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1675616

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2023
	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	Disability: Poverty
	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 an assessment of the potential impact of the proposals set out in the Government Response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, published on 22 November 2023, on trends in the level of disabled people in poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	5350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of the changes to Work Capability Assessments on levels of poverty for disabled people or people with or health conditions. The overall financial impacts of these measures on individuals have been considered in taking decisions on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), alongside consideration of the responses to the consultation.</p><p> </p><p>The Office for Budget Responsibility have published their assessment of the numbers that they expect to be affected by the changes and HMT have also published the impacts in their policy costing note that accompanies the Autumn Statement. We aim to publish an Impact Assessment in due course.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 12/12/2023 15:12:09 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1675617

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2023
	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	Disability: Benefits Rules
	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 Government's response to the Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors consultation, what estimate he has made of the proportion of consultation responses that were in favour of any of the proposals.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	5351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2023 answer text <p>We carefully considered the Work Capability Assessment consultation responses and feedback from our public events and engagement. We received over 1,300 written responses, including from disabled people and people with health conditions, as well as the organisations that represent and support them.</p><p>We do not have an estimate of the proportion that were in favour of any of the proposals.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 13/12/2023 14:10:00 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1675618

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2023
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether income-related ESA claimants who are re-assessed upon moving to Universal Credit through Managed Migration after 2025 will be subject to the existing or new Work Capability Assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	5352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>There is no automatic referral for reassessment for customers at the point that they move from Employment Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit (UC). If a customer has an existing ESA Work Capability Assessment decision, they will not be required to have another assessment in order to get the health-related additions of Universal Credit, unless their health condition has changed.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 11/12/2023 17:34:09 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1675620

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2023
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the scorecard set out in the Autumn Statement document for the reform of the Work Capability Assessment descriptors takes into account the planned implementation of the Health and Disability White Paper for new claimants from 2026-27.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	5354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>The impact of the planned reforms set out in the Health and Disability White Paper has not yet been scored by the Office for Budget Responsibility. Therefore, the impact of the changes to the Work Capability Assessment announced at Autumn Budget do not include the impact of the White Paper reforms.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 12/12/2023 13:04:06 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1669596

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	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 consultation entitled Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors, published on 5 September 2023, if he will make an estimate of the number of claimants that would no longer be found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity in (a) Motherwell and Wishaw constituency (b) Scotland and (c) the United Kingdom if each of the proposals in that consultation were implemented.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	1616
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2023 answer text <p>DWP’s consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment closed on Monday 30 October. Over 1300 individuals and organisations submitted a response and 14 public consultation events were held, both face-to-face across Great Britain, and virtually. The consultation responses are now being considered and decisions will be taken in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The department has developed estimates of the impacts of these proposals on disabled people. We are continuing to refine these estimates as responses to the consultation are considered. This analysis is not available at a subnational level.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 20/11/2023 16:54:13 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1669311

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2023
	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	Disability: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposals in the Work Capability Assessment: activities and descriptors consultation on the number of disabled people living in poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	900022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2023 answer text <p>The consultation closed on Monday 30 October and covered a range of options on the Work Capability Assessment. We received over 1,300 responses to the consultation and these are now being considered.</p><p>The department has developed estimates of the number of claimants impacted across the range of options being considered in the Work Capability Assessment activities and descriptors consultation.</p><p>Assessing poverty impacts would involve projecting forward every household’s income and individual circumstances, which is not possible to do with confidence.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 13/11/2023 16:45:29 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1643087

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2023
	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: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability employment advisors there are in the UK; and how many of those advisors there are per job centre.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	188587
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2023 answer text <p>There are currently over 770 Disability Employment Advisers in the UK. Disability Employment Adviser resource is allocated at district level and covers every Jobcentre in England, Scotland and Wales. We are ensuring that every Work Coach in every Jobcentre continues to have access to a Disability Employment Adviser.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 14/06/2023 10:29:47 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1640603

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2023
	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	Jobcentres: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work coaches there are in Job Centres in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	186913
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2023 answer text <p>As of 1st April 2023 there are:</p><p> </p><p>12,171 – Universal Credit Work Coaches</p><p>1,868 – Legacy Benefit Work Coaches</p><p>805 – Disability Employment Advisor (DEA)</p><p> </p><p>Total Work Coach, including DEA, is 14,844</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 06/06/2023 14:12:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1640604

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2023
	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	Jobcentres: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work coaches in job centres have specialist disability training.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	186914
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>All new DWP Work Coaches undergo comprehensive learning to support customers with additional or complex needs, particularly disabilities and they continue to build on this in the workplace through accessing point of need learning products.</p><p>The learning provides the work coach with an understanding of assisted digital, and how they can effectively coach claimants who find using digital services a challenge.</p><p>Work coaches are also signposted to tools, guidance support and websites to effectively use resources from both internal and external sites. This ensures that they access the most up to date advice and expertise on a particular health condition.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, within DWP, there are staff who undertake the Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) role. Staff who undertake this role are expected to have completed the Work Coach Learning Journey prior to commencing specific learning for the DEA role.</p><p>DEAs support Work Coaches by providing expert knowledge on how to support disabled customers, building the skills and capability of Work Coaches, and influencing employer engagement in local communities. DEA’s can also directly support customers with a health condition or disability where additional support can benefit the customer.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/06/2023 11:43:07 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1609971

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2023
	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	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, whether a new assessment will be introduced for Personal Independence Payment to take account of the end of the work capability assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	180104
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper announced that we will legislate to remove the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) so that in future there will only be one health and disability assessment, the PIP assessment.</p><p> </p><p>This will remove the need to be found to have limited capability for work and limited capability to prepare for work to receive additional income-related support for a disability or health condition, giving people confidence that they will receive support, for as long as it is needed, regardless of whether they are working.</p><p> </p><p>In today’s benefits system some people that receive the Universal Credit health element as a result of being determined to have Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity do not receive Personal Independence Payment. This is also the case for some people that are in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group.</p><p> </p><p>For this group, we will carefully consider whether they meet the PIP assessment and eligibility criteria. As we develop our reform proposals, we will consider how disabled people and people with health conditions who need additional financial support may receive it.</p><p> </p><p /> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 24/04/2023 16:01:20 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1609195

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2023
	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	Disability: Surveys
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Departments will commence the series of regular disability surveys as set out in the National Disability Strategy published in July 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	177783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The 2021 National Disability Strategy set out an ambition to improve the lives of millions of disabled people in the UK. In January 2022, the High Court declared the strategy to be unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations. The DWP Secretary of State has been granted permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure compliance with the Court’s declaration, we are obliged to pause a limited number of policies which are referred to in the strategy, or are directly connected with it. This policy is not one of the policies we have been obliged to pause.</p><p> </p><p>ONS started work on developing a survey into disabled people’s experiences and barriers in 2022 and to date the following have been completed:</p><p> </p><p>ONS</p><ul><li>Designed the sampling method and agreed the sample sources</li><li>Designed and costed the survey operational delivery</li><li>Designed and cognitively tested the paper materials</li><li>Drafted and tested invitation letters, respondent reminders and survey leaflets</li><li>Completed some cognitive testing of commissioned questions / requirements</li><li>Tested several questions and responses with both disabled and non-disabled people</li><li>Developed and implemented an engagement plan for the survey</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Disability Unit:</p><ul><li>Is exploring options for funding and/or sponsorship to make the survey a reality (for example by working with business and research funders, as well as Government departments).</li></ul><p> </p><p>Further work is being undertaken by ONS on question development and testing, which will then lead to a pilot survey to develop future analytical products.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 17/04/2023 11:28:42 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1609196

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2023
	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	Disability: Surveys
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of running the series of regular disability surveys as set out in National Disability Strategy published in July 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	177784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The 2021 National Disability Strategy set out an ambition to improve the lives of millions of disabled people in the UK. In January 2022, the High Court declared the strategy to be unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations. The DWP Secretary of State has been granted permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure compliance with the Court’s declaration, we are obliged to pause a limited number of policies which are referred to in the strategy, or are directly connected with it. This policy is not one of the policies we have been obliged to pause.</p><p> </p><p>ONS started work on developing a survey into disabled people’s experiences and barriers in 2022. The cost is estimated at £2.1 million as a start-up figure, followed by an estimated yearly cost of £1.5 million, for which we are seeking funding with a range of partners.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 17/04/2023 11:33:00 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1609199

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2023
	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	Disability: Departmental Coordination
	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 publishing a cross-government harmonised disability data as set out in the National Disability Strategy published in July 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	177786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The 2021 National Disability Strategy set out an ambition to improve the lives of millions of disabled people in the UK. In January 2022, the High Court declared the strategy to be unlawful because the UK Disability Survey, which informed it, was held to be a voluntary consultation that failed to comply with the legal requirements on public consultations. The DWP Secretary of State has been granted permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal.</p><p> </p><p>In order to ensure compliance with the Court’s declaration, we are obliged to pause a limited number of policies which are referred to in the strategy, or are directly connected with it. This policy is not one of the policies we have been obliged to pause.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Unit continues to work with ONS and statistical teams across Government to encourage wider use of harmonised disability concepts and definitions across departmental data and is working with ONS on the review of disability data harmonised standards to meet user needs and explore potential improvements.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 17/04/2023 11:32:27 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1609201

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2023
	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 and Unemployment: Sign Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of the (a) employment rate (b) unemployment rate and (c) rate of economic inactivity among people of working age who use British Sign Language as their primary language.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	177787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>We hold no estimate of the employment rate, unemployment rate, or rate of economic inactivity among working age people who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their primary language.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a range of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including those who use BSL as their primary language, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:</p><ul><li>Increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres for people with health conditions receiving Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance;</li><li>Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres offering advice and expertise on how to help disabled people and people with health conditions into work;</li><li>The Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support, providing tailored and personalised support for participants;</li><li>Access to Work grants towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;</li><li>Disability Confident encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace;</li><li>The Information and Advice Service providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace; and</li><li>Support in partnership between DWP and the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies, which combines psychological treatment and employment support for people with mental health conditions.</li></ul><p> </p><p>To tackle rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, we announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work. New investment will provide faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions, the two leading causes of economic inactivity due to long-term sickness.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 17/04/2023 11:24:47 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1458796

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Learning Disability and Mental Health
	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 with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to draw up a legally binding agreement to commit to an action plan that meets the needs of benefit recipients with mental health impairments and learning disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	156515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Since March 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been corresponding with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the Department’s duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people pursuant to the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to continuously improving services and delivering in a way that is compassionate and responsive to claimant needs. However, DWP considers it complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and has not identified any systemic unlawful action.</p><p> </p><p>For that reason, DWP has not reached or entered into a legal agreement with the EHRC and therefore there is no timetable planned for publishing a legally binding commitment.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to work collaboratively with the Commission towards fulfilling shared goals and addressing any of their concerns.</p><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 156516 156517 question first answered 27/04/2022 13:25:07 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1458797

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Learning Disability and Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her planned timetable is for publishing a legally binding commitment with the Equality and Human Rights Commission that commits her Department to an action plan to meet the needs of benefit recipients with mental health impairments and learning disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	156516
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Since March 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been corresponding with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the Department’s duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people pursuant to the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to continuously improving services and delivering in a way that is compassionate and responsive to claimant needs. However, DWP considers it complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and has not identified any systemic unlawful action.</p><p> </p><p>For that reason, DWP has not reached or entered into a legal agreement with the EHRC and therefore there is no timetable planned for publishing a legally binding commitment.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to work collaboratively with the Commission towards fulfilling shared goals and addressing any of their concerns.</p><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 156515 156517 question first answered 27/04/2022 13:25:08 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1458798

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Equality
	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 has taken to work with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure that the Equality Act 2010 is enforced in the benefits system.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	156517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>Since March 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been corresponding with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the Department’s duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people pursuant to the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to continuously improving services and delivering in a way that is compassionate and responsive to claimant needs. However, DWP considers it complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and has not identified any systemic unlawful action.</p><p> </p><p>For that reason, DWP has not reached or entered into a legal agreement with the EHRC and therefore there is no timetable planned for publishing a legally binding commitment.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to work collaboratively with the Commission towards fulfilling shared goals and addressing any of their concerns.</p><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 156515 156516 question first answered 27/04/2022 13:25:08 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1452954

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Access to Work Programme: Flexible Working
	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 the access to work programme facilitates flexible working.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	143721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2022 answer text <p>Working with disabled people, Access to Work has developed a flexible offer to enable disabled people to take up flexible working arrangements. The Access to Work flexible offer contains a blended package of support, that complements standard adjustments and offers a tailored package of support to enable work in the workplace, at home, or a combination of both.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 24/03/2022 15:07:54 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1452955

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Access to Work Programme
	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 access to work scheme, what is the total number of applications that have been (a) awarded the maximum payment cap grant and (b) rejected due to exceeding the payment cap.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	143722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>The information requested on the total number of applications that were a) awarded the maximum payment cap grant and b) rejected due to exceeding the payment cap, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p>The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 28/03/2022 16:07:43 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1452957

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Access to Work Programme
	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 access to work scheme, how many applications have had their processing been delayed (a) in total and (b) for a duration of (i) 0 to 6 months, (ii) 6 to 12 months and (iii) over 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	143723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>I am not able to provide information regarding how many applications have had their processing delayed (a) in total and (b) for a duration of (i) 0 to 6 months, (ii) 6 to 12 months and (iii) over 12 months, as we do not hold this data. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work are currently receiving an increased level of applications for support and are working through all applications to ensure that they are progressed as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>For applications where a customer is due to begin a job with a start date within 4 weeks, their case will be prioritised, and contact made as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>For renewal applications for on-going support, these are also being prioritised and in the majority of cases, support approved using a new streamlined process.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work are also recruiting additional staff to meet the increased customer demand.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 28/03/2022 15:35:44 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1434003

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2022
	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	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 plans her Department has to support legacy benefit recipients who have been financially impacted by the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	127446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2022 answer text <p>Since the start of the pandemic, DWP has spent over £11.9bn to help families by investing in additional welfare and employment support. From 24 March, the COVID-19 provisions in the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) regulations will end. There are no other remaining legacy benefit provisions relating to COVID-19, but a wide range of benefits and other support is available to people who are receiving legacy benefits, subject to the normal conditions of entitlement.</p><p>The Government is committed to supporting families most in need, spending billions more on welfare and planning a long-term route out of poverty, by helping people to increase their hours in employment or to find new work through our Plan for Jobs and the new Way to Work campaign.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 04/03/2022 11:10:42 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley previous answer version 53367 answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1433642

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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	Poverty: Disability
	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 disabled people on legacy benefits do not fall in to poverty as the cost of living increases.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	126702
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2022 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payments are available to help with the extra costs of living faced by disabled people, while people may also be entitled to additional financial support through Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. Claimants on legacy benefits who need additional financial assistance may be eligible for Universal Credit and can voluntarily apply if they believe that they will be better off. Disability benefits can provide a gateway or passport to a wide range of additional support or help.</p><p> </p><p>There are a range of DWP initiatives that support disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives and start, stay and succeed in employment. These include the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, Access to Work, Disability Confident and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advisers in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 24/02/2022 17:32:29 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1421193

	registered interest
	date	09/02/2022
	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	Disability
	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 Government's response of December 2021 to further recommendations made by the UNCRPD in 2016 on the UK's implementation of that convention, what steps she is taking to protect the rights of disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	121818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2022 answer text <p>We are fully committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which we ratified in 2009, and the progressive realisation of rights for disabled people that it sets out. The UK has some of the strongest equalities legislation in the world, including the Equality Act 2010, and we will continue to make sure that these rights are protected.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a proud record of furthering the rights of disabled people. The principles of the UN Convention are at the heart of our approach. We continue to reform and modernise our public services and welfare system to ensure that disabled people are able to participate in every aspect of society.</p><p> </p><p>The UK’s 2021 report demonstrates our ongoing commitment across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support disabled people, through legislation, policies and programmes that tackle the barriers faced by disabled people to realise their full participation and inclusion in society. The Government’s response was submitted to the UNCRPD Committee in 2021, and published on GOV.UK with accessible formats in December 2021 and can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disabled-peoples-rights-the-uks-2021-report-on-select-recommendations-from-the-uncrpd-periodic-review" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government’s recently published National Disability Strategy has been a milestone in this respect, with over 100 practical commitments which are being delivered to improve the everyday lives of disabled people.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 21/02/2022 13:37:07 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1419596

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Health
	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 Work and Pensions Committee report, entitled Uses of Health and Disability Benefits, published 3 February 2022, what steps her Department is taking to improve information sharing between medical professionals and Job Centre Plus to mitigate the need for claimants to repeat details of their health conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	117809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2022 answer text <p>We remain committed to making changes to improve the current assessment processes. We are exploring how we support claimants to provide the correct evidence earlier in the process and to see if current processes can be improved to give the claimant a more positive experience.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is currently considering responses to Shaping Future Support: the Health and Disability Green Paper, which will feed into a White Paper on this subject later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Over the longer term, the Health Transformation Programme is developing the Health Assessment Service (HAS), which aims to provide an improved service, such as more efficient use of the information used to make decisions. This includes exploring data sharing to secure better medical evidence to increase the speed and quality of decision-making.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 08/02/2022 12:35:21 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1419597

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Internet
	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 report of the Work and Pensions Committee, entitled Uses of Health and Disability Benefits, published on 3 February 2022, what steps her Department is taking to provide social security information and signposting to those who are digitally excluded.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	117810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2022 answer text <p>DWP targets communications with citizens who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages in their lives, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The Department uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>, in leaflets and by telephone.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff in Jobcentres provide support and advice about entitlement to benefits and will signpost citizens to appropriate information to help them. The Department provides telephone service lines which citizens can call to make their claims to benefit and to operate their claims as well as a visiting service which can help vulnerable customers with their claims.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentres have internet terminals which are available for use by the public, and staff will signpost citizens to other community resources (libraries and Citizens Advice) which can also provide advice and internet access points.</p><p> </p><p>Where an out of work claimant of working age is engaging with a Work Coach to gain suitable employment the Work Coach can consider using the Flexible Support Fund to address the claimant’s barriers to employment. This includes providing devices and connections to get online.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 08/02/2022 12:31:17 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows