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1698969

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
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	Work Capability Assessment: Chronic Illnesses
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 review planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment to reflect the impact on people with (a) Parkinson's and (b) other long-term conditions.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	20661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) assesses individuals against a set of descriptors to determine how their health condition or disability affects their ability to work. The WCA takes into account the functional effects of fluctuating and degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s. A key principle is that the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on them, not the condition itself.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants with the most severe health conditions and disabilities whose condition is unlikely to ever improve are no longer routinely reassessed.</p><p> </p><p>From 2025, we are reforming the WCA to reflect new flexibilities in the labour market and greater employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions, whilst maintaining protections for those with the most significant conditions. Claimants who currently have no work-related requirements, except in some very limited circumstances, will not be reassessed or lose benefit because of these changes.</p><p> </p><p>When making decisions on changes to the WCA, we carefully considered over 1300 consultation responses, including from disabled people, people with health conditions, and the organisations that represent and support them. We also engaged directly with clinical experts, employer groups and disability organisations across the country.</p><p> </p><p>With these changes to the WCA criteria, 371,000 fewer people will be assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity by 2028-29 and will receive personalised support to help them move closer to employment. A further 29,000 individuals will be found fit for work by 2028-29 and will receive more intensive support to search for and secure work than would be the case under the current WCA rules. These figures are not based on specific conditions. This is because the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on their ability to work, not the condition itself.</p><p /><p>The department routinely engages with a wide range of organisations that represent and support disabled people and people with health conditions, including people living with Parkinson’s disease.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 20626 20627 20662 question first answered 16/04/2024 15:51:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1698970

registered interest
date	26/03/2024
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	Social Security Benefits: Parkinson's Disease
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 meet with Parkinson’s UK and the hon. Member for Bootle to discuss the experience of people with Parkinson’s in the social security system.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	20662
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2024 answer text <p>The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) assesses individuals against a set of descriptors to determine how their health condition or disability affects their ability to work. The WCA takes into account the functional effects of fluctuating and degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s. A key principle is that the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on them, not the condition itself.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants with the most severe health conditions and disabilities whose condition is unlikely to ever improve are no longer routinely reassessed.</p><p> </p><p>From 2025, we are reforming the WCA to reflect new flexibilities in the labour market and greater employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions, whilst maintaining protections for those with the most significant conditions. Claimants who currently have no work-related requirements, except in some very limited circumstances, will not be reassessed or lose benefit because of these changes.</p><p> </p><p>When making decisions on changes to the WCA, we carefully considered over 1300 consultation responses, including from disabled people, people with health conditions, and the organisations that represent and support them. We also engaged directly with clinical experts, employer groups and disability organisations across the country.</p><p> </p><p>With these changes to the WCA criteria, 371,000 fewer people will be assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity by 2028-29 and will receive personalised support to help them move closer to employment. A further 29,000 individuals will be found fit for work by 2028-29 and will receive more intensive support to search for and secure work than would be the case under the current WCA rules. These figures are not based on specific conditions. This is because the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on their ability to work, not the condition itself.</p><p /><p>The department routinely engages with a wide range of organisations that represent and support disabled people and people with health conditions, including people living with Parkinson’s disease.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 20626 20627 20661 question first answered 16/04/2024 15:51:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1546858

registered interest
date	30/11/2022
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he take steps to increase disability benefits in line with inflation.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	99877
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2022 answer text <p>Disability benefits will increase by September’s CPI figure of 10.1%, subject to the usual parliamentary approval. The new rates will come into force on 10 April 2023 and details of all rates can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2023-to-2024/benefit-and-pension-rates-2023-to-2024" target="_blank">Benefit and pension rates 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/12/2022 18:09:55 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1538649

registered interest
date	02/11/2022
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	Employment: Menopause
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking to help (a) reduce workplace discrimination relating to menopause and (b) reduce the number of women leaving the workforce due to negative experiences in the workplace relating to the menopause.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	77450
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2022 answer text <p>It is important that those who experience substantial and longer-term menopausal effects should be adequately protected from discrimination in the workplace, and that employers are fully aware of the challenges and their current legal obligations, including under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act).</p><p> </p><p>Depending on circumstances, the Act provides protection from discrimination on grounds of sex and/or age and/or disability for employees experiencing the effects of the menopause.</p><p> </p><p>With women over 50 representing the fastest growing segment of the workforce, there are few workplaces where the menopause is not being experienced by staff.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2021 The Minister for Employment commissioned the roundtable on older workers to look at the menopause and employment. An independent <a href="https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/sites/phoenix-group/files/phoenix-group/views-and-insights/Menopause%20Report/Menopause%20and%20Employment.pdf" target="_blank">menopause and the workplace report</a> was published and the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091199/menopause-govt-response.pdf" target="_blank">Government’s response</a> was outlined in July. Alongside this, the Women’s Health Strategy sets out a range of commitments including encouraging employers to implement evidence-based workplace support and introduce workplace menopause policies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 75963 75964 question first answered 07/11/2022 15:59:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1538108

registered interest
date	01/11/2022
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	Employment: Menopause
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 his Department has taken to help tackle the number of working days lost due to (a) menopause and (b) perimenopause.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	75963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2022 answer text <p>It is important that those who experience substantial and longer-term menopausal effects should be adequately protected from discrimination in the workplace, and that employers are fully aware of the challenges and their current legal obligations, including under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act).</p><p> </p><p>Depending on circumstances, the Act provides protection from discrimination on grounds of sex and/or age and/or disability for employees experiencing the effects of the menopause.</p><p> </p><p>With women over 50 representing the fastest growing segment of the workforce, there are few workplaces where the menopause is not being experienced by staff.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2021 The Minister for Employment commissioned the roundtable on older workers to look at the menopause and employment. An independent <a href="https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/sites/phoenix-group/files/phoenix-group/views-and-insights/Menopause%20Report/Menopause%20and%20Employment.pdf" target="_blank">menopause and the workplace report</a> was published and the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091199/menopause-govt-response.pdf" target="_blank">Government’s response</a> was outlined in July. Alongside this, the Women’s Health Strategy sets out a range of commitments including encouraging employers to implement evidence-based workplace support and introduce workplace menopause policies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 75964 77450 question first answered 07/11/2022 15:59:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1538109

registered interest
date	01/11/2022
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	Employment: Menopause
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 is taking to help ensure that people experiencing menopause are supported to (a) remain in and (b) re-enter the workforce.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	75964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2022 answer text <p>It is important that those who experience substantial and longer-term menopausal effects should be adequately protected from discrimination in the workplace, and that employers are fully aware of the challenges and their current legal obligations, including under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act).</p><p> </p><p>Depending on circumstances, the Act provides protection from discrimination on grounds of sex and/or age and/or disability for employees experiencing the effects of the menopause.</p><p> </p><p>With women over 50 representing the fastest growing segment of the workforce, there are few workplaces where the menopause is not being experienced by staff.</p><p> </p><p>In July 2021 The Minister for Employment commissioned the roundtable on older workers to look at the menopause and employment. An independent <a href="https://www.thephoenixgroup.com/sites/phoenix-group/files/phoenix-group/views-and-insights/Menopause%20Report/Menopause%20and%20Employment.pdf" target="_blank">menopause and the workplace report</a> was published and the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091199/menopause-govt-response.pdf" target="_blank">Government’s response</a> was outlined in July. Alongside this, the Women’s Health Strategy sets out a range of commitments including encouraging employers to implement evidence-based workplace support and introduce workplace menopause policies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 75963 77450 question first answered 07/11/2022 15:59:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1489407

registered interest
date	14/07/2022
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: Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to tackle the level of child poverty in Bootle constituency.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	36795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>This Government is committed to reducing child poverty and supporting low-income families, and believes work is the best route out of poverty.  With a record 1.3 million vacancies across the UK, our focus is firmly on supporting people to move into and progress in 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 and in improving long-term outcomes for families and children.</p><p> </p><p>The latest available data on in-work poverty shows that in 2019/20, children in households where all adults were in work were around six times less likely to be in absolute poverty (be-fore housing costs) than children in a household where nobody works. Compared with 2010, there are nearly 1 million fewer workless households and almost 540,000 fewer children living in workless households in the UK. In 2020/21, there were 200,000 fewer children in absolute poverty before housing costs than in 2009/10.</p><p /><p>To help parents into work, our Plan for Jobs is providing broad ranging support for all jobseekers with our Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP), Job Entry Targeted Support and Restart scheme. Our plan for jobs is providing results. As of 6 July, we estimate that at least 520,400 unemployed Universal Credit claimants and Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants have moved into work during the Way to Work Campaign between 31 January and the end of 30 June 2022.</p><p /><p>We are also extending the support Jobcentres provide to people in work and on low incomes. Through a staged roll-out, which started in April 2022, around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into higher-paid work. This is on top of the support we have already provided by increasing the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour and giving nearly 1.7 million families an extra £1,000 (on average) a year through our changes to the Universal Credit taper and work allowances.</p><p /><p>To further support parents to move into and progress in work, eligible UC claimants can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month up to a maximum of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children. This is on top of the free childcare offer in England which provides 15 hours a week of free childcare for all 3- and 4-year-olds and disadvantaged 2-year-olds, doubling for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds to 30 hours a week.</p><p /><p>Around 1.9 million of the most disadvantaged pupils are eligible for and claiming a free school meal, saving families around £450 per year. In addition, around 1.25 million more infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime as well as over 90,000 disadvantaged further education students. We are also investing £200 million a year to continue the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which benefitted over 600,000 children last summer, and we have increased the value of the Healthy Start Vouchers by a third to £4.25 a week.</p><p> </p><p>On top of this, the government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges, that is why the government is providing over £15bn in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. This package is in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year.</p><p> </p><p>This includes an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing the total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England, the current Household Support Fund is already providing £421m of support for the period 1 April – 30 September 2022, at least a third (£140m) will be spent on families with children. Sefton Council has been allocated £2,435,111.24.</p><p /> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 21/07/2022 16:48:15 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1464036

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
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	Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad
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 support overseas British pensioners.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	4598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions. Entitlement is based on an individual’s National Insurance record without regard to nationality.</p><p> </p><p>Pensioners in certain EEA countries and Switzerland may receive other payments if they meet the eligibility criteria and are covered by the terms of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, for example, Winter Fuel Payments.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 4599 question first answered 23/05/2022 13:38:09 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1464037

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
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	Pensioners: British Overseas Territories
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps has her Department has taken to support pensioners living in British Overseas Territories.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	4599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions. Entitlement is based on an individual’s National Insurance record without regard to nationality.</p><p> </p><p>Pensioners in certain EEA countries and Switzerland may receive other payments if they meet the eligibility criteria and are covered by the terms of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, for example, Winter Fuel Payments.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 4598 question first answered 23/05/2022 13:38:09 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1464038

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
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	Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad
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 she has made of the potential merits of uprating overseas pensions.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	4600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions overseas is longstanding and has been supported by successive Governments for over 70 years. Annual indexed-linked increases are paid to UK State Pension recipients where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example, where recipients are living in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that provides for up-rating. There are no plans to change this policy.</p><p> </p><p>This Government continues to take the view that priority should be given to those living in the UK when drawing up expenditure plans for pensioner benefits.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/05/2022 13:40:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd