord.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	251332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>Many claimants are capable of managing their own financial affairs and for these claimants a Managed Payment to Landlords (MPTL) is not appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>A claimant’s personal circumstances could change in a way which means that they need additional support at any stage of a claim, not just at the start. As such, we make sure that managed payments to landlords (MPTL) are available to Universal Credit claimants when appropriate, either from the start of their claim or at whatever point in which they need help.</p><p> </p><p>A MPTL can be requested by the claimant, their representative or their landlord and will be considered on a case by case basis and requests for MPTLs are dealt with as a priority. Landlords who are given access to the Landlord Portal are also given Trusted Partner status which allows them to make recommendations on whether an MPTL should be put in place. All MPTL recommendations from Trusted Partners will be implemented in good faith by DWP.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/05/2019 11:07:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont

1142927

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	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 she has any plans to (a) change the rules on the state pension age for women and (b) compensate those affected by the change in rules.
	tabling member constituency	Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
	tabling member printed	John Lamont
	uin	284405
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Successive Governments have made necessary decisions to equalise and increase the State Pension age. State Pension age reform has focused on maintaining the right balance between sustainability of State Pension, equality and fairness between generations in the face of demographic change.</p><p> </p><p>Even after equalising women’s State Pension age with men’s, women will spend more than 2 years longer on average in receipt of their state pension because of their longer life expectancy. If we had not equalised State Pension age, women would be expected to spend on average over 40 per cent of their adult lives in retirement.</p><p> </p><p>During the passage of the Pensions Act 2011, the Government listened to the concerns of those affected and this is why we introduced a concession worth over £1 billion in order to limit the impact on those women who would be most affected by the changes. This concession reduced the proposed increase in State Pension age for over 450,000 men and women, and means that no woman will see her pension age change by more than 18 months, relative to the 1995 Act timetable.</p><p> </p><p>For people who simply can’t work, our welfare system will continue to provide a strong safety net, as it does for people of all ages now. Any women experiencing hardship, including problems such as unemployment, disability, and coping with caring responsibilities, can already claim support from the welfare system. The Government is committed to supporting the vulnerable and spends over £50 billion a year on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. The new State Pension is more generous for many women. Over three million women stand to gain an average of £550 extra per year by 2030 as a result of recent State Pension reforms.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 06/09/2019 13:22:12 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4608 label Biography information for John Lamont