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1717498

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of PIP assessments on the mental health of claimants.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	25869
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment identifies the needs arising from physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive issues, or any combination of these. The assessment criteria were developed over a decade ago in conjunction with independent health, social care, and disability experts.</p><p> </p><p>All health professionals performing PIP assessments receive comprehensive training in disability analysis including specific training on mental health conditions and how to identify their impact on claimants’ ability to carry out the activities in the assessment.  Our assessment providers have Mental Health Function Champions (MHFC) to support assessors when reviewing evidence and provide advice to DWP Case Managers. MHFCs are specialist practitioners who have at least 2 years of post-registration clinical experience in a mental health or learning disability role.</p><p> </p><p>No assessment has been made of the potential mental health impact of PIP assessments, although customer experience is something that is continually monitored. It would be extremely difficult to objectively separate the specific impact of assessments on mental health from other contributory factors.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 25870 question first answered 16/05/2024 11:02:57 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1717499

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that PIP assessments accurately assess claimants with mental health issues.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	25870
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment identifies the needs arising from physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive issues, or any combination of these. The assessment criteria were developed over a decade ago in conjunction with independent health, social care, and disability experts.</p><p> </p><p>All health professionals performing PIP assessments receive comprehensive training in disability analysis including specific training on mental health conditions and how to identify their impact on claimants’ ability to carry out the activities in the assessment.  Our assessment providers have Mental Health Function Champions (MHFC) to support assessors when reviewing evidence and provide advice to DWP Case Managers. MHFCs are specialist practitioners who have at least 2 years of post-registration clinical experience in a mental health or learning disability role.</p><p> </p><p>No assessment has been made of the potential mental health impact of PIP assessments, although customer experience is something that is continually monitored. It would be extremely difficult to objectively separate the specific impact of assessments on mental health from other contributory factors.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 25869 question first answered 16/05/2024 11:02:57 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1717501

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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: Mental Illness
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants have been assessed as unfit for work due to mental health issues in 2024.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	25871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>No one has been assessed as unfit for work as the assessment for Personal Independence Payment does not assess a claimant’s capacity for work or work-related activity.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 16/05/2024 10:30:14 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1713582

registered interest
date	24/04/2024
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce levels of in-work poverty in (a) Lanark and Hamilton East constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	23514
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The latest available statistics show that working age adults living in workless households were around 7 times more likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than working age adults in households where all adults work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to supporting individuals who are stuck in low paid work to progress, helping them increase their earnings. We have introduced a voluntary In-Work progression offer for low-paid Universal Credit customers which focuses on removing barriers to progression, such as considering skills gaps and overcoming practical barriers such as childcare costs.</p><p> </p><p>To deliver effective progression support to customers, Jobcentres are being supported by a network of 37 District Progression Leads across Great Britain who work with key partners to develop local opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>To help parents on Universal Credit who are moving into work or increasing their hours, the Government is providing additional support with upfront childcare costs and, from April 2024, we will increase the childcare costs that parents on Universal Credit can claim back to over £1,000 a month for one child and to over £1,700 a month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also increasing the number of people on Universal Credit who receive intensive support to help them earn more by raising the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET). At the Spring Budget we announced that the AET would increase to the equivalent of 18 hours at the National Living Wage from 13 May.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2024, the Government increased the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 years and over by 9.8% to £11.44 representing an increase of over £1,800 to the gross annual earnings of a full-time worker on the National Living Wage.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 02/05/2024 16:50:12 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1661058

registered interest
date	15/09/2023
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	Universal Credit: Cost of Living
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 take steps to ensure that Universal Credit is sufficient to cover average (a) food, (b) housing and (c) energy costs.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	199751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>Benefit rates and the Local Housing Allowance are reviewed annually by the Secretary of State.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2023, State pensions and benefits, including Universal Credit, were up rated by 10.1%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants in receipt of housing support living in the social rented sector have their eligible rent paid in full, unless the level of housing support is reduced because of their income or savings, contributions from non-dependants, or limited by the benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy.</p><p> </p><p>For private renters, the Local Housing Allowance determines the maximum housing support for tenants. Local Housing Allowance rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. However, in 2020 the Government spent almost £1 billion increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of market rents. This significant investment has been maintained, ensuring that everyone who benefited continues to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has announced support to households to help with higher bills worth £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24, one of the largest household support packages in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/09/2023 09:09:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1661059

registered interest
date	15/09/2023
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	Universal Credit: Cost of Living
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of Universal Credit for meeting average (a) food and (b) fuel costs.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	199752
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>In April 2023, State pensions and benefits were up rated by 10.1%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the adequacy of Universal Credit, the current rates of income-related benefits such as Universal Credit do not represent a minimum requirement, and are not described as such in legislation or Government literature. The Government specifies the rates which are applicable to different benefits, and these may vary according to claimants' circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has announced support to households to help with higher bills worth £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24, one of the largest household support packages in Europe.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/09/2023 10:14:18 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1658650

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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	Cost of Living
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 his Department has made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on working families with children.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	198161
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>No such assessments have been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people, including parents, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2023, everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.</p><p> </p><p>To support parents who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. That is why, as announced at the Spring Budget, we are investing billions in additional childcare support for parents of toddlers, investing in wraparound childcare in schools, and increasing financial support for, and expectations of, parents claiming Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. The first £301 payments have been issued to 8.3 million households, and two further payments will follow this autumn and in spring 2024. In addition, 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also recently received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment meaning households with more than one disabled person will receive multiple Disability Cost of Living Payments.</p><p> </p><p>For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024-household-support-fund-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england" target="_blank">here.</a> Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of this guidance and grant determination that DWP have set out for the fund. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available, however, are nevertheless in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 198163 question first answered 11/09/2023 15:03:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1658651

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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	Universal Credit
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 his Department has made of the efficacy of universal credit in supporting families with children during the school summer holidays.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	198162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p><em> </em></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/09/2023 13:14:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1658652

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on working families who (a) qualify and (b) do not qualify for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	198163
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>No such assessments have been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people, including parents, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2023, everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.</p><p> </p><p>To support parents who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. That is why, as announced at the Spring Budget, we are investing billions in additional childcare support for parents of toddlers, investing in wraparound childcare in schools, and increasing financial support for, and expectations of, parents claiming Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. The first £301 payments have been issued to 8.3 million households, and two further payments will follow this autumn and in spring 2024. In addition, 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also recently received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment meaning households with more than one disabled person will receive multiple Disability Cost of Living Payments.</p><p> </p><p>For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024-household-support-fund-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england" target="_blank">here.</a> Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of this guidance and grant determination that DWP have set out for the fund. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available, however, are nevertheless in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 198161 question first answered 11/09/2023 15:03:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1658653

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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	Cost of Living: Pensions
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 his Department has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost-of-living on private pension funds.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	198164
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2023 answer text <p>The latest data shows private pension opt out and stopping saving rates remain low.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 13/09/2023 10:41:21 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott previous answer version 93671 answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley