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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