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1002727

registered interest
date	06/11/2018
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	Bereavement Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on the payment of bereavement benefits for unmarried partners with children.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
uin	188820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Bereavement benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or civil partner; they can only be paid to those in legal unions. Therefore, they cannot be paid in respect of cohabitees, either with or without children. We are currently considering how to proceed following the recent Supreme Court judgement which ruled it incompatible with ECHR principles to provide that cohabitees with children are not entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>Cohabitees do have access to income-related benefits. They may also qualify for help with funeral costs from the Social Fund and may of course choose to provide security for their families by way of private pension or life insurance arrangements.</p><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 12/11/2018 11:44:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1002135

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
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	Pensions Regulator: Risk Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enhance the moral hazard powers of the Pensions Regulator.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	188087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>We have announced in the White Paper, <em>Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes, </em>that we intend to introduce a stand-alone interview power and enhanced inspection powers to enable the Pensions Regulator to conduct its investigations in a more efficient way.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s recent consultation on a stronger Pensions Regulator asked for views on proposals to strengthen the Pensions Regulator’s powers, including specifically enhancing its anti-avoidance powers, which deal with moral hazard. We are considering the responses and hope to publish our conclusions shortly, with a view to taking forward any necessary legislation in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 188088 question first answered 12/11/2018 12:41:52 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1002136

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
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	Pensions Regulator: Powers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to enhance the (a) information-gathering and (b) anti-avoidance powers of the Pensions Regulator.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	188088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>We have announced in the White Paper, <em>Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes, </em>that we intend to introduce a stand-alone interview power and enhanced inspection powers to enable the Pensions Regulator to conduct its investigations in a more efficient way.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s recent consultation on a stronger Pensions Regulator asked for views on proposals to strengthen the Pensions Regulator’s powers, including specifically enhancing its anti-avoidance powers, which deal with moral hazard. We are considering the responses and hope to publish our conclusions shortly, with a view to taking forward any necessary legislation in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 188087 question first answered 12/11/2018 12:41:52 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1002137

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
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	Pensions: Consumer Information
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has made on proposed verification and security measures for individual users of the proposed Pensions Dashboard.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	188089
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>On Tuesday 4 September 2018, I published a written statement providing an update on pensions including the pensions dashboard. This statement can be found here: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-04/HCWS933/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-09-04/HCWS933/</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>An industry-led Dashboard, facilitated by Government, will harness the best of industry innovation. We will continue to engage with industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders on this model and Government will protect pension savers and personal information by legislating where necessary.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/11/2018 12:45:41 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1002138

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
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	Pensions: Consumer Information
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the participation of pension schemes in the Pensions Dashboard will be compulsory.
tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
tabling member printed	Nick Smith
uin	188090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>As set out in the Autumn Budget, DWP will consult on the detailed design for pensions dashboards, and on how an industry-led approach could harness innovation while protecting consumers. As part of the consultation, due to be published shortly, the Department will explore how to maximise the participation of pension schemes.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 12/11/2018 12:44:09 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1002186

registered interest
date	05/11/2018
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	Discretionary Housing Payments: North Lincolnshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 5 November to Question 907432, how much discretionary housing payment was (a) awarded to and (b) spent by North Lincolnshire Council in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	188225
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The table below shows the amount awarded to and spent by North Lincolnshire Council in Discretionary Housing Payments in the last 3 financial years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Awarded</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Spent</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>£240,930</p></td><td><p>£39,626</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>£294,816</p></td><td><p>£50,735</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£395,413</p></td><td><p>£84,105</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Figures on the amount of Discretionary Housing Payments awarded to and spent by Local Authorities are available:</p><p><br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/discretionary-housing-payments-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/discretionary-housing-payments-statistics</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 12/11/2018 14:41:35 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

999630

registered interest
date	01/11/2018
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, how his Department's arrangement with Citizens Advice to provide universal credit support to claimants will operate in (a) constituencies and (b) local authority areas that do not have a Citizens Advice bureau.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	187046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2018 answer text <p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have committed to providing coverage across England, Wales and Scotland</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/11/2018 10:51:01 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

999640

registered interest
date	01/11/2018
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: Autism
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 close the autism employment gap.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	187154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is strongly committed to increasing employment opportunities for disabled people, including those with autism. Taking a life course approach, we are working across Government and with local authorities, voluntary organisations and employers in the public and private sectors to achieve this. Help and support for people with autism includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, a discretionary grant scheme which offers advice and practical and financial support above the level of reasonable adjustments to disabled people who are in work or about to start work. Access to Work has also put in place a Hidden Impairment Specialist Team that gives advice and guidance to help employers support employees with conditions such as Autism, Learning Disability and/or Mental Health conditions. It also offers eligible people an assessment to find out their needs at work and help to develop a support plan.</li><li>In 2017/18, the highest ever number of people received AtW payments - 33,860, up 13% on 2016/17.</li><li>Through working with Autism Alliance, we have developed the Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit, to help staff from all Government Departments understand how to support people with autism and associated neuro-diverse conditions. We also developed the Disability Passport ‘About Me’ which aims to encourage disabled claimants, including individuals with autism, to disclose their disability/ health conditions at the earliest stage to their Adviser, to improve communication and ensure reasonable adjustments are put in place. Both the toolkit and passport are hosted on Autism Alliance’s website.</li><li>Also through working with Autism Alliance, we delivered Autism and Hidden Impairment training to over 1000 nominated staff across the Jobcentre Plus network. Feedback from delegates confirms that the training helped staff to understand how to support people with autism or hidden impairments into employment.</li><li>The Civil Service has committed to support the Autism Exchange Programme, and my Department is working with Ambitious about Autism to provide work placement opportunities for young people.</li><li>Through the Disability Confident scheme, DWP is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with autism and associated hidden impairment conditions. Through the scheme, DWP is providing advice and support to help employers feel more confident about employing disabled people, by signposting them to appropriate advice guidance and support.</li></ul><p><em>Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability</em>, published last year, sets out the Government’s strategy for helping people with disabilities or health conditions, including learning difficulties and autism, enter and remain in employment. Whilst the initiatives are not all aimed exclusively at autistic people, we expect that many will benefit from these initiatives.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 12/11/2018 11:51:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

999641

registered interest
date	01/11/2018
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 and Health Programme: Autism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Health and Work Programme for autistic people.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	187155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2018 answer text <p>Over contract duration we expect 75% of Work and Health Programme (WHP) outcomes to be from participants with a disability or long term health condition. Whilst the programme is not aimed exclusively at autistic people, we expect that many will benefit from its support; we will be releasing official statistics this year. However, the programme has been warmly welcomed by WHP Providers and their supply chain, external stakeholders and, most importantly, our customers, and is already helping people into lasting work.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 12/11/2018 12:03:05 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

999642

registered interest
date	01/11/2018
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 and Health Programme: Autism
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 have taken to record the employment outcomes of the Health and Work Programme for autistic people.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	187156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2018 answer text <p>Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Conditions may request that specific referral opportunities are used for their referral to the Work and Health Programme (WHP), to allow providers to recognise their support requirements, which also record any employment outcome. WHP providers are required to record in any participants Action Plan any complex needs/ additional support requirements they have been notified of, or identify themselves as part of their support. Providers have an opportunity to track employment outcomes for this customer group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 08/11/2018 13:32:21 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova