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1725520

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
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	Local Housing Allowance
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 make it her policy to ensure local housing allowance keeps pace with median rent prices.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
tabling member printed	Mary Glindon
uin	2895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2024 answer text <p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector.</p><p> </p><p>Households in similar circumstances living in the same area are entitled to the same maximum rent allowance regardless of the contractual rent paid. LHA rates do not cover all rents in all areas.</p><p> </p><p>Any decisions on LHA in 25/26 need to be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities and the fiscal context. LHA rates were restored to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local market rents from April 2024, at a cost of £1.2bn in 2024/25 and £7bn over five years.</p><p> </p><p>For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities.</p> answering member constituency East Ham answering member printed Sir Stephen Timms question first answered 04/09/2024 15:48:41 answering member 163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms
tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon

1725777

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
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	Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the removal of the spare room subsidy.
tabling member constituency	Norwich South
tabling member printed	Clive Lewis
uin	2957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2024 answer text <p>Any decisions on the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy policy need to be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal context.</p><p> </p><p>Those unable to meet a shortfall in their rent can seek a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from their local authority. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency East Ham answering member printed Sir Stephen Timms question first answered 04/09/2024 15:51:12 answering member 163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms
tabling member	4500 label Biography information for Clive Lewis

1724281

registered interest
date	30/07/2024
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in her Department in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
uin	2234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2024 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Total annual costs for EDI activities</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1 April 2023 - 31 29 February 2024</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022/ 2023 </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1 April 2020 - 31 March 2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1 April 2019 – March 2020</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Departmental staff networks</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>£2675</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cross-departmental staff networks</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>£29,605</p></td><td><p>£23,658</p></td><td><p>£23,658</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>From August 2019, 7 National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Networks are given pro rata time allocation to support respective network activity. There was no official time allocation given to support Network activity prior to this, tasks were undertaken on a voluntary basis.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Time allocation</strong></p><p>The National EDI Network Co-Chairs have a 25%-weekly time allocation and the Strand Lead/Board Member/Committee roles have a weekly 10%-time allocation. Each Network can recruit up to 10 Committee members (please note that not all Networks have up to 10 Committee members).</p><p> </p><p>7 National EDI Networks with allocated time equates to:</p><p> </p><p>1 x 25 % time allocation 37- hour week contract equates to 9.25 hours for each co-chair or 18.5 hours for both per week for each of them (pro rata)</p><p>1x10% time allocation 37 – hour week contract equates to 3.7 per committee member, or for each committee member 10 x 10 % equates to 37 hours a week (pro rata)</p><p> </p><p>Across all 7 Networks:</p><ul><li>70* people support network activity at 10% with 90% of their time focused on their contracted job role.</li><li>14 people spend 25% of their time on network activity, with 75% of their time focused on their contracted job role.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The cost of staff information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stretford and Urmston answering member printed Andrew Western question first answered 04/09/2024 14:17:20 answering member 4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western
tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1724430

registered interest
date	30/07/2024
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	Pensioners: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners living in (a) relative poverty and (b) absolute poverty that are not in receipt of Pension Credit.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	2334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2024 answer text <p>For the financial year 2022/23, the latest year that data that is available, 1.6m pensioners living in households not in receipt of Pension Credit were in relative poverty after housing costs, and 1.2m pensioners living in households not in receipt of Pension Credit were in absolute poverty after housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on the number of pensioners living in absolute and relative poverty in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a><strong>. </strong>The latest available data with breakdowns by receipt of Pension Credit can be found on Stat-Xplore (<a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>) in the ‘Households Below Average Income’ dataset. The latest statistics published on 21 March 2024 are for the financial period 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">Getting Started (dwp.gov.uk)</a>. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore, the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions<strong>.</strong></p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 04/09/2024 15:43:28 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

1724745

registered interest
date	30/07/2024
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	Silicosis: Composite Materials
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to protect workers from silicosis, in particular the risk posed by the installation of engineered stone countertops.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/08/2024 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues to inspect industries associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and to respond to concerns about risk management reported to HSE.</p><p> </p><p>Adequate control measures for protecting workers from the risks of exposure to RCS are legally required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), including water suppression, equipment enclosure, extraction and personal protective equipment, such as respirator masks. COSHH also requires workers to be trained to effectively implement such controls.</p><p> </p><p>HSE works proactively with key stakeholders, trade associations and other industry bodies to raise awareness of the risks of exposure to RCS and to provide information and guidance on adequate control measures. This includes developing targeted communications to ensure that those at risk of exposure to silica dust from working with stone (including engineered stone) understand and are using the controls which can prevent exposure.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 06/08/2024 15:48:01 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1723946

registered interest
date	29/07/2024
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	Pest Control: Aluminium Phosphide
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human, animal welfare, and environmental impacts of the use of aluminium phosphide in pest control, and whether they plan to further restrict its use.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/08/2024 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the body responsible for the regulation of biocidal products, such as aluminium phosphide. Aluminium phosphide is approved under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (assimilated Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) for use in pest control products against rodents and other vertebrates.</p><p> </p><p>These products are restricted to professional users holding specific accredited qualifications in the use of such products. These products are permitted only for a very limited number of uses and with strict control measures in place.</p><p> </p><p>Approval was granted following a detailed scientific assessment of the potential risks from the use of this chemical, which showed that there are no unacceptable risks to people, animals or the wider environment when products are used correctly in accordance with the restrictions and control measures placed on the products.</p><p> </p><p>Biocides are subject to periodic reviews to ensure risk assessments remain up to date. Aluminium phosphide is currently undergoing this process, and if the review identifies that any changes are required, suitable regulatory action will be taken by HSE to implement these.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 09/08/2024 13:29:43 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1723947

registered interest
date	29/07/2024
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	Rats: Poisons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on non-target species of the use of difenacoum, bromadioline, brodifacoum, flocoumafen and difethialone as rodenticides.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/08/2024 answer text <p>The active substances difenacoum, bromadiolone, brodifacoum, flocoumafen and difethialone, collectively referred to as Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), are approved under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR) (assimilated Regulation (EU) No 528/2012) for use in pest control products against rodents.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the body responsible for the regulation of biocidal products, such as rodenticides, and undertakes rigorous scientific evaluation of biocidal products and active substances before allowing them to be placed on the market.</p><p>Risk assessments carried out by regulators, including HSE, have shown that SGARs present a higher risk to non-target species than would normally be acceptable. However, it is recognised that alternative methods of rodent control may have limitations or may not always be suitable to tackle rodent infestations. Under GB BPR products with unacceptable levels of risk may still be authorised if it can be shown that the negative impact on society of not allowing their use would outweigh the risks of using them, as is the case with SGARs.</p><p>An industry led stewardship scheme is in place in the UK for professional use of SGARs, with the key aim being to reduce the exposure of non-target wildlife to SGARs. Stewardship is overseen by a Government Oversight Group (GOG) led by HSE with representatives of other government stakeholders. The GOG receives annual reports on the residues of SGARs that are detected in barn owls (the sentinel species for rodenticide stewardship). The GOG keeps the rodenticide stewardship scheme under review, and one of the areas under consideration is extending the monitoring of SGAR residues to other species.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 09/08/2024 12:45:46 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1723985

registered interest
date	29/07/2024
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	Carer's Allowance: Overpayments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report, Carer’s Allowance Overpayments, published by Carer’s UK on 26 July.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
uin	HL463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/08/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the invaluable service provided by the millions of unpaid carers across the country who provide care and continuity of support for vulnerable people every day. It recognises the challenges they face and is determined to provide them with the support they deserve.</p><p> </p><p>The Government welcomes the report published by Carers UK, and is considering its findings. Ministers were pleased to meet with the organisation, and with carers, to discuss the issues raised shortly after publication of the report.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, in respect of overpayments of Carer’s Allowance, the Government is moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong so that it can set out its plan to put things right.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 09/08/2024 13:30:10 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

1723986

registered interest
date	29/07/2024
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	Carer's Allowance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to revise (1) the limits on earnings and the number of hours that can be worked, and (2) the rate at which earnings above those limits can be reclaimed, for those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
uin	HL464
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/08/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the challenges unpaid carers are facing and is determined to provide them with the help and support they need and deserve. It is looking closely at how the benefit system currently does this.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit provides support to carers on low incomes, whether they are in paid employment or not. Carer’s Allowance, by contrast, is available to all unpaid carers, provided they are not in ‘gainful employment’. This is currently defined as having earnings not exceeding £151 a week net of allowable expenses. This level is reviewed annually alongside the Secretary of State’s statutory review of State pension and benefit rates. Many Carer’s Allowance recipients are in households also receiving Universal Credit, where the structure of tapers and work allowances (where applicable) effectively takes precedence over ‘gainful employment’ test in Carer’s Allowance.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>With respect to overpayments of Carer’s Allowance due to the interaction with earnings, the Government is moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong so that it can set out its plan to put things right.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 09/08/2024 13:30:45 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark

1724082

registered interest
date	29/07/2024
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	Bereavement Support Payment
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 take steps to (a) extend the duration of Bereavement Support Payments and (b) update those payments in line with inflation.
tabling member constituency	North Antrim
tabling member printed	Jim Allister
uin	2220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2024 answer text <p>Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) helps people through the immediate period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. We have no current plans to change the duration of Bereavement Support Payment.</p><p>The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process, but there is no legal requirement to uprate it. BSP is not a cost-of-living benefit like Universal Credit, which has been increased in line with inflation. We will review the rate of Bereavement Support Payment later this year as part of the annual uprating process.</p> answering member constituency Stretford and Urmston answering member printed Andrew Western grouped question UIN 2205 question first answered 04/09/2024 14:21:43 answering member 4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western
tabling member	5356