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1151582

	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Living Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in her Department are paid less than the London Living Wage; and what requirements her Department places on contractors to pay the London Living Wage to London-based staff.
	tabling member constituency	Greenwich and Woolwich
	tabling member printed	Matthew Pennycook
	uin	3824
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The total number of civil servants in Department for Work and Pensions earning below the London Living Wage rate of £10.55 per hour was 13 as at 25/10/2019.</p><p /><p>This government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2019, the National Living Wage increased to £8.21 per hour, handing a full-time worker a further £690 annual pay rise. By 2024 the National Living Wage will rise to £10.50 per hour, reaching 66% of median UK earnings. The scope will be expanded to everyone aged 21 and over and is expected to benefit over 4 million low paid workers.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will always award contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/10/2019 14:03:51 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4520 label Biography information for Matthew Pennycook

1171399

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2020
	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: Climate Change
	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 effect of climate change on the work of her Department; and what steps she is taking in response to that effect.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
	tabling member printed	Darren Jones
	uin	4447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions assesses climate change as a potential risk to its operational responsibilities.</p><p>The UK Government recognises climate change as a material risk to most if not all pension schemes. Therefore, we have clarified trustees’ investment duties in legislation to consider all financially material considerations – including climate change. Trustees have to document a policy on how they take account of climate change. Defined contribution and hybrid benefit schemes are required to publish their policy and defined benefit schemes will be required to publish from 1 October.</p><p>With respect to its own operations, the Department applies criteria that considers the effect of climate change, such as flood risk, when deciding on future site strategy.</p><p>The Department also undertakes regular reviews of their location specific emergency planning, disaster recovery and business continuity plans.</p><p>The Department’s estate supply chain is undertaking site visits which include an assessment of climate change risk with recommendations on investment. Investment in the Departmental estate is focused upon its core assets, with the level of criticality of those assets a key measure. This helps to ensure that its buildings are as resilient as possible. By using data, asset management principles and specialist knowledge we are able to identify assets most at risk of failure and to mitigate accordingly.</p><p>The DWP has a dedicated Estates Sustainability and Environment Team. Their purpose is to oversee that from an estate perspective: -</p><p>• Our effects on sustainability and the environment from appropriately managed and</p><p>• That risks from the environment are proportionately managed.</p><p>In terms of sustainability, the Department is committed to tackling climate change and delivering against the Government’s sustainability targets. We are currently exceeding our carbon reduction targets under the Greening Government Commitments (GGC). The GGC requires the Department to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2020 against a 2009/10 baseline. As of June 2019, we are currently at a 56% reduction.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 23/01/2020 17:39:52 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1180346

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	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: Complaints
	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 involving universal credit claims have been (a) through her Department's complaints process, (b) decided by an Independent Case Examiner and (c) referred to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	20528
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has received a total of number of 39,187 Universal Credit complaints up to January 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Details of the number of complaints concerning Universal Credit that have been decided on by the Independence Case Examiner’s is 185 (please note the data is only available from July 2016 to January 2020)</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>All ICE Reports signpost the complainant to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Office, via a Member of Parliament, in the event that they are dissatisfied with the outcome of the ICE investigation. We do not hold information about the number of complaints about Universal Credit which were subsequently referred by an MP to the Ombudsman’s Office.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For context, the latest figures show that there are 3 million people on Universal Credit as of 12 March 2020.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 14:34:04 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 9749 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1183046

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2020
	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	Independent Case Examiner
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the average time taken for claimants to receive a decision from the Independent Case Examiner.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	25695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 answer text <p>The table below provides details of the average time taken for complainants to receive a decision from the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office, in the current reporting year (April 2019 to February 2020).</p><p> </p><p>When the ICE Office accepts a complaint for investigation, it will consider whether it can be resolved by brokering a solution between the complainant and the relevant department or supplier, without having to request evidence to inform an investigation. If the complaint can’t be resolved, the evidence will be requested and the case will await allocation to an Investigation Case Manager (ICM). Cases are dealt with by dedicated teams and are usually brought into investigation in strict date order.</p><p> </p><p>Following an investigation of the evidence the complaint may be settled, if agreement can be reached on actions that satisfy the complainant. If the complaint cannot be settled, the Independent Case Examiner will issue a report detailing findings and any recommendations for redress.</p><p> </p><p>The cases that reach the Independent Case Examiner are the most complex and investigations will not be compromised in order to be completed within certain timescales. We keep people updated about the timings involved with their case and the vast majority of complainants are satisfied with the service they receive.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Description</p></td><td><p>Average time in weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Resolution (from acceptance to case closure)</p></td><td><p>6 weeks (against a target of 8 weeks)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Time taken to allocate case to ICM (from date of acceptance)</p></td><td><p>59 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Settlement (from allocation to ICM to case closure)</p></td><td><p>8 weeks (against a target of 15 weeks)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ICE Report (from allocation to ICM to case closure)</p></td><td><p>23.5 weeks (against a target of 20 weeks)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 13/03/2020 12:07:59 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1201804

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2020
	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: Disqualification
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have been sanctioned since 1 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	57259
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>We took the decision to temporarily suspend for 3 months the requirement for face-to-face Jobcentre Plus appointments for all claimants in Universal Credit, New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), old-style JSA and ESA, and Income Support. They will continue to receive benefits as normal and they will not be sanctioned for not taking part in appointments with Jobcentres.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of Universal Credit claimants who have been sanctioned is published quarterly. The latest figures for Universal Credit sanction rates are up to February 2020 and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>Additional breakdowns of the figures can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/06/2020 12:56:27 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1219742

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2020
	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	Postal Services: Coronavirus
	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 safety of postal workers during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Tahir Ali
	uin	67765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities (LAs) are jointly responsible for health and safety regulation of Royal Mail’s activities. Broadly, HSE regulate larger distribution centre and mail delivery activities and LAs regulate Post Offices and delivery offices/sorting centres.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has carried out assessment of compliance at individual locations around the country and through liaison with Royal Mail’s Global Director for Compliance and Sustainability. Complaints (referred to as ‘concerns’ by HSE) have been raised about the management of Covid-19 risks at Royal Mail sites, and HSE responds to any concerns notified by Royal Mail’s workforce by assessing Royal Mail’s risk controls against the standards set out in government guidelines addressing social distancing, handling mail, cleaning, and hygiene.</p><p> </p><p>As part of HSE’s assessment of compliance, investigation of these concerns have involved a mixture of visits to premises and contact through email or telephone. Where improvements in the measures to protect workers from Covid-19 have been identified, HSE staff have secured compliance with the law by providing advice or writing to Royal Mail to require improvements.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has advised LAs to ensure a coordinated approach in applying consistent and proportionate standards to securing compliance against Covid-19 risks in Royal Mail premises</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 13/07/2020 15:29:34 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4747 label Biography information for Tahir Ali

1219971

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2020
	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: Staff
	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 number of whether additional staff will be required to process social security cases once claimant conditionality is reintroduced, and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	67691
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2020 answer text <p>Jobcentres have remained open throughout, providing support to our most vulnerable customers. In line with the easing of restrictions in England, from 1<sup>st</sup> July, people will be able to make an appointment with their Work Coach if they can’t get the help they want online or over the phone. Work Coaches, as part of the individualised approach, will be calling all claimants to engage with them. We will continue to be align with current guidance from Scotland and Wales.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is continually assessing the service being offered to customers and we continue to keep staff numbers under review as part of our response to the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market. We have already committed to increasing the number of Work Coaches and Case Managers and recruitment is already underway.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 06/07/2020 16:08:48 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1227635

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	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	Jobcentres: Coronavirus
	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 effectiveness of safety screens installed at jobcentres; and whether her Department has received any reports of such screens being unfit for purpose.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	78729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>In order to provide additional protection to both colleagues and the public against droplets potentially containing coronavirus, following BEIS guidance and the completion of risk assessments a mitigation of a physical barrier is required during extended face to face customer interactions. There have been no reports or incidents that would suggest the screen design is not fit for purpose.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/09/2020 13:47:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1230128

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	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, with reference to reference to the Child Maintenance Service standard practice of making reassessments when there is a 25 per cent reduction in income, what estimate the Child Maintenance Service has made of the number of non-resident parents whose income has been reduced by 20 per cent under the Government's furlough scheme in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Workington
	tabling member printed	Mark Jenkinson
	uin	83954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>The CMS has not made any estimate of the number of non-resident parents whose income has been reduced by 20% under the Government’s furlough scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that the income of many separated parents has been affected by the public health emergency. Parents should continue to financially support their children by paying their child maintenance. At the same time, liabilities should remain affordable for paying parents at a time of substantial and rapid fluctuation in incomes.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme is designed so that liabilities remain consistent over the year, with limited changes. The calculation is reviewed annually, and generally only changes during the year if a parents’ income increases or decreases by at least 25 per cent. This balances consistency for children with support for parents experiencing a reduction in income.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 10/09/2020 14:56:12 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4752 label Biography information for Mark Jenkinson

1230129

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	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 assessment her Department has made of the effect on the processing of (a) new and (b) existing Child Maintenance Service cases of new parents' inability to register births during the covid-19 outbreak; and what assessment her Department has made of the effect on that service's users of the Child Maintenance Service not being able to backdate payments more than 12 weeks once those new birth registrations have been confirmed.
	tabling member constituency	Workington
	tabling member printed	Mark Jenkinson
	uin	83955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2020 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p>In response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, temporary changes to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) were introduced to ensure we could continue to deliver our priorities in supporting separated parents while also supporting wider efforts across the Department to provide financial support to more people. The CMS has now reinstated a full service.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/09/2020 17:13:59 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4752 label Biography information for Mark Jenkinson