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answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed attachment file name file name title title grouped question UIN question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label attachment file name title
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1654660

registered interest
date	20/07/2023
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: Private Rented Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2023 to Question 191729 on Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing, for what reason he did not supply the information requested in that Question on how many and what proportion of those households in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment had rents that exceeded the local housing allowance in (a) March 2020, (b) March 2021, (c) March 2022 and (d) March 2023.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	195304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2023 answer text <p>Due to an administrative error a second attachment was not uploaded as part of the response to PQ 191729: it has now been amended, and a copy of the second attachment has also been sent directly to you along with a letter explaining. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 04/09/2023 15:31:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1648861

registered interest
date	29/06/2023
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	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on the number of households in the private rented sector in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment; how many and what proportion of those households have rents that exceed the local housing allowance (LHA); and what the median average gap is between the rent and the LHA for those households where rent exceeds the LHA for each local authority area in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales for the most recent period for which data are available.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	191728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2023 answer text <p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. Data on local LHA rates and averages can be found in the attachments provided.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates. These rates were aligned to the 30th percentile of market rents in Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) across the country, therefore in those areas with higher rent costs this is reflected in higher LHA rates for that BRMA. In 2022/23, the Government is projected to spend around £30 billion to support renters. This is approximately 1.4% of GDP, more than any other OECD country, with the next highest being 0.9% of GDP.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the legislation increasing LHA rates to 30<sup>th</sup> percentile in April 2020 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/371/regulation/4" target="_blank">here.</a> Information on the legislation maintaining LHA rates at their current rates for 2023/24 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/6/contents/made" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment 2 file name Attachment 2.xlsx title Attachment 2 question first answered 17/07/2023 16:04:45 question first ministerially corrected 21/07/2023 13:52:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 88042 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1648862

registered interest
date	29/06/2023
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	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of those households in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment had rents that exceeded the local housing allowance (LHA) in (a) March 2020, (b) March 2021, (c) March 2022 and (d) March 2023; and what the median average gap is between the rent and the LHA for those households where rent exceeds the LHA in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	191729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2023 answer text <p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. Data on local LHA rates and averages can be found in the attachments provided.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates. These rates were aligned to the 30th percentile of market rents in Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) across the country, therefore in those areas with higher rent costs this is reflected in higher LHA rates for that BRMA. In 2022/23, the Government is projected to spend around £30 billion to support renters. This is approximately 1.4% of GDP, more than any other OECD country, with the next highest being 0.9% of GDP.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the legislation increasing LHA rates to 30<sup>th</sup> percentile in April 2020 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/371/regulation/4" target="_blank">here.</a> Information on the legislation maintaining LHA rates at their current rates for 2023/24 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/6/contents/made" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment 2 file name Attachment 2.xlsx title Attachment 2 question first answered 17/07/2023 16:04:45 question first ministerially corrected 21/07/2023 13:52:09 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 88046 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1648863

registered interest
date	29/06/2023
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	Universal Credit: Deductions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for the most recent 12-month period for which this information is available, how many claims for Universal Credit were subject to deductions for (a) new claims advances, (b) change of circumstances advances, (c) budgeting advances, (d) tax credit overpayments, (e) Universal Credit overpayments and (f) any combination of the above; and for each type of deduction, what was the average value of the deduction.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	191730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2023 answer text <p>The requested information is provided in the separate spreadsheet.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/07/2023 09:19:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman attachment 1 file name Data Table.xlsx title Attachment
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1623426

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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	Universal Credit
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 Health and Disability White Paper, CP 807, published on 15 March 2023, whether a benefit sanction that reduced Universal Credit Standard Allowance to zero would remove a claimant's entitlement to the Health Element of Universal Credit.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	182208
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to reforming the system to better support people with health conditions overcome the barriers that prevent them from working. We are also committed to making work pay, and incentivising people to seek and stay in work.</p><p> </p><p>The new health element will be awarded to people who are receiving the UC Standard Allowance and any PIP element. Entitlement to the new UC health element will only end when the functional impact of a person’s health condition improves and they are no longer eligible for PIP, or as people earn more money and their UC is tapered away, which ensures that they are financially better off in work.</p><p> </p><p>As we develop our reform proposals, we will consider how some interactions with the UC system will be reflected in the reformed system. This will be carefully worked through and reported on before we introduce legislation in the next parliament.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 182209 question first answered 11/05/2023 13:33:12 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1623428

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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	Universal Credit
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 Health and Disability White Paper, CP 807, published on 15 March 2023, whether receipt of a nil award of Universal Credit due to being paid twice in a month would remove entitlement to the Health Element of Universal Credit.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	182209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to reforming the system to better support people with health conditions overcome the barriers that prevent them from working. We are also committed to making work pay, and incentivising people to seek and stay in work.</p><p> </p><p>The new health element will be awarded to people who are receiving the UC Standard Allowance and any PIP element. Entitlement to the new UC health element will only end when the functional impact of a person’s health condition improves and they are no longer eligible for PIP, or as people earn more money and their UC is tapered away, which ensures that they are financially better off in work.</p><p> </p><p>As we develop our reform proposals, we will consider how some interactions with the UC system will be reflected in the reformed system. This will be carefully worked through and reported on before we introduce legislation in the next parliament.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 182208 question first answered 11/05/2023 13:33:12 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1623430

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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	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 Health and Disability White Paper, CP 807, published on 15 March 2023, whether he plans to introduce a Mandatory Reconsideration and appeal route against decisions made about a claimant’s ability to undertake work or work-related activity once the Work Capability Assessment has been replaced.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	182210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2023 answer text <p>Our new approach will provide more personalised levels of conditionality and employment support, with the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a more independent life. This more tailored approach will allow work coaches to build a relationship with an individual and determine what, if any, work-related activities an individual can participate in.</p><p> </p><p>These activities could start from voluntary and dial up to mandatory where appropriate, with requirements added at a pace that is appropriate for the individual.</p><p> </p><p>We will take time to carefully consider how best to implement these changes and take a test and learn approach with the new system before introducing it, to ensure it provides the taxpayer with value for money and is accessible and effective in delivering for our service users.</p><p /><p>We will continue to listen to, and to work closely with, disabled people, people with health conditions and many other partners, on how to best deliver these reforms.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 11/05/2023 13:37:41 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1623433

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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	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 Health and Disability White Paper, CP 807, published on 15 March 2023, whether he intends to introduce a substantial risk test comparable to the test within the Work Capability Assessment regarding a claimant’s ability to undertake work or work-related activity, once the Work Capability Assessment has been replaced.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	182211
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2023 answer text <p>As part of the new approach to support, work coaches will have personalised conversations with claimants to determine their individual circumstances and how their health condition impacts them. This will mean that people will have their requirements tailored to their needs, which can include having no work-related requirements at all while the claimant seeks mental health support.</p><p>Work coaches will provide appropriate support to claimants with health conditions and ensure that operational processes such as the six-point plan are followed to support the claimant.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 11/05/2023 13:39:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1623434

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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	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, how many claimants who received the (a) Support Group element of Employment and Support Allowance and (b) Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element of Universal Credit but not PIP received more than the Benefit Cap levels in relevant benefits In the latest month for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	182212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2023 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 11/05/2023 13:42:20 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1585955

registered interest
date	09/02/2023
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: Overpayments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overpayments of Universal Credit have been attributed to Official Error in each of the last three years; and what the total value of those overpayments.
tabling member constituency	Westminster North
tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
uin	143682
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2023 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">We do not hold data on actual Universal Credit (UC) overpayments as requested, as there is no requirement to categorise UC debt, because it is all recoverable in law.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">However, our national statistics on fraud and error in the benefit system provide information on the estimated value of UC Official Error, both as a percentage of benefit expenditure and by value.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">For UC, the figures show that UC Official Error loss has fallen from 1.3% (£700m) in 2019/20, to 0.9% (£800m) in 2020/21, to 0.7% (£700m) in 2021/22.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The statistics do not cover the number of overpayments made, but do indicate how many cases were estimated to have an overpayment of this type. In 2019/20 the figure stood at 4.1%; in 2021/22 it was 2.6%.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2021-to-2022-estimates" target="_blank">Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2021 to 2022 estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The DWP remains committed to working with anyone who is struggling with benefit debt deductions and encourages customers experiencing hardship to contact the DWP to discuss their repayment plan.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We do not hold data on actual Universal Credit (UC) overpayments as requested, as there is no requirement to categorise UC debt because it is all recoverable in law. </ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">However, our national statistics on Fraud and Error in the benefit system provide information on the estimated value of UC Official Error, both as a percentage of benefit expenditure and by value.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">For UC the figures show that UC Official Error loss has fallen from 1.3% (£250m) in 2019/20, to 0.9% (£330m) in 2020/21, to 0.7% (£270m) in 2021/22.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The statistics do not cover the number of overpayments made across the year but indicate how many cases were estimated to have an overpayment of this type, at a point in time. In 2019/20 the figure stood at 4.1%; in 2021/22 it was 2.6%. </ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial"> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2021-to-2022-estimates" target="_blank">Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2021 to 2022 estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">DWP remains committed to working with anyone who is struggling with benefit debt deductions and encourages customers experiencing hardship to contact DWP to discuss their repayment plan.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 22/02/2023 11:43:36 question first ministerially corrected 08/03/2023 16:11:50 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove previous answer version 56681 answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck