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1223723

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which open banking models have allowed people in financial need to share their income with HMRC in order to fast-track their applications for new welfare entitlements; and when were those models trialled.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	72898
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2020 answer text <p>The department does not use open banking, nor is it aware of information about open banking models that have allowed people in financial need to share their income with HMRC.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 16/07/2020 12:44:05 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1235985

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2020
	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	Pension Funds: Science and Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of changes to the fee cap proposed in her Department's consultation entitled Improving outcomes for members of defined contribution pension schemes on the ability of pension funds to invest in venture capital-backed science and technology businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	92652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is ambitious about investment in science and technology which is why we issued our Consultation this month <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-contribution-pensions-investments-and-consolidation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defined-contribution-pensions-investments-and-consolidation</a>. We want to enable schemes to invest in venture capital-backed science and technology, and welcomes the continued growth of investment in these asset classes by pension schemes. All scheme members should have the opportunity to benefit from a broader range of assets to improve the returns they achieve, and to drive new investment in important sectors of the economy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government consulted in February 2019 on an additional assessment method to enable trustees of Defined Contribution pension schemes to account for performance fees incurred when investing in some less liquid assets, while retaining scheme member protection under the charge cap. The proposal was supported by the majority of consultation respondents as a measure to enable greater investment in these asset classes.</p><p> </p><p>A further consultation published earlier this month[1] sets out draft regulations, building on our earlier consultation, which propose amendments to the way that compliance with the charge cap is measured in relation to performance fees. We also propose developing an additional, multi-year approach to calculating performance fees. Further assessment and discussion of the effects of the proposal with industry is taking place over the next few weeks. Following this our intention is to bring this legislation into force in 2021.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-outcomes-for-members-of-defined-contribution-pension-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-outcomes-for-members-of-defined-contribution-pension-schemes</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/09/2020 14:41:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1259434

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2020
	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	Radiation Exposure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Under-Secretary of Digital Infrastructure on the Health and Safety Executive's responsibility for radiation exposure to the public.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	126875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for workplace exposures in relation to radiation, not public exposures. This is the responsibility of Public Health England. Consequently, there have been no discussions with the Under -Secretary of Digital Infrastructure on HSE’s role in this area.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 15/12/2020 16:49:49 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1259435

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2020
	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: Newcastle upon Tyne
	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 claims have been assessed to be ineligible in Newcastle upon Tyne since March 2020; and for what reasons those claims were found to be ineligible.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	126876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>There are a number of reasons a Universal Credit (UC) claim may be unsuccessful. These can include ineligibility, nil entitlement, insufficient evidence, claim withdrawal and non-compliance with the UC process.</p><p> </p><p>Between March 2020 and November 2020, in Newcastle upon Tyne constituency, 2,210 UC claims were unsuccessful before reaching payment.</p><p> </p><p><em>Notes:</em></p><p><em>1. Figures are for households on UC, either couple or single claims, and does not represent the number of individuals within the household.</em></p><p><em>2. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. </em></p><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 16/12/2020 17:28:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1271743

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2020
	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: Databases
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many information gateways there are in operation in her Department; and how those gateways are managed and monitored.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	130728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>DWP takes the security of its data very seriously and actively monitors systems to ensure payments are accurate. Where issues are identified, appropriate actions are taken. Revealing details of DWP monitoring capabilities in public, would likely prejudice the capability, effectiveness and ability to strongly preserve those systems. In order to safeguard our benefit payment and processing systems we are unable to provide the information requested.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/01/2021 14:59:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1288345

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential economic benefits for home owners of requiring gas certificates to carry the Unique Property Reference Number in the next Gas Safe bidding round.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	156391
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2021 answer text <p>There has been no assessment of the potential economic benefits for homeowners of requiring gas certificates to carry the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN). Under the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations (GSIUR) only landlords have a duty to carry out annual gas safety checks and retain a record of these. The Regulations already contain a requirement for the details of the properties address to be included on the gas safety check record (regulation 36(3)(c)(ii) refers), and there are no current plans to change or expand these requirements to include the UPRN.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 02/03/2021 17:33:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1355547

	registered interest
	date	14/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Broadband
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the recommendations from the Institute for Public Policy Research of September 2021, to include the cost of broadband in (a) social security payments and (b) allowances for asylum seekers.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	49125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2021 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>Policy on broadband is a matter for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media &amp; Sport. A range of broadband social tariff packages are available in the market to support those on low incomes or who receive specific benefits. BT, for example, recently announced a Home Essentials package which will provide fibre and voice services to households in receipt of Universal Credit and certain other benefits for £15 per month. Virgin, Hyperoptic and other providers are offering similar packages to assist households on low incomes. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country. The Government continues to encourage all fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff offer so as to ensure those on low incomes have affordable access to services and information.</p><p> </p><p>With respect to rates of income-related benefits, these are not made up of separate amounts for specific items such as broadband. Rather, they are intended to cover outgoings across households with a wide variety of characteristics and expenditure patterns.</p><p>Allowances for asylum seekers are a matter for the Home Office. Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with accommodation and other support to cover their essential needs, usually in the form of a weekly cash allowance. The level of the allowance is reviewed annually and takes into account communication needs, including the cost of buying and maintaining a mobile phone with internet access.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/09/2021 15:22:07 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1361325

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Newcastle upon Tyne
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support the Government is providing to children in Newcastle Central whose families are affected by the end of the temporary universal credit uplift.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	58844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2021 answer text <p>The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22.</p><p>There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work.</p><p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures, including by increasing the living wage, and by spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p>Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22. With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work. This approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of parental employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks of child poverty.</p><p>We recognise that some people continue to require extra support, which is why we have introduced a £421 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable people in England with essential household costs over the winter. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million. This new grant will run from 06 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The funding is being made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England. Newcastle City Council will receive £2,898,403.85.</p><p>In April this year we increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25, helping eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins. We are also investing up to £221m in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has been expanded to every Local Authority across England. Participating children are benefitting from a range of support, including healthy and nutritious meals as well as fun and engaging activities covering the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/10/2021 14:05:33 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1361326

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Equal Pay: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps she has taken to tackle the disability pay gap.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	58845
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2021 answer text <p>The National Disability Strategy, the Health and Disability Support Green Paper and the Health is Everyone’s Business response together reflect this Government’s commitment to supporting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to live full and independent lives, including through employment and in work progression. A range of DWP initiatives are currently supporting disabled people to start, stay and succeed in work. These include the Work and Health Programme, the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, Access to Work, Disability Confident and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 28/10/2021 16:41:43 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1379581

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment Schemes: 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 Second Report of Session 2021–22, Disability employment gap, published on 30 July 2021, if she will accept the conclusions and recommendations of that Committee that (a) her Department carry out a radical overhaul of its approach to employment support for disabled people and (b) funding for the Work and Health Programme be devolved.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	76676
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2021 answer text <p>The Government sent our response to the committee on 5 November 2021, who subsequently published the response on 22 November 2021.</p><p><a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7913/documents/81987/default/" target="_blank">Disability employment gap: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2021–22 (parliament.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 23/11/2021 13:34:24 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith previous answer version 33910 answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah