Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label attachment file name title previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1146122

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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, what information her Department holds on reductions to deductions for claimants of universal credit in latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	290635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 01/10/2019 14:40:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1146123

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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, how many claimants of universal credit received a (a) budgeting loan and (b) deferral period in the latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	290636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>Budgeting loans are not available to claimants in receipt of Universal Credit and therefore we do not hold any data.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Budgeting Advances have replaced Budgeting Loans for those in receipt of Universal Credit helping to provide additional assistance for emergency household costs, such as replacing a broken cooker, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs. Eligibility for a Budgeting Advance is explained on GOV.UK and can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 01/10/2019 14:55:02 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1146227

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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, whether the information provided in the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide Appendix 4, that fines have a maximum deduction rate of £108.35 a month, and a minimum deduction rate of an amount equivalent to five per cent of the claimant’s UC Standard Allowance. Any other deductions being taken reduce the maximum deduction rate pound for pound, so that the total of all deductions doesn’t go above the overall maximum deduction rate of 40 per cent of the claimant’s UC Standard Allowance, is still applicable.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	290673
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt, so last resort deductions can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply (gas/electricity) cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. In these cases, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the claimant and their family, deductions may be taken above the 40 per cent limit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 30/09/2019 14:53:40 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1145736

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Glasgow
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many advance benefit payments have been made to people in Glasgow in each month between April 2019 to August 2019; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	290749
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>For Glasgow City local authority:</p><p> </p><ul><li>In April 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paid</li><li>In May 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paid</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p> </p><ol><li>Figures are rounded to the nearest 100</li><li>Figures only go to May 2019 in line with published statistics relating to households on Universal Credit</li><li>Figures include all types of advances</li><li>Figures relate to Universal Credit full service only</li></ol> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 30/09/2019 14:50:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1145737

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Food Banks: Glasgow South West
	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 visit a food bank in Glasgow South West constituency in October 2019; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	290750
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>DWP Ministers regularly travel across the country visiting jobcentres, charities, food banks and partnership organisations. We receive many requests for visits across all parts of the UK and try to get to as many places as is possible with the constraints of Departmental business and the Parliamentary timetable.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 30/09/2019 14:50:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1146121

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Rape: Trials
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest waiting time was in weeks for a trial where the defendant entered a not guilty plea for rape in each Crown Court in England and Wales in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds East
	tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
	uin	290940
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2019 answer text <p>The information requested about the longest Crown Court waiting times for a trial where the defendant entered a not guilty plea for rape in 2010 and 2018 can be found in the attached Excel document.</p><p> </p><p>This maximum measure can be unrepresentative of the group, and will be affected by extreme results lying outside the normal range.</p><p> </p><p>Performance, demand and waiting times in the courts are constantly reviewed to balance sitting days with waiting times, disposals and receipts. Resources are adjusted when appropriate. Demand has been falling in recent years and sitting days have been reduced accordingly. The abolition of committal hearings in 2013 transferred the file preparation period from the magistrates’ court to the Crown Court and so comparisons between pre-2013 data and post-2013 data do not compare like with like.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to review demand and performance in the Crown Courts and will ensure they have the resource they require.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 30/09/2019 16:13:40 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton attachment 1 file name Table for PQ 290940.xlsx title Table for PQ 290940
	tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1146263

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what the timeframe is for her Department to table the regulations enabling opposite sex civil partnerships under the terms of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act to take place before the end of 2019.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	290564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade is required to exercise the power in the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019 amending the eligibility criteria for civil partnerships so that the regulations come into force no later than 31 December 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The regulations will be laid later this year for the 31 December deadline.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:33:13 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 136383 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1146267

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Civil Partnerships and Marriage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, what progress is being made on proposals to allow married partners to convert to an opposite sex civil partnership without divorce under the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	290566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government published a consultation on 10 July on proposals to allow opposite-sex married couples to convert to a civil partnership. The consultation closed on 20 August and we are considering the responses to this.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:38:14 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins previous answer version 136382 answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1145817

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Service Industries: Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Equality Act 2010, what steps the Government is taking to inform businesses and the service sector of the rights of assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	290800
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on businesses and other service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) statutory code of practice for services sets out examples of making reasonable adjustments for assistance dogs and in 2017, the EHRC published their updated guide for all businesses on assistance dogs. The guidance was produced in order to help businesses understand what they can do to comply with their legal duties under the Equality Act.</p><p>The Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS), the equalities and human rights helpline, receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS intervenes directly with or assists the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 11:55:47 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1145818

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	290801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. In the case of service providers this reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p>In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, <em>Bloch v Kassim</em> (assistance dogs in taxis); <em>Clutton and Williams v Pen</em>-<em>y</em>-<em>Bryn Group (assistance dogs in restaurants); and McCafferty v Miah (assistance dogs in shops).</em></p><p>The Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS), the equalities and human rights helpline, receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS intervenes directly with or assists the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:01:55 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion