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 grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

174828

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) Christmas Bonus there were in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Pamela Nash
uin	221474
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2015 answer text <p>Latest available statistics for Pension Credit recipients in Great Britain are published on the Department’s website at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/pc/tabtool_pc.html" target="_blank">http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/pc/tabtool_pc.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance</a></p><p> </p><p>Latest available statistics for Winter Fuel Payments in Great Britain are published on the Department’s website at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/winter-fuel-payments-caseload-and-household-figures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/winter-fuel-payments-caseload-and-household-figures</a></p><p> </p><p>Available statistics for Christmas bonus payments are in the table</p><p> </p><p><strong>Recipients of Christmas Bonus(*) by Geographical Area (Thousands)</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>All (GB and Overseas)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Airdrie and Shotts</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>North Lanarkshire</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>England</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Wales</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>15,468</p></td><td><p>22</p></td><td><p>84</p></td><td><p>12,777</p></td><td><p>1,351</p></td><td><p>858</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>15,586</p></td><td><p>22</p></td><td><p>85</p></td><td><p>12,873</p></td><td><p>1,370</p></td><td><p>870</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>15,547</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>86</p></td><td><p>12,841</p></td><td><p>1,374</p></td><td><p>876</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>15,466</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>86</p></td><td><p>12,773</p></td><td><p>1,373</p></td><td><p>878</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>15,370</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>87</p></td><td><p>12,693</p></td><td><p>1,374</p></td><td><p>878</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>(*) To get a Christmas Bonus a person must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland during the qualifying week.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Responsibility for these benefits in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for Social Development.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 221475 question first answered 23/01/2015 11:46:50 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	3909 label Biography information for Pamela Nash

175556

registered interest
date	20/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made on tackling fraud and error.
tabling member constituency	Islwyn
tabling member printed	Chris Evans
uin	907186
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>Fraud and error is currently estimated to be 2.1% of benefit expenditure, down from 2.2% in 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>My Department is working hard to reduce Fraud and Error. A number of initiatives have been put in place under the prevent, detect, correct, punish and deter agenda and the introduction of the Single Fraud Investigation Service, tougher penalties, cross Government working and increased recovery powers demonstrate our commitment to getting this right.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 26/01/2015 16:28:18 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

174481

registered interest
date	19/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have been sanctioned since January 2012 have received hardship payments in each year since then; and what the average level was of such hardship payments.
tabling member constituency	Oldham West and Royton
tabling member printed	Mr Michael Meacher
uin	221197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>The latest available published information for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) hardship awards is for the year from April 2011 to March 2012 and can be accessed via the link below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222972/hardship_adhoc_2011_2012.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222972/hardship_adhoc_2011_2012.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Information on the weekly amount awarded or on the duration of the award is not available. Therefore it is not possible to work out the average level of such hardship payments.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 26/01/2015 15:46:05 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	454 label Biography information for Mr Michael Meacher

174482

registered interest
date	19/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many peer reviews his Department has carried out following the death of benefit claimants; how many such reviews involved the sanctioning of claimants; and in how many cases his Department's action was found to be inappropriate or incorrect.
tabling member constituency	Oldham West and Royton
tabling member printed	Mr Michael Meacher
uin	221196
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2015 answer text <p>The Department has conducted 49 peer reviews relating to the death of a claimant. Peer reviews are conducted to assure the Department’s processes.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 26/01/2015 17:47:19 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	454 label Biography information for Mr Michael Meacher

174256

registered interest
date	16/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from the Trussell Trust about the adequacy of his Department's hardship payments scheme since 2010.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	221119
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 21/01/2015 15:48:40 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

173954

registered interest
date	15/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what changes he has made to his Department's policies or procedures in response to those representations about the adequacy of his Department's hardship payments scheme.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	220891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Following the recommendations of the Oakley Review of sanctions (published July 2014), Jobcentre Plus offices have improved claimants’ awareness of hardship when a sanction applies to their benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentre Plus has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Hardship process. This has focused on strengthening information provided to claimants throughout their engagement with us. All claimants are informed about the application process before a sanction decision is made and before any benefit reduction. Assistance is also provided with the application process where required. We have also sped up the hardship process so all payments are made within 3 days.</p><p> </p><p>Vulnerable claimants can continue to apply for hardship payments immediately.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 20/01/2015 16:50:05 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

173489

registered interest
date	13/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that people on benefits who undertake temporary work placements can have their benefits reinstated immediately and do not wait six weeks.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Greg Mulholland
uin	220571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p>We aim to ensure all claimants receive their first benefit payment as quickly as possible and have no plans to change our policy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Under Universal Credit (UC), claimants have a six month re-award period making it easier for them to take on temporary work placements and restart their UC award by simply reporting their change of circumstances and attending an interview. We are in the process of extending UC to more and more claimants with national roll-out beginning next month.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 20/01/2015 16:42:14 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	1540 label Biography information for Greg Mulholland

173490

registered interest
date	13/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Labour Market Statistics, table BEN01, published in December 2014, what assessment he has made of the reasons why the number of claimants of employment and support allowance and other incapacity benefits was higher in May 2014 than in May 2013; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	220554
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Since May 2010, the ESA caseload has fallen by 5.5% or 143,000 claimants. The small increase of less than 1% from May 13 to May 14 was largely driven by WCA supplier capacity issues, which we have taken steps to address by removing and replacing the supplier appointed by the previous government.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 16/01/2015 11:30:46 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

173495

registered interest
date	13/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value of hardship payments issued to sanctioned jobseekers' allowance claimants was in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
uin	220565
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2015 answer text <p>The information is not available.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published information on hardship awards covers the 12 month period from April 2011 to March 2012. This is the link to the publication.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222972/hardship_adhoc_2011_2012.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222972/hardship_adhoc_2011_2012.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 20/01/2015 16:40:05 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

173498

registered interest
date	13/01/2015
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hardship payments were made to sanctioned jobseeker's allowance claimants in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	North Tyneside
tabling member printed	Mrs Mary Glindon
uin	220640
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The total number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) hardship awards made in each month from April 2011 to March 2012 (the latest available published data) is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Number of hardship awards in each month 2011-12, Great Britain</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>No. of awards</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Oct-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nov-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Dec-2011</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jan-2012</strong></p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Feb-2012</strong></p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Mar-2012</strong></p></td><td><p>6,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011-12 total</strong></p></td><td><p>64,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Notes:</p><p>The numbers of JSA Hardship Awards were collated from aggregate DWP MISP Management Information. This data is a combination of system and clerically sourced Management Information. It is not considered 100% reliable and may contain duplicates. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 1,000.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 21/01/2015 16:15:51 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey previous answer version 38911 answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon