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1151364

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Bereavement Support Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to consult on increasing the eligibility for bereavement support payment to include cohabitees.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	3788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department currently has no plans to consult on increasing the eligibility for bereavement support payment to include cohabitees.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/10/2019 14:24:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1151365

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Bereavement Support Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) 18-month limit for receiving bereavement support payment and (b) three-month limit for claiming bereavement support payment.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	3789
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>We intend to carry out an evaluation of Bereavement Support Payment once sufficient evidence is available for this comparatively new benefit, to enable us to evaluate the policy.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/10/2019 14:23:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150531

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost to her Department of universal credit scams to date.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from an advance in any way, they will not be asked to repay it. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p> </p><p>Completed investigations thus far, have shown that the total amount claimed in fraudulent Universal Credit (UC) advances as of 30<sup>th</sup> September 2019 was £1,868,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand).</p><p> </p><p>It is important to clarify that these are not losses. The Department will endeavour to recover this money and pursue fraudsters. Recovery has already started in some of these cases.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 14:40:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150532

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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, how many (a) individuals and (b) third party individuals investigated for universal credit fraud have been (a) referred for prosecution and (b) successfully prosecuted.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1785
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes this issue very seriously and we are committed to taking appropriate action to deter this fraud.</p><p> </p><p>There are 28 individual cases being prepared for prosecution and 1 successful individual prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>There has been 1 successful third party prosecution and a 2<sup>nd</sup> third party case is due in court next month.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 14:25:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150533

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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, what steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of universal credit scams.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1786
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>We have raised awareness of recent Universal Credit advance payment fraud via a dedicated social media campaign, which reminds people of the importance of safeguarding their identity.  Staff throughout the Department are actively encouraged to report any instances of potentially fraudulent activity for investigation.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is committed to the prevention, detection and investigation of all types of benefit fraud. We take the issue of misuse of the welfare system very seriously and will continue to use appropriate penalties to deter fraudulent behaviour which can be very distressing for innocent victims.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>If any claimant has concerns about the safety of their personal information, they should speak to a member of Departmental staff, or get help from the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, Action Fraud, online at <a href="http://www.actionfraud.police.uk" target="_blank">www.actionfraud.police.uk</a> or by telephone on 0300 123 2040, which is promoted through display materials in Jobcentres.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 14:57:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150534

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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, whether it is her Department's policy to reinstate legacy benefits to people who have been migrated from those benefits to universal credit as a result of a fraud that was not their fault.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1787
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department will review each case where a claim to Universal Credit was prompted by fraudulent activity, considering the extent to which the claimant was involved.</p><p> </p><p>If there is clear evidence that the claimant had no involvement in the fraud, and where the claimant wishes us to do so, we will consider re-instating DWP legacy benefits.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 15:05:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150537

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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, what proportion of claimants of universal credit that were referred for investigation into fraud were referred after her Department introduced a requirement for claimants to attend a Jobcentre before applying for an advance payment.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>From 18<sup>th</sup> September 2019, claimants are required to attend an interview at a jobcentre to verify their identity before claiming a Universal Credit (UC) advance. This change is helping protect claimants from identity fraud and becoming victims of third party scams.</p><p> </p><p>The staff referrals we have received for UC advances fraud since 18<sup>th</sup> September 2019 equate to 6.3% of the total referrals received to date.</p><p> </p><p>It is important to clarify that the majority of these referrals will relate to advance claims made prior to 18<sup>th</sup> September 2019.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 15:13:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1147991

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
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	Thomas Cook: Insolvency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what dedicated emergency support her Department has put in place to help and advise Thomas Cook members of staff who have lost their jobs.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	293716
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>DWP stands ready to support anyone affected by the closure of Thomas Cook, with our Rapid Response Service (RRS) offer. This is a redundancy service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy. It is coordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) and is managed by Jobcentre Plus.</p><p> </p><p>The RRS has been mobilised to help people find a new job as soon as possible by offering tailored support. Each Jobcentre Plus district deploy resources according to the situation and the requirements of the workforce. The RRS is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers.</p><p> </p><p>NEPT have contacted several large employers and trade bodies to identify a range of opportunities for Thomas Cook members of staff who have lost their jobs and the Department is working closely with over 100 employers to offer support and opportunities. We are delivering over 65 Job Fairs nationally, where ex-employees can meet local employers with vacancies.</p><p> </p><p>The full range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Information advice and guidance.</li><li>Connecting people to jobs in the labour market.</li><li>Help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them.</li><li>Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour<br> market).</li><li>Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised<br> certification that will improve employability.</li><li>Help to overcome barriers to attending training or securing a job or <br> self-employment such as child care costs, necessary tools, work clothes, travel costs etc.</li><li>On-site presentations to those affected.</li><li>Job Fairs and Job Clubs where appropriate.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Our local teams are monitoring all new claims to benefits to identify where the claimant is an ex-employee of Thomas Cook so that they quickly receive the right level of support.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested on the number of ex-employees who have been offered alternative employment opportunities is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 293717 question first answered 07/10/2019 17:05:18 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1147992

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
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	Thomas Cook: Insolvency
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employees of Thomas Cook who have lost their jobs following the company's collapse have been offered alternative employment opportunities as of 2 October 2019.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	293717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>DWP stands ready to support anyone affected by the closure of Thomas Cook, with our Rapid Response Service (RRS) offer. This is a redundancy service designed to give support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy. It is coordinated nationally by the National Employer and Partnership Team (NEPT) and is managed by Jobcentre Plus.</p><p> </p><p>The RRS has been mobilised to help people find a new job as soon as possible by offering tailored support. Each Jobcentre Plus district deploy resources according to the situation and the requirements of the workforce. The RRS is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers.</p><p> </p><p>NEPT have contacted several large employers and trade bodies to identify a range of opportunities for Thomas Cook members of staff who have lost their jobs and the Department is working closely with over 100 employers to offer support and opportunities. We are delivering over 65 Job Fairs nationally, where ex-employees can meet local employers with vacancies.</p><p> </p><p>The full range of support available from Jobcentre Plus and partners includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Information advice and guidance.</li><li>Connecting people to jobs in the labour market.</li><li>Help with job search including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them.</li><li>Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour<br> market).</li><li>Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised<br> certification that will improve employability.</li><li>Help to overcome barriers to attending training or securing a job or <br> self-employment such as child care costs, necessary tools, work clothes, travel costs etc.</li><li>On-site presentations to those affected.</li><li>Job Fairs and Job Clubs where appropriate.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Our local teams are monitoring all new claims to benefits to identify where the claimant is an ex-employee of Thomas Cook so that they quickly receive the right level of support.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested on the number of ex-employees who have been offered alternative employment opportunities is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 293716 question first answered 07/10/2019 17:05:18 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1147993

registered interest
date	02/10/2019
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	Thomas Cook: Insolvency
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 provide pension protection for Thomas Cook staff.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	293718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>Thomas Cook schemes provide both Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit pensions.</p><p> </p><p>Defined Contribution pensions are operated independently of Thomas Cook, with funds held separately. Pension pots will not be affected and will continue to be invested on behalf of the members. If there are unpaid pension contributions the Insolvency Service can make payments out of the National Insurance Fund within specified limits.</p><p> </p><p>The Thomas Cook Defined Benefit pension schemes are protected by the Pension Protection Fund. These schemes are well funded and are able to continue to paying out pensions to their members. The Pension Protection Fund will assess whether it will need to take responsibility for payments in the future. Payments cannot be lower than the level of Pension Protection Fund compensation – which is 100% of pension for those currently above the scheme retirement age, and 90% subject to a cap for those who are younger, but this may be higher.</p><p> </p><p>The trustees of the Defined Benefit pension schemes are in touch with members. The Pension Protection Fund has provided contact details if members have questions.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/10/2019 13:29:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury