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43187

registered interest
date	13/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the additional cost to small businesses of abolishing the percentage threshold scheme for recovering statutory sick pay.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	192168
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has published an impact assessment outlining the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme (PTS) and introduction of the new provision of health assessments and occupational health advice available at the following link: </p><p>&lt;<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111108468/impacts" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111108468/impacts</a>&gt;</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 20/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

43188

registered interest
date	13/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on alternative models of compensating small businesses for sickness absence after the abolition of the percentage threshold scheme for recovering statutory sick pay.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	192167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Government believes that reinvesting savings from the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme to establish the Health and Work Service is the most effective means of targeting public funds to tackle sickness absence. The Health and Work Service will reduce the length of sickness absence and offers a more proactive approach to sickness absence management. Small businesses are least likely to have access to occupational health services, and will benefit from having access to occupational health assessments and advice through the Health and Work Service.</p><p> </p><p>We have considered an alternative approach along the lines of restricting access to a reimbursement scheme to employers with fewer than five employees. However, this was discounted because it resulted in additional burdens on employers and additional Statutory Sick Pay reimbursement costs for the state<em>.</em></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 20/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

43190

registered interest
date	13/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the ability of small businesses to manage sickness absence of abolishing the Percentage Threshold Scheme for recovering statutory sick pay.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	192158
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p>The SSP Percentage Threshold Scheme compensates employers with high levels of sickness absence but an independent review of sickness absence[1] found it does nothing to tackle the causes of absence. As a result, the Government accepted a recommendation in the Review to abolish the Percentage Threshold Scheme. The Government also accepted a recommendation to establish a Service (now known as the Health and Work Service) to offer specialist occupational health assessment and advice to employers, employees and GPs. The Service is designed to reduce the costs of sickness absence for employers by addressing the obstacles preventing a return to work, and supporting employees back to work as quickly as appropriate. It will be funded from the savings made from the abolition of the PTS and will provide a more proactive way to manage sickness absence. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Small businesses are least likely to have access to occupational health services, and will benefit from having access to occupational health assessments and advice through the HWS.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><br /><p>[1] Black, C. and Frost, D (2011) <em>Health at work - and independent review of sickness absence.</em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 20/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

43196

registered interest
date	13/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on housing benefit for tenants in (a) council property, (b) housing association and registered social landlord property and (c) private sector housing in (i) Tameside and (ii) Stockport in each year since 2009.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	192149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p> </p><p>The information is in the tables below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><p>Table 1: Housing Benefit spending in Tameside by accommodation type.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£ million, nominal</p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Local Authority Accommodation</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Temporary Accommodation</p></td><td><p>0.8</p></td><td><p>0.8</p></td><td><p>1.9</p></td><td><p>1.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Registered Social Landlord</p></td><td><p>52.5</p></td><td><p>54.6</p></td><td><p>55.8</p></td><td><p>59.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Private Rented Sector</p></td><td><p>22.5</p></td><td><p>27.0</p></td><td><p>30.0</p></td><td><p>29.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Housing Benefit Spend</p></td><td><p>75.8</p></td><td><p>82.4</p></td><td><p>87.7</p></td><td><p>90.9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: Local authority statistical data and subsidy returns.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><p>Table 2: Housing Benefit spending in Stockport by accommodation type.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£ million, nominal</p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Local Authority Accommodation</p></td><td><p>23.5</p></td><td><p>24.2</p></td><td><p>26.3</p></td><td><p>28.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Temporary Accommodation</p></td><td><p>0.7</p></td><td><p>0.7</p></td><td><p>0.8</p></td><td><p>0.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Registered Social Landlord</p></td><td><p>14.8</p></td><td><p>15.6</p></td><td><p>16.5</p></td><td><p>17.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Private Rented Sector</p></td><td><p>25.3</p></td><td><p>29.2</p></td><td><p>31.0</p></td><td><p>31.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total Housing Benefit Spend</p></td><td><p>64.2</p></td><td><p>69.7</p></td><td><p>74.6</p></td><td><p>78.6</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: Local authority statistical data and subsidy returns.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.</p><p>Expenditure is shown for complete financial years. A breakdown of benefit expenditure for Housing Benefit can be found in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277439/hb-ctb-la-tables-04022014.xls" target="_blank">Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure by local authority </a>tables as per the link below:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277439/hb-ctb-la-tables-04022014.xls" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277439/hb-ctb-la-tables-04022014.xls</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 18/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

43216

registered interest
date	13/03/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the ability of older and disabled workers to find work as a result of the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme for recovering statutory sick pay.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Toby Perkins
uin	192157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2014 answer text <p>The Statutory Sick Pay Percentage Threshold Scheme is not linked to finding work, rather it compensates employers with high levels of sickness absence. An independent review of sickness absence[1] found that this scheme does nothing to tackle the causes of absence. As a result, the Government accepted a recommendation in the review to abolish the Percentage Threshold Scheme. The Government also accepted a recommendation to establish a Service (now known as the Health and Work Service) to offer specialist occupational health assessment and advice to employers, employees and GPs. The Service is designed to reduce the costs of sickness absence for employers by addressing the issues preventing a return to work, and supporting employees back to work as quickly as appropriate. </p><p> </p><p>We consider that the creation of the Health and Work Service, funded by the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme, will enable sickness absence to be better managed and improve the employment prospects of all employees, including older and disabled workers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>[1] Black, C. and Frost, D (2011) Health at work - and independent review of sickness absen</p><br /> <p /> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 20/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

42897

registered interest
date	12/03/2014
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
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 Stowell of Beeston on 3 March (WA 278), what evidence they have that Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans were "poorly targeted and failed to help those most in need".
tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
uin	HL5962
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The coalition Government outlined the evidence in <em>Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses in England, Government response to the call for evidence June 2011.</em> A copy was placed in the House library and it can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence</a> </p><p> </p><p>Nottinghamshire County Council have consulted on their plans to wind down their dedicated scheme and provide support by other means. Information on other authorities will be provided by the review my Department will shortly be carrying out about the way local authorities have used the funding provided following the abolition of the discretionary Social Fund. We are making arrangements with local authorities regarding this. A copy of the findings will be placed in the House Library.</p><p> </p><p>There has never been a commitment to provide specific funding beyond 2014/15. On the basis of experience on the ground since support was localised, central government believes that it makes most sense for councils to choose how much funding to allocate to these services in their areas in future - according to local priorities and needs - and how to provide such support.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL5963 HL5964 question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow

42898

registered interest
date	12/03/2014
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
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 Stowell of Beeston on 3 March (WA 278), which authorities have decided to "wind-down their local Discretionary Social Fund replacement schemes following underspends this year".
tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
uin	HL5963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The coalition Government outlined the evidence in <em>Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses in England, Government response to the call for evidence June 2011.</em> A copy was placed in the House library and it can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence</a> </p><p> </p><p>Nottinghamshire County Council have consulted on their plans to wind down their dedicated scheme and provide support by other means. Information on other authorities will be provided by the review my Department will shortly be carrying out about the way local authorities have used the funding provided following the abolition of the discretionary Social Fund. We are making arrangements with local authorities regarding this. A copy of the findings will be placed in the House Library.</p><p> </p><p>There has never been a commitment to provide specific funding beyond 2014/15. On the basis of experience on the ground since support was localised, central government believes that it makes most sense for councils to choose how much funding to allocate to these services in their areas in future - according to local priorities and needs - and how to provide such support.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL5962 HL5964 question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow