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1133560

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pieces of unstructured white mail have been directed to the Derby contact centre to deal with since the creation of the team established to retrieve all such correspondence; and how many items of that mail are still awaiting redirection to the correct department in that centre.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	267244
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>Unstructured White Mail is post that is received but does not have a prescribed structure, such as handwritten letters or non DWP forms.</p><p> </p><p>There is no centre to deal specifically with unstructured white mail. There is, however, a team in Derby Contact Centre which receives mail that cannot be attributed to a specific customer or benefit stream and their role is to identify the customer details and benefit stream so that the mail can then be scanned into the relevant systems. The Department does not keep records of volume.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 16:10:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1133685

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases administered by the Child Maintenance Service were on (a) Direct Pay and (b) Collect and Pay in each quarter of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	267321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is published in Table 4 (Child Maintenance Arrangements for Paying Parents) of the quarterly Child Maintenance Service statistics, which are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2018-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2018-experimental</a></p><p>The latest published statistics include data to December 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 12:20:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1133686

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total amount of uncollected child maintenance payments was under the Child Maintenance Service in each quarter of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	267322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is published in Table 9 (How much child maintenance the Child Maintenance Service has arranged) of the quarterly Child Maintenance Service statistics, which are available here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2018-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2018-experimental</a></p><p>The latest published statistics include data to December 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Table 9 gives the cumulative total, at the end of each quarter, of maintenance arranged through the Child Maintenance Service that had not been paid, and now needs to be collected through the Collect &amp; Pay service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 12:24:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1133687

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents under the Child Maintenance Service were paying child maintenance using a Deduction from Earnings order in each quarter of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	267323
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The below table gives the number of Paying Parents on the Child Maintenance Service, who, at the end of each quarter, were using the Collect &amp; Pay service with a Deduction from Earnings Order. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. These figures count all Paying Parents using a Deduction from Earnings Order, regardless of whether any maintenance had been paid in that quarter. The figures do not include Deduction from Earnings Requests.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Quarter Ending</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>DEOs in place</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-16</p></td><td><p>14,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-16</p></td><td><p>16,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-16</p></td><td><p>18,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-16</p></td><td><p>20,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-17</p></td><td><p>21,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-17</p></td><td><p>23,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-17</p></td><td><p>26,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-17</p></td><td><p>30,200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-18</p></td><td><p>36,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-18</p></td><td><p>40,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-18</p></td><td><p>43,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-18</p></td><td><p>45,100</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Statistics including data to March 2019 will be published on 26<sup>th</sup> June.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 12:34:54 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1133141

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is taking to retrieve money owed by absent parents.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	266704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) replaced the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in 2012 and brought significant reforms to the Child Maintenance system in Great Britain. Child Maintenance in Northern Ireland is a devolved issue, although they run a broadly similar scheme. Any questions should be directed to the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>We support separated parents to make their own family based arrangements wherever possible. This allows families to create flexible arrangements that work for their individual circumstances and, where parents are able to work together, this can be better for their children. Where this is not possible, the CMS offers an effective and efficient statutory scheme for those parents who really need it.</p><p> </p><p>Under the statutory scheme, where paying parents fail to pay on time and in full, we aim to take immediate action to recover the debt and re-establish compliance. Where compliance is not achieved we are committed to using our wide ranging enforcement powers proportionally, and in the best interests of children and separated families.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 16:42:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1133239

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Employment: Poverty
	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 number of people in employment that live in poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	266657
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>National statistics on the number of working-age adults, in a family with at least one adult in work, in low income can be calculated from figures published in the annual &quot;Households Below Average Income&quot; publication.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017/18 there were 2.9m working-age adults in absolute low income (before housing costs) in families with at least one adult in work. However, over 80% of these are from families where at least one adult is not in full-time employment. The majority of those in in-work poverty are in families with part-time work only, single earner couples, or are self-employed.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 12:49:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1133367

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Shared Housing: Utilities
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Valuation Office Agency makes a deduction for (a) water and (b) fuel from the advertised rent for a room in shared accommodation when calculating the 30 per centile of the shared accommodation rate in each broad rental market area.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	266836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 instructs Rent Officers how to compile the list of rents used in the calculation of local housing allowance rates (including the shared accommodation rate) and the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local rents for each broad rental market area. In compiling the list of rents, Rent Officers must exclude the amount of any rent which in the Rent Officer’s opinion is attributable to provision of services or facilities made available to the tenant which are ineligible to be met by Housing Benefit.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 13:02:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1133368

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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	Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the local reference rent levels for each broad rental market area published on 30 April 2019 are based upon the median of market rents for each area.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	266837
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Local Reference Rent is determined in accordance with the formula set out in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order 1997 for calculating a median rent. The Local Reference Rent is based upon the number of bedrooms and living rooms within the property.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 13:10:38 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1132841

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department owes in social security benefit back-payments to claimants as a result of errors made by her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North West
	tabling member printed	Carol Monaghan
	uin	266166
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 16:52:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4443 label Biography information for Carol Monaghan

1132842

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department owes in social security benefit back-payments to claimants as a result of tribunals or High Court judgments finding in favour of such claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North West
	tabling member printed	Carol Monaghan
	uin	266167
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 16:50:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4443 label Biography information for Carol Monaghan

1132858

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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 17 June 2019 to Question 263186 on Universal Credit, what the timeframe is for the (a) Landlord portal going live and (b) platform within the Landlord portal to enable social landlords to notify his Department of annual rent increases.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	266176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit including the landlord portal which has existed since 2017. This can be accessed at: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department will deliver improvements which include: (a) an online form for all landlords to request a managed payment for rent from Universal Credit, and (b) an upload facility for social landlords to notify annual rent changes via the existing landlord portal. Both systems are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2019 following completion of rigorous testing.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 13:28:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1132882

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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: Veterans
	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 Forces in Mind Trust report entitled Social security benefits and transitions from military to civilian life, published in June 2019, what steps she is taking to ensure that her officials are given adequate training to support ex-service personnel with their benefit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	266118
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>DWP equips our people with a variety of training to help them serve and support all clients who have complex needs, including ex-service personnel, to make claims to all DWP.</p><p> </p><p>We attach a great deal of importance to meeting our commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and we were pleased to see that the report recognised some of the excellent work undertaken by DWP staff to support veterans. We have also already made a number of improvements.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2019 we launched a refreshed job description for the Armed Forces Champion (AFC) which sets out what is expected of an AFC, the key relationships they need to form and other useful resources available to them.</p><p> </p><p>The Armed Forces Champions ensure the support, advice and guidance offered by Jobcentre Plus reflects the needs of service leavers and the wider armed forces community in their district. Information about benefits is freely available on GOV.UK and many of our AFC work directly with military bases to provide additional information.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches in every Jobcentre have all the information they need to offer a tailored service to all claimants and have access to a District Provision Tool which outlines sources of help and provision available locally, including support specific to service leavers.</p><p>The Department’s learning products emphasise the importance of treating each claimant as an individual in order to identify and meet their specific needs, whatever they may be.</p><p> </p><p>There is also further DWP learning addressing the broader awareness, skills and behaviours required when dealing with all those transitioning from military to civilian life.</p><p> </p><p>We keep our training under review and are always open to ideas and considerations on how to improve the services we offer.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 16:47:04 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1132927

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	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: CTF Partners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her (a) Department and (b) Department's agencies have entered into contracts with CTF Partners since 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	266226
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>There are no contracts held in the Departments eProcurement system with CTF Partners.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/06/2019 14:50:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1132394

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Cardiff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to help ensure that there are adequate (a) parking facilities and (b) public transport connections for staff working in her Department's offices in Merthyr Tydfil when that office is moved to the hub north of Cardiff.
	tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
	tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
	uin	265563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>We plan to move the back of house staff based in Merthyr Tydfil Ty Bethesda into the new office in Treforest between 2021 and 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Building work on the new Treforest site began in January 2019 and the building is currently on track and due for completion in the last quarter of 2020. There are plans for 444 car parking spaces, along with space for motorcycle and cycle storage at this site.</p><p> </p><p>The development of the South Wales Metro continues and discussions are ongoing between DWP and Transport for Wales around the relocation of Trefforest Estate station closer to the new office.</p><p> </p><p>Before any moves take place, staff will have the opportunity for a formal one-to-one discussion with their line managers about how the move will impact them. This helps to assess any travel impacts of the change of location. We anticipate that these formal discussions will take place approximately nine months in advance of any moves.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:51:41 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1132410

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there is a freephone number that universal credit claimants can use when attempting to make phone contact with her Department from abroad.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
	uin	265570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>You can dial all of the 0800 numbers from abroad using the 0044 prefix. If a claimant does find themselves needing to dial an 0800 number from abroad, then they may incur charges at the standard international rate. This cost will vary depending on where they are calling from.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/06/2019 12:30:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1132567

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to determine performance-related awards for officials in her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	265469
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>End year performance awards are a key element of the Department for Work and Pension’s reward strategy, supporting performance improvement, employee engagement and delivery of key business objectives. These awards are based on employees’ annual performance ratings, which are scored against their overall achievement of objectives, and the behaviours demonstrated during the performance year. The level of award will vary according to a range of factors including grade and performance rating achieved.</p><p> </p><p>As with all government departments Senior Civil Servants (SCS) in DWP are managed under Cabinet Office policy. Performance related pay awards for this cohort are restricted to top performers only with around 25% of employees falling into this category. Performance ratings are based on delivery against key objectives, effective leadership skills, and demonstration of Civil Service behaviours and values.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP, in common with most other government departments, also operates an in-year Recognition and Reward scheme which is available all year round and consists of one off non-consolidated cash or voucher awards. Employees are encouraged to recognise individuals and teams for their exceptional contributions in areas such as giving a particularly high level of customer service or demonstrating outstanding teamwork.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:43:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1132572

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2019
	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: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on performance-related awards for officials in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018 and (f) January 2019 to June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	265470
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>The periods covered are pay remit years which run from July to June, figures up to 2017/18 are actual and 2018/19 is forecast as this reporting year will not conclude until end June 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The figures provided include expenditure on all DWP performance related awards including; End of year performance awards to delegated grades, SCS Performance Related Payments, Recognition scheme.</p><p> </p><p>2013/14 - £49.635,000, Average Payment by headcount - £505</p><p>2014/15 - £46,277,000, Average Payment by headcount - £513</p><p>2015/16 - £43,056,000, Average Payment by headcount - £510</p><p>2016/17 - £39,435,000, Average Payment by headcount - £473</p><p>2017/18 - £42,341,000, Average Payment by headcount - £509</p><p>2018/19 - £22,854,000 – Payments will be agreed as part of 2019 pay negotiations pending.</p><p> </p><p>We have over 82,000 employees in DWP, approximately 94% are in our most junior grades receiving an annual salary between £18,745 for an AA Grade and £37,262 for an HEO Grade based in Inner London.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/06/2019 15:19:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1132277

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deductions of earnings (a) orders and (b) requests were issued by the Child Maintenance Service to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Business Services for the purpose of collecting child maintenance in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	264780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number of paying parents under the Child Maintenance Service with a Deduction from Earnings Order or Deduction from Earnings Request in place can be found in the latest Published statistics last updated 17 April 2019, a link to which can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme</a></p><p> </p><p>The Child Maintenance Service does not issue Deduction from Earnings Orders to the Ministry of Defence.</p><p> </p><p>The information specifically on how many Deduction from Earnings Requests were issued to the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Business Services in each of the last three years 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 19/06/2019 16:32:00 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1131990

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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: Pensioners
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether pensioner couples who are no longer eligible for pension credit and housing benefit because one of the couple is below state pension age, will still be eligible to have their rent paid directly to their landlord under universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	264296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>Mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners immediately before the implementation date on 15 May 2019 will not be affected by the policy, so long as they remain entitled to either benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Those making a new claim to Universal Credit, or already claiming it, will be able to have a conversation with their work coach or case manager, in the same way as other claimants, so that a managed payment to their landlord can be considered in Universal Credit for their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would have been eligible for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners under the previous rules but had not claimed before 15 May 2019, will have up to 13 August 2019 to make a backdated claim to 14 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/06/2019 15:07:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1132014

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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: Chief Scientific Advisers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings she has held with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 March 2019 and 31 May 2019.
	tabling member constituency	North Norfolk
	tabling member printed	Norman Lamb
	uin	264367
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions held no meetings with the Department’s Chief Scientific Advisor between 1 March 2019 and 31 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 13:04:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb

1132054

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2019
	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 he is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants paying rent weekly do not face a one-week shortfall in their universal credit housing element in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Ogmore
	tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
	uin	264450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>No-one will face a one-week shortfall in their Universal Credit (UC) housing element in 2020 as no year contains 53 weeks. This perceived issue of there being a one-week shortfall due to there being 53 weeks in a year arises where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday and, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, requiring 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53<sup>rd</sup> payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year.</p><p> </p><p>Where a tenant makes a 53<sup>rd</sup> rent payment in a given year, this payment will cover some days in the subsequent year. This will mean the following month only has four payment dates and, as such, the claimant will be ‘overpaid’ for their housing and their shortfall will be recovered.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day’s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 11:44:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore

1131763

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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: Statistics
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions her Department has received representations from the UK Statistics Authority on her Department's presentation and use of statistics in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	263734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>Details on the UK Statistics Authority’s interventions are published in the correspondence, publications, and issues log sections of their website since 2010. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>The Authority’s Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) also carry out regular assessments and systemic reviews, details of which can also be found on the Authority’s website. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/osr/</a></p><p> </p><p>In September 2018, the Authority published the first annual summary of its interventions for the financial year 2017/18. The report for 2018/19 will be published in the autumn. <a href="https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/" target="_blank">https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/publication/annual-casework-review-20172018/</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 12:30:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1131838

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	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	Funerals: Costs
	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 7 May 2019 to Question 249851, what steps her Department takes to (a) make funerals accessible to everyone and (b) co-ordinate actions between the various bodies listed to ensure they are making funerals accessible to everyone.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	263674
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2019 answer text <p>The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments provides a significant contribution towards funeral costs for claimants on qualifying benefits. It continues to meet the necessary costs of a cremation or burial and up to £700 towards other costs. In 2017-18 around 25,500 Funeral Expenses Payment awards were made. This amounted to £37.1 million of support for funeral costs. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances are now also available to assist with funeral costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Department holds regular discussions with funeral providers and related organisations, including a Ministerial Roundtable on 18th June 2019 to discuss the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme and listen to views for suggested future improvements.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/06/2019 12:07:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1131195

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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 she is taking to bring forward proposals to simplify the process by which social housing landlords advise her Department of a rent increase in order for a tenant in receipt of universal credit to receive an uplift in housing benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	263186
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with monthly payments reflecting the way many working people are paid. This model of monthly payments allows claimants to take responsibility for budgeting their own income and helps prepare them for getting back to work.</p><p> </p><p>Many claimants are capable of managing their own financial affairs and for these claimants a Managed Payment to Landlord is not appropriate. However, we recognise that additional support is sometimes necessarily to ensure rent is paid on time.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Our Trusted Partner scheme allows social landlords to play a key role in engaging with their tenants who are on Universal Credit, helping those who cannot manage their housing payments to access the support available and to help put managed payments in place where appropriate. We are rolling out the scheme alongside the Landlord Portal, which provides social landlords with the ability to submit information directly to the Universal Credit online system, supporting the timely and accurate payment of housing costs to Universal Credit claimants.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is developing a facility whereby social landlords whose tenants are on the landlord portal are able to advise Universal Credit about an annual rent change through the platform. This will help reduce administration for landlords and ensure the correct housing costs are paid.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/06/2019 15:07:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1131370

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2019
	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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) increased data sharing with social landlords and (b) other enhancements of the Trusted Partner Status programme with housing associations.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall North
	tabling member printed	Eddie Hughes
	uin	263247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department is continuing to consider how they can develop its Trusted Partner Status programme. This requires careful consideration and evaluation surrounding how we manage data security, whilst realising the advantages that data sharing with partner organisations brings to our claimants.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders to design any future processes.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/06/2019 16:38:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes