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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

1146021

	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 steps her Department is taking to review universal credit assessment periods when claimants receive two paychecks within the same assessment period due to a change of employer.
	tabling member constituency	Chichester
	tabling member printed	Gillian Keegan
	uin	291103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit seeks to take earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by their employer or employers during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p> </p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income changes, they do not have to wait several months for a corresponding change in their Universal Credit award. Claimants can always discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their case managers and work coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/10/2019 15:59:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan

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

1145902

	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	Trials: Legal Costs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what legislation or guidelines determine who should pay the cost of counsel when a court case is adjourned the night before that trial is scheduled to take place.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	uin	290849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>For publicly funded criminal legal aid work, payment for the trial advocate (or counsel) in the Crown Court is determined in accordance with fees set out in Schedule 1 of The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013. The Crown Court Fee Guidance published by the Legal Aid Agency provides further guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Paragraph 16, Schedule 1 of the Remuneration Regulations states that an ineffective trial fixed fee <em>is payable in respect of each day on which the case was listed for trial but did not proceed on the day for which it was listed, for whatever reason.</em> The fee payable is set out at paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 of the Regulations and there are different fees according to the category of advocate instructed in the trial.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 03/10/2019 15:03:00 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

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

1146243

	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	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many referrals from Independent Reviewing Officers to CAFCASS on behalf of children in care have resulted in legal action in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	290555
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>No referrals from Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) to Cafcass on behalf of children in care have resulted in legal proceedings in the last 10 years.</p><p> </p><p>20 referrals were made to Cafcass by IROs during the period in question. Cafcass responds to every referral and appoints a Cafcass officer (often the previous guardian) to provide an independent assessment of the child’s circumstances. Cafcass seeks in-house legal advice for each referral which will recommend whether legal action should be commenced in order to protect the child’s interests.</p><p> </p><p>In all cases, Cafcass enters into negotiation with the local authority to try to resolve any dispute by negotiation or mediation to achieve the best outcome for the child and most referrals are resolved by agreement. Cafcass takes every step possible to ensure a child's human rights are effectively protected and would not hesitate to take court action when there is no other effective way to achieve a positive outcome for the child.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 03/10/2019 14:38:27 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1145766

	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	Period Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of providing free sanitary products to women on low incomes beyond compulsory school age.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	290759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>No one should be held back from reaching their potential because of their gender. This is why the former Minister for Women and Equalities, my Rt Hon. Friend for Portsmouth North, announced a cross-sectoral Taskforce that looks beyond those in schools to other vulnerable groups in society. The Taskforce includes an ‘Access for all’ workstream which, as part of its remit, will review existing initiatives designed to provide period products to vulnerable groups, identify gaps and highlight the groups on which potential new interventions should focus. The Taskforce will report on this in due course.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 08/10/2019 10:20:30 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell