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1139753

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Working Hours
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much time off in lieu has been taken by staff in her Department in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	278374
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>DWP offers a Flexible Working Hours (FWH) policy which allows employees to accrue additional hours worked as a flexi credit that can then be taken as time off in lieu.</p><p> </p><p>The FWH policy is managed locally and DWP does not hold central records of how much time off in lieu has been taken by employees, therefore the information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 12:16:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1139813

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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	Jobcentre Plus: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training her Department provides to Jobcentre Plus staff on economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	278514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. This includes those who are, or have been, victims of domestic abuse.</p><p> </p><p>Our Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. All Work Coaches receive training on how to support claimants with complex needs, which includes a module on identifying, supporting and signposting victims of abuse.</p><p> </p><p>In addition around 600 DWP staff across the UK are currently undergoing specialist training from expert organisation Women’s Aid. The newly assigned points of contact will be trained to identify and support the needs of anyone experiencing domestic abuse, and will work closely with local services to share knowledge and signpost women to additional, external support.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 14:31:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1139894

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 275662, what provision her Department makes for claimants who do not have access to the internet and are unable to check how their award is calculated and a breakdown of what deductions are being made.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	278343
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and 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>All Jobcentre Plus offices 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><p>The Work Coach or Case Manager supporting the claimant can inform them of how their award is calculated and the breakdown of their deductions and, where needed, can provide this in writing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/09/2019 14:45:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1139900

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 275665 on universal credit: fraud, what steps her Department is taking to close a loophole in the online application process which enables people to make an application and claim an advance using another person’s information.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	278345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes the prevention of fraud extremely seriously. Part of its strategy includes ensuring Universal Credit transactions are secure, including tackling loopholes fraudsters may seek to exploit, which sadly can target some of our most vulnerable claimants.</p><p>It is, however, important to recognise that the vast majority of advances on Universal Credit are legitimate and ensure those in need of financial support get the help they need during their transition to Universal Credit.</p><p>All claims where fraud may have been committed are investigated. We are committed to the use of penalties such as prosecutions and tough financial penalties, where appropriate, to discourage this fraudulent behaviour. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p>Additionally, we have a dedicated team of investigators to address this issue, and are working with Social Media sites to shut down posts which promote this fraud. The Department also operates a policy of explicit consent to help reduce the risk of fraud by ensuring that our claimants’ data is kept safe from unscrupulous organisations and individuals.</p><p>The Department is also raising awareness of this issue through a campaign being run on social media to remind people of the importance of safeguarding their identity. We have also been working to further improve knowledge and awareness of advances fraud amongst Jobcentre and Service Centre staff and guidance has been issued to ensure that staff are aware how to refer cases of suspected fraud to the Department’s Counter-fraud team.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2019 10:48:17 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1140016

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that Universal Credit payments begin within a week of a person registering for that benefit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL17251
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments are available on the first day of a claim in the form of an advance payment of benefit. Advances of up to 100 per cent of a claimant’s expected Universal Credit award are available from day one of their claim, if required. Advances are paid back over a maximum of 12 months and in the Autumn Budget 2018, we announced that from October 2021, the payback period for these advances will be extended further, to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>This is just one of a number of measures the Department has put in place to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit onto Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. We are also introducing a two-week run on for eligible claimants of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from July 2020.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 02/09/2019 15:49:10 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1139798

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Equal Pay: LGBT+ People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department has made an assessment of any potential discrepancies in rates of pay between heterosexual and non-heterosexual workers.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	278331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government does not currently collect data on differences in pay for LGBT vs non-LGBT staff. There is likely to be variation in the extent to which organisations collect this information about their staff. As part of the LGBT Action Plan, the Government Equalities Office is working with the Office for National Statistics and the Government Statistical Service on a cross-government project to develop monitoring standards for sexual orientation and gender identity across central government. These standards will be freely available to the wider public and private sectors, which will enable organisations to introduce measures, such as monitoring the LGBT pay gap, if they so wish.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/10/2019 10:01:51 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1139866

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Bus Services: Railways
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the integration and cooperation of bus and train services.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	278508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>Decisions on how best to co-ordinate bus and rail services are best tackled locally. The needs of all public transport users must be taken into account when considering how to manage the different public transport networks. Changes at one station or location may benefit passengers there but may be a disadvantage to passengers further along the route.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is currently in the process of building the Bus Open Data Digital Service which will serve as a platform for bus operators to provide their route, timetable, location, and fares data. This data can then be used by application developers to build products and services to help passengers plan their journeys, including onward journeys from railway stations.</p><p> </p><p>The Williams Rail Review is looking at how strategic planning can be improved, including at the local level, so train services and stations can be integrated with local bus services and cycling routes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 05/08/2019 15:05:04 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1139871

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Public Transport
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to incentivise people to use public transport since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	278509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>The Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools local authorities need such as Enhanced Partnerships and Franchising to improve local bus services and increase passenger numbers. Our forthcoming Bus Open Data Digital Service will transform the experience for passengers by making it easier for them to work out the best options available.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to provide £150 million of funding to support the delivery of smart and integrated ticketing across local transport and rail services in the north. Transport for the North, working closely with my Department, is in the final stages of procuring a digital platform that would make data on fares available online.</p><p>The Government has introduced a requirement for new franchises to introduce ‘one-click’ automated Delay Repay compensation, to make it easier for passengers to claim compensation when they have suffered delays.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also rolled out smart ticketing on rail - smart tickets are now accepted at rail stations across almost all of the network, with all franchised operators offering smart cards and/or barcode ticketing.</p><p>We now want to ensure that across regional and urban commuter areas, smart ticketing can deliver the kind of pay-as-you-go structure that is used in London and make journeys easier.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 05/08/2019 15:10:32 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1139890

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Garages and Petrol Stations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent garages from parking vehicles on streets that do not a display registration plate or a visible vehicle identification numbers; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the powers available to the (a) DVLA, (b) the Metropolitan police and (c) local authorities in tackling that problem.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing North
	tabling member printed	Stephen Pound
	uin	278332
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>Legislation relating to the display of registration numbers and number plates already exists and enforcement is an operational matter for the police. Successful prosecution depends on the police sighting the vehicle on the public highway and establishing that an offence has been committed. Number plate offences are also included in the Home Office’s fixed penalty system. This provides the police with a practical and effective means of enforcement. The police can also remove any vehicle that is causing an obstruction, is likely to cause danger or is broken down or abandoned without lawful authority.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities have legislative powers to fine garages for leaving two or more vehicles advertised for sale on the road.</p><p> </p><p>The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is responsible for enforcement against unlicensed vehicles and has legislative powers to clamp or remove such vehicles from public roads.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wealden answering member printed Ms Nusrat Ghani question first answered 05/08/2019 15:15:28 answering member 4460 label Biography information for Ms Nusrat Ghani
	tabling member	161 label Biography information for Stephen Pound

1139930

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Petrol: Ethanol
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the amount of ethanol in petrol sold to reduce carbon emissions.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	278404
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/08/2019 answer text <p>In 2018 the Department published a call for evidence on “E10 petrol, consumer protection and fuel pump labelling”. This document noted that using E10 (petrol containing up to 10% bioethanol) in place of E5 could reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions of a petrol vehicle by around two per cent.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 05/08/2019 15:27:07 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly