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
tabling member	label

Search

1142307

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her evidence of 24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront childcare costs, whether work coaches use the Flexible Support Fund to provide that additional support after the first month.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers and is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Deposit – To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.</li><li>Retainer – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery provision prior to the parent starting work or training.</li><li>Fees – To pay a provider upfront childcare fees in advance of the service being delivered; and</li><li>Taster/Settling in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable the parent to prepare their child before taking up the full childcare offer.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Once a claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the flexibility to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs where required and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school holidays, change of childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase work hours. Budgeting Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these childcare costs can be reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a paid receipt is submitted.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282562 question first answered 05/09/2019 11:53:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142308

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her oral evidence of 24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront childcare costs on Wednesday 24 July, whether work coaches will be given greater flexibility to use the Flexible Support Fund.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers and is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Deposit – To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.</li><li>Retainer – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery provision prior to the parent starting work or training.</li><li>Fees – To pay a provider upfront childcare fees in advance of the service being delivered; and</li><li>Taster/Settling in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable the parent to prepare their child before taking up the full childcare offer.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Once a claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the flexibility to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs where required and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school holidays, change of childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase work hours. Budgeting Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these childcare costs can be reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a paid receipt is submitted.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282561 question first answered 05/09/2019 11:53:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1148861

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	NHS: Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Explanatory Memorandum to The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2019, 7.12, whether in the event of a Serious Shortage Protocol being issued for immunosuppressant medicines patients would always be referred back to the prescriber for any decision on their treatment before any therapeutic or generic alternative is supplied.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	326
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>While Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) in England have the scope to cover all medicines and appliances that are on a National Health Service prescription in primary care, including immunosuppressant medicines, it is clear that an SSP for therapeutic or generic equivalents will not necessarily be suitable for all medicines and patients. For example, where medicines need to be prescribed by brand for clinical reasons, which may be the case for certain immunosuppressant medicines. In these cases, patients would always be referred back to the prescriber for any decision about their treatment before any alternative is supplied.</p><p>Any protocol would however only be introduced if clinicians with expertise in the relevant area think it is appropriate. So, if an SSP for an immunosuppressant medicine was under consideration, this would be agreed with, for example, transplant specialists or other relevant clinicians. Pharmacists will have to use their professional judgment as to whether supplying against the protocol rather than the prescription is appropriate or the patient should be referred to their prescriber.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 22/10/2019 11:21:30 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1166873

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to provide an update on the universal credit managed migration pilot that began in Harrogate in July 2019.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	6503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>We have commenced our Move to Universal Credit pilot, as scheduled, in the area served by Harrogate Jobcentre. The goal of the pilot is to learn as much as possible, and to increase numbers as slowly and gradually as necessary.</p><p>Testing the system and our processes will allow us to make sure we can provide the best possible service to those claimants who move to Universal Credit from their legacy claims.</p><p>The Department has already committed to updating the House when appropriate progress has been made.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 31/10/2019 17:54:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1148850

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper
	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 letter of 31 July 2019 from the Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance placed in the Library disclosing the cost of the Department’s partnership with Associated Newspapers, if she will provide (a) costs of the advertising consultancy and (b) all other costs incurred in the Universal Credit Uncovered advertising campaign which ran in May and June 2019 in The Metro and online.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. The Department has a responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other key audiences.</p><p> </p><p>The Metro partnership was designed to increase understanding of Universal Credit and ensure people have the right factual information they need to make a claim and understand their potential entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>We went to great lengths to ensure the factual accuracy of the campaign through extensive consultation within the Department, including the Government Legal Department. We also consulted with the Advertising Standards Authority Copy Advice Team prior to the launch and continued to do so throughout the campaign lifetime.</p><p> </p><p>The letter of 31 July 2019 placed in the House of Commons Library disclosed the full cost of the Department’s partnership with Associated Newspapers. There were no advertising agencies, consultancy or additional costs associated with the campaign and detailed planning was taken forward by Departmental officials.</p><p> </p><p>We have already shared a copy of the memo of 2 May 2019 from the Director General of Universal Credit and Director of Communications to DWP staff with the Work and Pensions Select Committee but can also commit to placing a copy in the House of Commons Library.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 322 323 question first answered 17/10/2019 13:34:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1148856

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Daily Mail and Metro Newspaper
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government Legal Service approved the Universal Credit Uncovered advertising campaign in the Metro and the Mail Online in May and June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. The Department has a responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other key audiences.</p><p> </p><p>The Metro partnership was designed to increase understanding of Universal Credit and ensure people have the right factual information they need to make a claim and understand their potential entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>We went to great lengths to ensure the factual accuracy of the campaign through extensive consultation within the Department, including the Government Legal Department. We also consulted with the Advertising Standards Authority Copy Advice Team prior to the launch and continued to do so throughout the campaign lifetime.</p><p> </p><p>The letter of 31 July 2019 placed in the House of Commons Library disclosed the full cost of the Department’s partnership with Associated Newspapers. There were no advertising agencies, consultancy or additional costs associated with the campaign and detailed planning was taken forward by Departmental officials.</p><p> </p><p>We have already shared a copy of the memo of 2 May 2019 from the Director General of Universal Credit and Director of Communications to DWP staff with the Work and Pensions Select Committee but can also commit to placing a copy in the House of Commons Library.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 316 323 question first answered 17/10/2019 13:34:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1148857

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Daily Mail and Metro Newspaper
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library a copy of the memo of 2 May 2019 sent by her Department’s Director General of Universal Credit and Director of Communications to DWP staff setting out the purpose of the Universal Credit Uncovered advertising campaign in the Metro and Mail Online.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	323
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2019 answer text <p>We are the biggest Government Department with a day to day operation on which around 22 million citizens depend. The Department has a responsibility to communicate policy and essential information to claimants and other key audiences.</p><p> </p><p>The Metro partnership was designed to increase understanding of Universal Credit and ensure people have the right factual information they need to make a claim and understand their potential entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>We went to great lengths to ensure the factual accuracy of the campaign through extensive consultation within the Department, including the Government Legal Department. We also consulted with the Advertising Standards Authority Copy Advice Team prior to the launch and continued to do so throughout the campaign lifetime.</p><p> </p><p>The letter of 31 July 2019 placed in the House of Commons Library disclosed the full cost of the Department’s partnership with Associated Newspapers. There were no advertising agencies, consultancy or additional costs associated with the campaign and detailed planning was taken forward by Departmental officials.</p><p> </p><p>We have already shared a copy of the memo of 2 May 2019 from the Director General of Universal Credit and Director of Communications to DWP staff with the Work and Pensions Select Committee but can also commit to placing a copy in the House of Commons Library.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 316 322 question first answered 17/10/2019 13:34:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1141993

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Postgraduate Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the balance between (a) theoretical and (b) practice-based content in postgraduate courses in play therapy.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282403
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universities are autonomous institutions and responsible for the content of their courses, including quality and standards. The Department for Education does not assess individual courses or make judgements about the content of courses.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for protecting the interests of all students and the quality of all regulated provision, working with the designated quality body, the Quality Assurance Agency. The OfS expects higher education providers to ensure they enable students to progress to employment, including by working with employers on the content of courses. This is particularly relevant where there are professional bodies with an interest in the abilities and standard of graduates and post-graduates. The OfS also manages the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.</p><p> </p><p>The government has a role in ensuring a framework exists to understand and provide for skills needs at a national and local level.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson grouped question UIN 282404 question first answered 03/09/2019 06:57:56 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1141994

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Postgraduate Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the availability of postgraduate training in practice-based play therapy in each region of England.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282404
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universities are autonomous institutions and responsible for the content of their courses, including quality and standards. The Department for Education does not assess individual courses or make judgements about the content of courses.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for protecting the interests of all students and the quality of all regulated provision, working with the designated quality body, the Quality Assurance Agency. The OfS expects higher education providers to ensure they enable students to progress to employment, including by working with employers on the content of courses. This is particularly relevant where there are professional bodies with an interest in the abilities and standard of graduates and post-graduates. The OfS also manages the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.</p><p> </p><p>The government has a role in ensuring a framework exists to understand and provide for skills needs at a national and local level.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson grouped question UIN 282403 question first answered 03/09/2019 06:57:56 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1166874

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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
	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 has spent on payments of universal credit advances to claimants in each month since advances were introduced.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	6504
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is now the main system of working age welfare support across the country. It is available in every Jobcentre, with a caseload of over 2.5 million claimants, growing every month, now able to access the additional support and flexibilities it offers.</p><p> </p><p>Around 60 per cent of new claims take up an advance. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months. As the overall Universal Credit caseload grows, we expect the volume and value of advance payments to change in correlation. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.</p><p> </p><p>Information surrounding the amount spent on Universal Credit advances each month since they were introduced is shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Jun-13</p></td><td><p>£1,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-13</p></td><td><p>£2,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-13</p></td><td><p>£3,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-13</p></td><td><p>£10,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-13</p></td><td><p>£10,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-13</p></td><td><p>£18,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-13</p></td><td><p>£18,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-14</p></td><td><p>£25,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-14</p></td><td><p>£30,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-14</p></td><td><p>£47,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-14</p></td><td><p>£42,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-14</p></td><td><p>£36,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-14</p></td><td><p>£34,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-14</p></td><td><p>£33,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-14</p></td><td><p>£48,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-14</p></td><td><p>£133,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-14</p></td><td><p>£153,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-14</p></td><td><p>£203,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-14</p></td><td><p>£278,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-15</p></td><td><p>£360,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-15</p></td><td><p>£371,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-15</p></td><td><p>£607,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-15</p></td><td><p>£574,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-15</p></td><td><p>£1,050,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-15</p></td><td><p>£1,061,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-15</p></td><td><p>£1,261,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-15</p></td><td><p>£1,605,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-15</p></td><td><p>£1,786,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-15</p></td><td><p>£1,762,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-15</p></td><td><p>£2,081,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-15</p></td><td><p>£2,171,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-16</p></td><td><p>£2,736,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-16</p></td><td><p>£2,642,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-16</p></td><td><p>£4,080,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-16</p></td><td><p>£3,801,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-16</p></td><td><p>£3,996,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-16</p></td><td><p>£3,827,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-16</p></td><td><p>£4,438,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-16</p></td><td><p>£4,629,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-16</p></td><td><p>£4,817,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-16</p></td><td><p>£4,801,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-16</p></td><td><p>£4,879,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-16</p></td><td><p>£5,452,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-17</p></td><td><p>£6,062,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-17</p></td><td><p>£5,601,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-17</p></td><td><p>£7,876,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-17</p></td><td><p>£6,847,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-17</p></td><td><p>£7,051,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-17</p></td><td><p>£6,873,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-17</p></td><td><p>£7,367,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-17</p></td><td><p>£8,002,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-17</p></td><td><p>£8,396,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-17</p></td><td><p>£9,363,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-17</p></td><td><p>£12,130,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-17</p></td><td><p>£13,254,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-18</p></td><td><p>£25,685,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-18</p></td><td><p>£24,977,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-18</p></td><td><p>£25,721,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-18</p></td><td><p>£25,934,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-18</p></td><td><p>£28,812,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-18</p></td><td><p>£32,678,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-18</p></td><td><p>£43,321,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-18</p></td><td><p>£46,636,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-18</p></td><td><p>£44,778,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-18</p></td><td><p>£55,693,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-18</p></td><td><p>£62,991,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-18</p></td><td><p>£58,697,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-19</p></td><td><p>£75,758,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-19</p></td><td><p>£79,955,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-19</p></td><td><p>£91,646,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-19</p></td><td><p>£91,957,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-19</p></td><td><p>£103,096,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ol><li>Figures are rounded to the nearest £1000.</li><li>Figures go up 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 prior to April 2019 include hardship payments made under Universal Credit live service.</li></ol> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 31/10/2019 17:40:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George