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1147627

registered interest
date	01/10/2019
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: Polygamy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many polygamous households received income-related state benefits in the latest annual period for which figures are available.
tabling member printed	Baroness Flather
uin	HL17953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is no estimate of the number of legally recognised polygamous marriages in the United Kingdom. The Government believe the numbers of legally recognised polygamous marriages to be very low and declining. This is because, since the Immigration Act 1988, it has not been possible for people polygamously married overseas to bring second spouses to the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>No one can contract a polygamous marriage in the UK, but marriage legislation recognises the validity of polygamous marriages entered into in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Social security legislation adopts a similar approach to avoid anomalous results (such as treating polygamous households more favourably than monogamous ones).</p><p> </p><p>Information concerning: a) the volume of polygamous households estimated to be affected by the move to Universal Credit, and b) how many polygamous households receiving income-related state benefits is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, the process is that the one spouse will claim for the other in the same way as an unmarried couple, and any other adults living in the household will have to claim as single people on the basis of their own circumstances. This process already happens where a polygamous marriage is not recognised in law.</p><p> </p><p>Legacy income-related benefits provide for polygamous marriages only where the marriage was contracted in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Provision is at the lowest level consistent with our human rights obligations. These rules have been in place since the introduction of Income Support in 1988.</p><p> </p><p>Income-related benefits are not payable for spouses who do not reside in Great Britain.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL17954 HL17955 question first answered 08/10/2019 14:38:40 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2769 label Biography information for Baroness Flather

1147628

registered interest
date	01/10/2019
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: Polygamy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether second and subsequent partners in polygamous relationships are treated as separate claimants under the current rules for benefits and tax credits.
tabling member printed	Baroness Flather
uin	HL17954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is no estimate of the number of legally recognised polygamous marriages in the United Kingdom. The Government believe the numbers of legally recognised polygamous marriages to be very low and declining. This is because, since the Immigration Act 1988, it has not been possible for people polygamously married overseas to bring second spouses to the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>No one can contract a polygamous marriage in the UK, but marriage legislation recognises the validity of polygamous marriages entered into in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Social security legislation adopts a similar approach to avoid anomalous results (such as treating polygamous households more favourably than monogamous ones).</p><p> </p><p>Information concerning: a) the volume of polygamous households estimated to be affected by the move to Universal Credit, and b) how many polygamous households receiving income-related state benefits is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, the process is that the one spouse will claim for the other in the same way as an unmarried couple, and any other adults living in the household will have to claim as single people on the basis of their own circumstances. This process already happens where a polygamous marriage is not recognised in law.</p><p> </p><p>Legacy income-related benefits provide for polygamous marriages only where the marriage was contracted in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Provision is at the lowest level consistent with our human rights obligations. These rules have been in place since the introduction of Income Support in 1988.</p><p> </p><p>Income-related benefits are not payable for spouses who do not reside in Great Britain.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL17953 HL17955 question first answered 08/10/2019 14:38:40 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2769 label Biography information for Baroness Flather

1147629

registered interest
date	01/10/2019
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: Polygamy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many polygamous households they estimate to be affected by the move to Universal Credit; and what estimate they have made of the total cost of such households’ Universal Credit claims.
tabling member printed	Baroness Flather
uin	HL17955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is no estimate of the number of legally recognised polygamous marriages in the United Kingdom. The Government believe the numbers of legally recognised polygamous marriages to be very low and declining. This is because, since the Immigration Act 1988, it has not been possible for people polygamously married overseas to bring second spouses to the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>No one can contract a polygamous marriage in the UK, but marriage legislation recognises the validity of polygamous marriages entered into in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Social security legislation adopts a similar approach to avoid anomalous results (such as treating polygamous households more favourably than monogamous ones).</p><p> </p><p>Information concerning: a) the volume of polygamous households estimated to be affected by the move to Universal Credit, and b) how many polygamous households receiving income-related state benefits is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, the process is that the one spouse will claim for the other in the same way as an unmarried couple, and any other adults living in the household will have to claim as single people on the basis of their own circumstances. This process already happens where a polygamous marriage is not recognised in law.</p><p> </p><p>Legacy income-related benefits provide for polygamous marriages only where the marriage was contracted in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there. Provision is at the lowest level consistent with our human rights obligations. These rules have been in place since the introduction of Income Support in 1988.</p><p> </p><p>Income-related benefits are not payable for spouses who do not reside in Great Britain.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL17953 HL17954 question first answered 08/10/2019 14:38:40 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2769 label Biography information for Baroness Flather

1146327

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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	Food: Disadvantaged
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mitigate the impact of any rise in the cost of food staples as a result a no-deal Brexit on low income families.
tabling member printed	The Earl of Listowel
uin	HL17822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that leaving the EU with a deal is its preferred option.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has put in place contingency plans for a range of exit scenarios. These contingencies ensure that the Department can continue to provide our vital services and that individuals will continue to be able to access benefits and services on the same basis as they do now.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net through the welfare system. We continue to spend over £95 billion a year on benefits for people of working age. The Department continues to monitor the effects of EU exit on the economy. Rates of benefits continue to be reviewed in line with the relevant legislation for uprating.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL17823 question first answered 07/10/2019 14:10:14 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2054 label Biography information for The Earl of Listowel

1146328

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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	Food: Disadvantaged
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what funds they have set aside for community projects supporting low income families with food staples, following a no-deal Brexit.
tabling member printed	The Earl of Listowel
uin	HL17823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government has been clear that leaving the EU with a deal is its preferred option.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has put in place contingency plans for a range of exit scenarios. These contingencies ensure that the Department can continue to provide our vital services and that individuals will continue to be able to access benefits and services on the same basis as they do now.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net through the welfare system. We continue to spend over £95 billion a year on benefits for people of working age. The Department continues to monitor the effects of EU exit on the economy. Rates of benefits continue to be reviewed in line with the relevant legislation for uprating.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL17822 question first answered 07/10/2019 14:10:14 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2054 label Biography information for The Earl of Listowel

1144092

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the report by the Social Metrics Commission Measuring Poverty 2019, published in July, and the appointment of the new Prime Minister on 24 July, what plans they have to revise their strategy for tackling poverty.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL17580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del><ins class="ministerial">The Government is committed to delivering a sustainable, long-term solution to poverty through reforming the welfare system so that it works with the tax system and the Labour market to support employment and higher pay. Promoting full-time work through work incentives are a key feature of this approach, reinforced by the National Living Wage and the rising Personal Tax Allowance, which work together to promote independence from benefits.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Universal Credit, which is now reaching over 2 million households, has already shown that it is more effective in getting people into work than the legacy benefits it replaces. Nine months into a UC claim, 40% of claimants are working for an employer in a paid role, compared with only 23% at the start of their claim. </ins><br /> <br /><ins class="ministerial"> The number of people in employment has increased by over 3.7 million since 2010. Three-quarters of the growth in employment has been in full-time work which substantially reduces the chances of being in poverty.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government is working with the Social Metrics Commission, and other experts in the field, to develop new experimental statistics which will help us to find new and better ways to analyse poverty in this country. These will be published in 2020 and, in the long-run, could help us target support more effectively.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:23:29 question first ministerially corrected 30/09/2019 14:54:43 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134826 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

1144129

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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 Credit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 22 July (HL16979), whether they will provide details of the funding for charities that work with older people to support the take-up of Pension Credit in each of the three years specified in the original question.
tabling member printed	Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
uin	HL17617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del><ins class="ministerial">The Government works with a wide range of stakeholders including charitable organisations to promote the take-up of Pension Credit. However, the DWP does not provide specific funding to such organisations for Pension Credit take-up related activities. Support is available through a variety of information resources including the Pension Credit toolkit, which is an on-line tool for organisations to use in order to encourage people to claim Pension Credit.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:36:02 question first ministerially corrected 02/10/2019 14:06:45 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134866 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	579 label Biography information for Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

1144138

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Sanitation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a statutory requirement for public buildings and offices to provide appropriate disposal bins for the disposal of stoma and other continence products and personal care products in (1) female, and (2) male toilets.
tabling member printed	Baroness Greengross
uin	HL17626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most workplaces. These Regulations require for suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences to be available at readily accessible places. The attached documents the <em>Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Approved Code of Practice and Guidance</em> (L24) and <em>Welfare at Work – Guidance for employers</em> (INDG293), which are guidance to help dutyholders comply with the regulations, say:</ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">provision must be made for any worker with a disability to enable them to have access to facilities which are adjusted for their use as necessary; and</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">that toilets used by women should be provided with suitable means for the disposal of sanitary dressings.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There are no equivalent requirements for men.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">These regulations do not apply to non-workplaces; however, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s building regulations are applicable to public buildings and the advice is:</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Statutory guidance supporting Part M of the building regulations, includes a sanitary waste disposal bin in accessible toilets. All building other than dwellings in scope, including offices and all public buildings would require as a minimum one accessible toilet where a stoma bag can be safely disposed of.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Building Regulations come with statutory guidance on the layout of wheelchair-accessible unisex toilets. These toilets offer private space for anyone needing to attend to a medical need and are not exclusively for use by ambulant disabled people. The guidance for accessible WCs includes a sanitary waste disposal bin with a lid and a wash hand basin. The layout and content of these spaces are controlled in all newly built offices and public buildings.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">The statutory guidance given in Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings) also points to the British Standard BS8300-2:2018 “Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment. Buildings. Code of practice”. This independent best practice standard was updated in January 2018 with further information describing best practice in a range of toilets for people treating a medical condition.</ins></li></ul><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name HL17626 attachment 1 Workplace health and safety regulations.pdf title Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare 2 file name HL17626 attachment 2 Welfare at work.pdf title Welfare at Work question first answered 09/09/2019 15:38:19 question first ministerially corrected 30/09/2019 11:58:41 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134882 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2518 label Biography information for Baroness Greengross

1144160

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Housing Benefit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for increasing the (1) scope, and (2) total amount, of housing benefit, including any resulting savings on temporary accommodation and other costs.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL17648
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><strong><ins class="ministerial">No assessment has been made of the case for increasing the scope of housing support. Housing support in the private rented sector is based on the Local Housing Allowance and decisions on the uprating of Local Housing Allowance from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support fiscal events later this year.</ins></strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:39:15 question first ministerially corrected 30/09/2019 12:02:40 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134928 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1144161

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Carers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many carers registered with the Department of Work and Pensions are (1) over 18 years, (2) 13–18 years, and (3) under 13 years old, in each (a) London borough, and (b) English local authority area.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL17649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department does not hold information on carers unless they claim a benefit related to their role as a carer, such as Carer’s Allowance (CA). Carers may be receiving broader support through other DWP benefits, or through other sources, in addition to or instead of CA.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Carer’s Allowance is a benefit available to those carers providing support to a disabled or seriously ill family member or friend for 35 hours or more a week. To be eligible for CA, the carer must also care for someone claiming Disability Living Allowance (middle or highest care rate), Personal Independence Payment (daily living component) or Attendance Allowance, must earn no more than £123 a week after tax, national insurance and expenses, and be aged 16 or over.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The attached table shows the number of CA claimants in each London Borough and English Local Authority area (ranked by total number of CA claimants) as of February 2019 (the latest data available). This includes those who are in receipt of CA and those who are entitled to but do not receive CA. The data is available publicly at stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk.</ins></p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:41:17 question first ministerially corrected 27/09/2019 10:03:50 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name HL17649 attachment.pdf title Table of CA Claimants previous answer version 134960 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly