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1020730

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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: Appeals
	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 ensure that the appeal process works effectively across the full-service universal credit process.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
	tabling member printed	Dan Carden
	uin	199911
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>While DWP does not administer appeals, this is the responsibility of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), DWP is initially responsible for ensuring all requests for an appeal are considered. For example, having the original decision reconsidered by a different Decision Maker (a Mandatory Reconsideration). Should the claimant subsequently appeal, on receipt of that appeal from HMCTS, DWP are responsible for checking the decision is correct in law, and considering any further information and evidence provided with the appeal. If the decision remains correct, and cannot be revised after considering any further information provided, DWP prepare an appeal response for HMCTS.</p><p> </p><p>DWP works closely with HMCTS to review the outcome of appeal hearings and whether any internal improvements are necessary. Combined with Universal Credit Full Service internal assurance activities, this supports ongoing improvements with feedback provided to colleagues responsible for the end-to-end customer journey.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/12/2018 16:53:10 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1020601

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what her policy is on the provision of Departmental (a) guidance and (b) information to people that are subject to universal credit migration.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	199829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=197657" target="_blank">197657</a> published on 10<sup>th</sup> December.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 11/12/2018 18:08:06 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

1020720

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the level of demand for councils’ Local Welfare Provision schemes by people experiencing financial difficulties.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	199908
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Local Welfare Provision Schemes are local schemes to help claimants in urgent need following an emergency or unforeseen event and have no other source of help.</p><p>These schemes are administered and determined by local authorities in England, while in Scotland and Wales this is a devolved matter. Therefore, we have not assessed the demand for Local Welfare provision as a result of the introduction of Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Following Autumn Budget 2017, the Department has introduced a range of measures to support claimants and ensure no one has to experience hardship at the point of claim. These include: making advances of up to 100% of the indicative award available (from the start of a claim) and increasing the repayment period to 12 months, removing the 7 waiting days; providing an additional payment of 2 weeks of Housing Benefit to support claimants when they transition to Universal Credit; and changing how claimants in temporary accommodation receive support for their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Measures introduced at Autumn Budget 2018 will provide further assistance for claimants over the next few years. These include reducing, from October 2019, the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance, with the period over which these recoveries are made extended from 12 to 16 months in October 2021. Payment of Income Support and the income related elements of Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made, effective from July 2020, benefitting 1.1 million households. Additionally, from April 2019, there will be a £1000 increase in work allowances from April 2019, which will provide a £630 boost for households with children, and for people with disabilities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 11/12/2018 18:06:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1020731

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what steps she is taking to ensure that people who (a) cannot access the internet and (b) are not allowed to access the internet can claim universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
	tabling member printed	Dan Carden
	uin	199912
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. However, we recognise that some people will need help.</p><p> </p><p>For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, who will fully deliver Universal Support from April 2019. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. The Universal Credit Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 199801 question first answered 11/12/2018 18:06:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1020622

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what assessment has been made of the effect of single family payments of universal credit on people who are in violent or coercive relationships.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	199782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>We believe that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention. However, we recognise that there are circumstances in which split payments are appropriate, such as in the case of domestic abuse. Where this is the case, split payments are available on request. Both members of a couple do not need to be present to set up a split payment and consent is not required from the other partner to authorise a split payment. Claimants can request a split payment during a face to face meeting, a phone call, or online via their journal and do not have to provide evidence of abuse in order to be granted a split payment.</p><p> </p><p>Not all individuals who are suffering domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits with their individual circumstances. Work coaches receive training on domestic abuse and we will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, including signposting them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice and support.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 199783 question first answered 12/12/2018 15:50:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1020623

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what assessment she has made of the ease with which victims of domestic abuse can (a) request and (b) receive split universal credit payments.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	199783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2018 answer text <p>We believe that most couples can and want to manage their finances jointly without state intervention. However, we recognise that there are circumstances in which split payments are appropriate, such as in the case of domestic abuse. Where this is the case, split payments are available on request. Both members of a couple do not need to be present to set up a split payment and consent is not required from the other partner to authorise a split payment. Claimants can request a split payment during a face to face meeting, a phone call, or online via their journal and do not have to provide evidence of abuse in order to be granted a split payment.</p><p> </p><p>Not all individuals who are suffering domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits with their individual circumstances. Work coaches receive training on domestic abuse and we will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, including signposting them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice and support.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 199782 question first answered 12/12/2018 15:50:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1020613

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what assessment she has made of the effect of universal credit being paid into a single bank account on the (a) independence of women and (b) balance of power in their relationships.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	199798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-27/139032/" target="_blank">139032</a> on 2 May 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, research carried out for the Department suggests that only 2 per cent of married couples and 7 per cent of cohabiting couples keep their finances completely separate, so payments into a single bank account for couples fit with how the majority of couples organise their lives.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/12/2018 16:50:12 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1020691

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what estimate she has made of the number of universal credit claimants living in households without internet access in (a) Brent Central and (b) England.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	199800
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2018 answer text <p>This information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, published on 8 June 2018, found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey</a></p><p> </p><p>For those claimants requiring help, assistance is available through Assisted Digital Support (part of our Universal Support offer). This provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online.</p><p> </p><p>All jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/12/2018 12:22:36 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1020692

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants without internet access in (a) Brent Central and (b) England are supported in submitting their claims.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	199801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. However, we recognise that some people will need help.</p><p> </p><p>For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, who will fully deliver Universal Support from April 2019. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.</p><p> </p><p>Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. The Universal Credit Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 199912 question first answered 11/12/2018 18:06:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1020684

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Ukraine: Navy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Russia on the detention and prosecution of Ukrainian sailors taken into custody off the Crimean peninsula on 25 November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
	tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
	uin	199823
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/12/2018 answer text <p>The Foreign Office has raised this issue with the Russian Government. On 30 November alongside G7 Foreign Ministers, the Foreign Secretary publicly called on Russia to release the 24 detained Ukrainian servicemen and their vessels. We have also repeatedly made clear to senior Russian officials, bilaterally and through multilateral fora, that the Russian authorities must immediately release the crew, return their vessels and allow unhindered access through the Kerch Straits. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's solidarity with Ukraine and discussed the welfare of the detained crew during his 29 November call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Klimkin.</p> answering member constituency Rutland and Melton answering member printed Sir Alan Duncan question first answered 13/12/2018 12:26:03 answering member 343 label Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan
	tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry