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175823

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many improvement notices were issued to oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea by the Health and Safety Executive in the period from 1 January 2014 to date; and in how many such cases the company has yet to comply with the improvement notice.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221934
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2015 answer text <p>Since January 2014<ins class="ministerial">, in relation to oil and gas extraction operations in the North Sea,</ins> <del class="ministerial">HSE has served 64</del><ins class="ministerial">36</ins> Improvement Notices <ins class="ministerial">have been served.</ins><del class="ministerial">relating to oil and gas extraction on the UK Continental Shelf.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Of these, </ins><del class="ministerial">The period for compliance has expired for 40</del><ins class="ministerial">21</ins><del class="ministerial"> of these</del> notices <del class="ministerial">and all</del> have been complied with. <ins class="ministerial">10 have not yet expired, and five</ins><del class="ministerial">Four</del> notices are subject to appeal and so are suspended until the appeal process is complete.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/01/2015 14:32:34 question first ministerially corrected 25/03/2015 17:43:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 41785 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

895376

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2018
	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	Offshore Industry: Air Pollution
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hydrocarbon releases from oil and gas installations on the UK continental shelf were recorded by the Health and Safety Executive in each year from 2000 to 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	140076
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2018 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive has recorded the following hydrocarbon releases (HCRs) by year:</p><p> </p><p>2000 264</p><p>2001 251</p><p>2002 242</p><p>2003 242</p><p>2004 273</p><p>2005 224</p><p>2006 190</p><p>2007 185</p><p>2008 147</p><p>2009 179</p><p>2010 186</p><p>2011 142</p><p>2012 105</p><p>2013 118</p><p>2014 94</p><p>2015 93</p><p>2016 101(p)</p><p>2017 103(p)</p><p> </p><p>Final figures for 2016 will be confirmed and published with the provisional figures for 2017 as part of the Health and Safety Executive’s annual <em>Offshore Statistics &amp; Regulatory Activity Report, </em>due to be published in July.</p><p> </p><p>Releases are categorised as “major”, “significant” and “minor”, depending on the potential consequences of the event, which is usually directly linked to the total quantity or rate of release.Overall reported hydrocarbon releases have approximately halved since 2010. The reporting process presents an opportunity for both the regulator and the industry to investigate and identify underlying causes and learn lessons.</p><p> </p><p>Although the offshore industry has seen the overall downward trend as an indicator of improved performance, HSE remains concerned that every release represents a deficiency in an operator’s process safety management, and an increased risk of harm to workers. There have also been a small number of large releases every year which could have resulted in a major accident.</p><p> </p><p>Consequently, the Director of HSE’s Energy Division wrote recently to challenge the offshore industry to identify and address any weaknesses in its leadership and safety culture, as well as its arrangements for safety system audits, which have allowed such releases to occur (see attachment entitled Letter from the Director, HSE Energy Division to the Oil and Gas Industry on Hydrocarbon Releases).</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 10/05/2018 14:33:45 question first ministerially corrected 14/05/2018 16:39:39 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton attachment 1 file name Attachment to 140076 & 140715 - Letter from the Director, HSE Energy Division to the Oil and Gas Industry on Hydrocarbon Releases.doc title Letter from HSE Director previous answer version 57122 answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100317

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2014
	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	Carer's Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to link an increase of the earnings threshold for carer's allowance to the rise in the National Minimum Wage.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2014 answer text <p>The earnings threshold in Carer’s Allowance is regularly reviewed. It is designed to enable carers to maintain a link with the labour market and achieve greater financial independence. It is increased periodically, most recently from £100 to £102 on 20 May 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 29/10/2014 17:42:37 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

100770

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will include data on the average length of time taken to process personal independence payment claims in his Department's next quarterly statistics release.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	211677
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Departmental statisticians are continuing to develop measures around clearance times and waiting times to ensure they provide a rounded and representative picture of personal independence payment performance, improvement activity and the claimants’ experience. These statistics will be published when they are ready, with the release pre-announced in line with United Kingdom Statistics Authority release protocols.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 211729 question first answered 28/10/2014 14:04:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010286

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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 and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time for income-related employment support allowance claims where a claimant has a DS1500 medical condition report is.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The DS1500 is not a claim form and its use in providing evidential support for claims from people who are terminally ill claiming benefit is not obligatory.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 26/11/2018 11:54:41 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010287

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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, for what reasons MPs offices have implicit consent arrangements for universal credit applications and advice services require explicit consent to support claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>On 13 March 2017 <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-03-13/HCWS528/" target="_blank">Written Statement - HCWS528</a> outlined the implicit consent arrangements for MPs.</p><p>Where explicit consent is needed it can be quickly given in different ways. For example, claimants only need to put a note in their journal to give consent; this is a far simpler and more straightforward process than in legacy systems. Once consent is given, advisers will work with the claimant’s representatives.</p><p>In our response to the Social Security Advisory Committee we agreed to explore options for improving the process of explicit consent in relation to Universal Credit in collaboration with the Committee to consider how current practices could be enhanced and to publish a report on our joint conclusions.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 27/11/2018 17:56:29 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1010312

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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, whether her Department seeks to recover remaining payments on an advance payment for universal credit from the estate of a deceased person.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	192904
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) advances are available to claimants as a form of budgeting support, allowing them to better manage their finances. In most cases an advance would be repaid through a series of monthly deductions from their ongoing UC entitlement. The claimant is able to select the amount of time over which they repay their advance, currently up to a maximum of 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>If an advance is not recovered from the associated benefit claim because the claim ends or there was no entitlement to that benefit, the outstanding balance is treated as if it were an overpayment and referred to the Department’s Debt Management team to arrange recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Where a debtor dies and leaves outstanding Social Security debt, the Department becomes a creditor of the estate and will then make a claim for these debts from the estate. Where it is established that there is no estate the outstanding balance is written off.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 26/11/2018 14:03:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

101319

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2014
	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	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that people entitled to carer's allowance are included in the groups that qualify for the childcare costs earnings disregard for the purposes of calculating housing benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	212199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department has no plans to amend housing benefit regulations to include entitlement to carer’s allowance to the groups who qualify for the childcare costs earnings disregard.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 04/11/2014 15:19:49 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1042292

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the (a) application and (b) enforcement of the UK Continental Shelf of Directive 2013/30/EU on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations in the event that the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	209347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to maintaining health and safety protections for workers when the UK leaves the EU so there is no reason for these standards to change .</p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015 (SCR15) transposed the health and safety requirements of Directive 2013/30/EU into domestic legislation. All requirements and duties in SCR15 will continue to apply after the UK has left the EU. This will provide certainty and clarity for workers and industry.</p><p> </p><p>Minor technical amendments are required to make sure SCR15 remains operable after EU exit.</p><p>Three amendments are included in <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made" target="_blank">The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (SI 218/1370)</a> (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made). This Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament on 18 December 2018.</p><p> </p><p>One further amendment is included in <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368" target="_blank">The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019</a> (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368). The draft SI was laid in Parliament on 11 December 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton grouped question UIN 209350 question first answered 24/01/2019 17:30:53 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1042293

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Offshore Safety Directive Regulator
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the status of the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	209348
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>The Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR) will continue to function as the competent authority and regulator of the offshore oil and gas major hazard regime after the UK leaves the EU.</p><p> </p><p>This partnership competent authority was set up administratively under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU and arrangements in place will not be affected after exiting the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The legislative requirements of the Directive were transposed into domestic legislation which will continue to apply in the UK after EU exit. OSDR will continue to oversee industry compliance with this legislation and perform its’ regulatory and administrative functions.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 24/01/2019 15:22:53 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1042294

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Offshore Safety Directive Regulator
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator last updated trade unions organising offshore oil and gas workers.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	209349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>The Offshore Major Accident Hazards Advisory Committee (OMAHAC) is tripartite in composition. This means that the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator can discuss regulatory developments with both trade union and employers’ representatives. Representatives of both Unite and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are members of OMAHAC and expect to attend all meetings if they are available to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent OMAHAC meeting was held on 18 December 2018 and both Unite and RMT attended the meeting. Most of OMAHAC’s meeting agendas, minutes and attendee lists are available on HSE’s website: <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm</a>.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 24/01/2019 17:01:23 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1042295

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the provisions of the Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015 (OSDR) require amendment in order to continue applying on installations on the UK Continental Shelf after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	209350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to maintaining health and safety protections for workers when the UK leaves the EU so there is no reason for these standards to change .</p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations 2015 (SCR15) transposed the health and safety requirements of Directive 2013/30/EU into domestic legislation. All requirements and duties in SCR15 will continue to apply after the UK has left the EU. This will provide certainty and clarity for workers and industry.</p><p> </p><p>Minor technical amendments are required to make sure SCR15 remains operable after EU exit.</p><p>Three amendments are included in <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made" target="_blank">The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (SI 218/1370)</a> (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1370/introduction/made). This Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament on 18 December 2018.</p><p> </p><p>One further amendment is included in <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368" target="_blank">The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019</a> (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2019/9780111176368). The draft SI was laid in Parliament on 11 December 2018.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton grouped question UIN 209347 question first answered 24/01/2019 17:30:53 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1042296

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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	Offshore Industry: Safety
	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 of the Offshore Major Accident Hazards Advisory Committee (OMAHAC) there have been since March 2016; and if she will list the attendees at each meeting of OMAHAC to date.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	209351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>There have been five OMAHAC meetings since March 2016. OMAHAC’s membership comprises representatives from the following organisations: Health and Safety Executive (HSE); Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning; Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (Regulators); Oil &amp; Gas UK; International Association of Drilling Contractors; British Rig Owners Association; International Marine Contractors Association; Step Change in Safety (Industry Bodies); National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and Unite (Unions). Most of OMAHAC’s meeting agendas, minutes and attendee lists have been made available from HSE’s website: <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/osdr/omahac.htm</a>.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 24/01/2019 17:23:41 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1088494

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2019
	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	Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support festival providers in safeguarding people attending festivals from the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	232008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2019 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) leads on national occupational health and safety policy for the entertainments and leisure sector, whilst Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing the law at individual events, such as festivals, in their geographical area.</p><p> </p><p>Festival organisers have responsibilities under Section 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and others, including members of the public, affected by their undertaking. These responsibilities extend to ensuring that equipment, such as gas cookers and BBQs, are maintained and operated in a safe condition.</p><p> </p><p>Disposable BBQs are popular with those attending festivals, and there have been examples where fatalities, arising from exposure to carbon monoxide, have occurred due to BBQs being taken into tents as a source of heat. Festival organisers are expected to take reasonably practicable measures to raise awareness of the potential dangers. Reasonable arrangements should also be in place to monitor the use of disposable BBQs and the behaviour of attendees at the event so that action can be taken to prevent these items being used in enclosed areas.</p><p> </p><p>HSE has published web-based event safety guidance to help event organisers comply with their legal duties (<a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm</a>). The Events Industry Forum also produces a guide, known as the Purple Guide, for the live event industry including festival organisers.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 20/03/2019 10:30:58 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1128334

	registered interest
	date	22/05/2019
	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	Carer's Allowance: Young People
	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 will take to ensure that young carers who also attend university full-time are eligible for the Carer's Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	257571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by all informal carers.</p><p>We think it is right that people in full-time education should be supported by the educational maintenance system, via its range of loans and grants, rather than the social security benefit system. That is why, as a general principle, full-time students are usually precluded from entitlement to income-related and income-maintenance benefits, including Carer’s Allowance. Part-time students may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance though. This reflects long-standing principles of the benefit system and we have no plans to change the rules.</p><p> </p><p>Department for Work and Pensions officials work very closely with their Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care counterparts to ensure that young carers get the help and support they need.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/06/2019 14:16:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

175451

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive about backlogs of safety-critical maintenance work on offshore installations in the North Sea.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221872
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>DWP ministers have had no such discussions with the Health and Safety Executive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 28/01/2015 16:03:02 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

175531

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which operational installations in the North Sea have a backlog of safety-critical maintenance work; and what the deadlines are for completion of such work in each case.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	221874
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2015 answer text <p>HSE does not collect the data in the form requested. In its latest Safety Report, the trade body Oil and Gas UK reported an average of 170 man hours backlog per installation for December 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All duty holders are required to ensure plant is maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and in good repair.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In developing its current offshore strategy, HSE consulted widely with operator, contractor and workforce representatives. All identified maintenance backlogs as a significant and persistent issue affecting safety as well as efficient and sustainable production. Inspection of maintenance and asset integrity is a central part of HSE’s offshore intervention strategy. This includes taking enforcement action where duty holders have failed to manage the risk from maintenance backlogs or have failed to identify risks arising from inadequate maintenance.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 28/01/2015 16:13:34 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

229236

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Stockton on Tees
	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 ONS nomis database, of the 350 people in Stockton-on-Tees who ceased to claim jobseeker's allowance in January 2015 for other reasons, how many of those people had sanctions placed on their entitlement claim.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	228668
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey grouped question UIN 228669 question first answered 26/03/2015 09:24:28 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

229237

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: North East
	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 ONS nomis database, of the 5,030 people in the North East who ceased to claim jobseeker's allowance in January 2015 for other reasons, how many of those people had sanctions placed on their entitlement claim.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	228669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey grouped question UIN 228668 question first answered 26/03/2015 09:24:28 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

381143

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	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 plans he has to uprate the work allowance within universal credit in 2016-17 and 2017-18; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	2447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p>There are no plans to uprate the work allowance within Universal Credit in 2016-17 and 2017-18.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 18/06/2015 11:51:01 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

383973

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what savings he expects to accrue to the public purse as a result of freezing working-age benefits in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	3268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Government will provide costings for all new policies at the next Budget.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 24/06/2015 13:10:34 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388580

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will investigate the causes of the increase in the backlog of safety critical maintenance work on oil and gas installations in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Operators choose how best to invest in the exploitation of the offshore oil and gas industry. The Health and Safety Executive’s programme of offshore inspections and accident and incident investigations includes both the identification of immediate failures and underlying causes; findings are followed up with the relevant duty holders. Where consistent causes of failure are identified, these are shared with industry to assist operators in directing investment towards securing efficient and safe production.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 14:09:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388732

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Energy and Climate Change, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) the Oil and Gas Authority, (d) trade unions and (e) Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) on OGUK's finding in its annual report into the industry's safety performance in the North Sea in 2014 of a growing backlog of safety critical maintenance work on oil and gas installations.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6100
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Minister for Disabled People has held discussions on this matter with the Health and Safety Executive. HSE have begun discussions with the Oil and Gas Authority to ensure its approaches to asset maintenance are coordinated. HSE has raised the issue of asset maintenance at a wide range of industry forums, including the tripartite Step Change in Safety Leadership Team at which both Trades Unions and OGUK are represented.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 14:51:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388734

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the current backlog of safety critical maintenance work is for each operational oil and gas installation on the UK continental shelf; and if he will place that information in the Library.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6105
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>There is currently no legal requirement for Dutyholders to report this data to the Health and Safety Executive on a formal basis, this is a voluntary scheme managed by Oil and Gas UK (OGUK). The information being requested was gathered by OGUK and is held by them.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 15:11:24 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388735

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Health and Safety Executive to publish the data required to calculate the combined total of major and significant process Hydrocarbon Releases that occurred on North Sea oil and gas installations in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6104
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Annual Offshore Statistics and Regulatory Activity Report 2014/15’ is scheduled to be released on 23<sup>rd</sup> September. This will include data on Hydrocarbon Releases.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 15:13:25 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388736

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the backlog of (a) planned, (b) corrective and (c) deferred safety-critical maintenance work on oil and gas installations in the North Sea increased over the course of 2014; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6103
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Industry chooses how to invest in offshore oil and gas operations. The Health and Safety Executive seeks to ensure that investment is directed to securing the complementary aims of worker safety and safe sustainable production. I back this approach to supporting growth.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 15:27:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

388737

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an urgent assessment of operator participation rates in the voluntary reporting scheme for safety-critical maintenance work on North Sea oil and gas installations.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6102
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) reports that around 70% of the industry currently participates in its voluntary scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive is in active dialogue with OGUK regarding how best industry can track, report and act upon its performance.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 15:47:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

389953

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Offshore Industry: Safety
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the compliance with health and safety legislation of safety-critical maintenance work on offshore oil and gas installations in the North Sea.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	6937
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Health and Safety Executive examines standards of maintenance as a core element of all its offshore inspections. Inspectors take enforcement action in line with HSE’s Enforcement Policy Statement where risks are not controlled so far as reasonably practicable.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/07/2015 15:00:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

514558

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2016
	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 the average waiting time is for the Independent Case Examiner to review accepted cases; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	34867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>During the 2015/16 financial year complaints examined by the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office took an average of 37 weeks to process from the point at which they were accepted.</p><p> </p><p>Improvements in complaint handling within DWP mean that the ICE Office receive far fewer cases which can be resolved, to the complainant’s satisfaction, without a full investigation of the evidence. This means that the ICE process is reserved for more complex cases which are, by nature, more time consuming.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 26/04/2016 15:00:10 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

622720

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2016
	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: Apprentices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	50818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2016 answer text <p>The following provides the numbers of apprenticeships created by region:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Region</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17 (to date)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Central</p></td><td><p>72</p></td><td><p>46</p></td><td><p>48</p></td><td><p>166</p></td><td><p>206</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>*</p></td><td><p>75</p></td><td><p>31</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>51</p></td><td><p>65</p></td><td><p>101</p></td><td><p>249</p></td><td><p>199</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p>56</p></td><td><p>55</p></td><td><p>267</p></td><td><p>316</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>133</p></td><td><p>176</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>32</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>29</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Southern</p></td><td><p>34</p></td><td><p>8</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>226</p></td><td><p>212</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>35</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>170</p></td><td><p>137</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>237</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>233</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>288</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1351</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1277</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>In line with standard departmental practice in statistics, we do not publish details of numbers less than 5 as this would breach our data protection obligations. Therefore all records of less than 5 have been annotated with an asterisk (*).</p><p> </p><p>We cannot obtain information on the number of apprenticeships who subsequently attained jobs within the civil service as we have not previously tracked this information. Our Fast Track apprentices are recruited on a permanent basis.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 04/11/2016 14:54:44 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

626107

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2016
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department is putting in place to support people currently in receipt of Access to Work awards over the annual cap and their employers to prepare them for the end of the transition phase of the annual cap for existing scheme users.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	51055
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2016 answer text <p>The upper limit (annual cap) was announced in March 2015 and came into effect, for new customers only, in October 2015. New applications made between October 2015 and March 2016 were capped at an annual limit of £40,800, meaning that new customers could still potentially receive an award of £122,400 over a three year period. The annual cap was increased to £41,400 with effect from April 2016 and will continue to be reviewed annually.</p><p> </p><p>Those existing customers whose awards are or were above the annual cap have been notified that they will retain their current award, subject to usual annual reviews, until April 2018, provided their needs remain the same.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, Access to Work specialist teams are conducting annual reviews with customers and employers to establish the level of support required and determine whether there are any reasonable adjustments or other changes, such as greater use of technology, that could assist the customer overcome the barriers they face. Where appropriate, Access to Work will also commission a holistic workplace assessment of an individual’s support needs.</p><p> </p><p>We will monitor the application of the cap and consider whether any further flexibilities might be required in practice.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 08/11/2016 17:23:02 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

626123

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2016
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people by type of disability who have applied for Access to Work since the imposition of the annual cap have been given awards equal to that cap.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	51054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2016 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 51036 question first answered 08/11/2016 17:23:20 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

626124

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2016
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people by type of disability are in receipt of Access to Work grants worth more than the annual cap.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	51036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2016 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 51054 question first answered 08/11/2016 17:23:20 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

626125

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2016
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Access to Work scheme users by type of disability are taking part in the pilot of personal budgets.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	51037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2016 answer text <p>The Government recognises that people need support that is tailored to their needs. Personal Budgets are currently being trialled in Access to Work to offer customers greater flexibility to manage their Travel to Work or Support Worker costs.</p><p>From clerical data rounded to the nearest ten, in November 2016 there are 40 people in the trial. It is not possible to break this figure down by type of disability. Rounded to the nearest ten, 30 more customers who were approached did not meet the qualifying criteria and were unable to join the trial.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 08/11/2016 17:15:15 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

65101

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the data on clearance time for personal independent payments are robust enough to be published; and what timescale he has set for implementing such steps.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	203324
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication but releasing them at this stage would give an incorrect representation of the process since the system has not yet reached maturity, and further quality assurance of the data is required. Departmental analysts are currently assessing the quality of this data to ensure it meets the standards set by the UK Statistics Authority before it can be published.</p><p> </p><p>In accordance with UK Statistics Authority guidelines, we will pre-announce our intention to release these statistics, at least one month prior to their publication, on the UKSA hub and also on our PIP statistics webpage.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics</a></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 203399 question first answered 07/07/2014 14:32:05 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

65102

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to demonstrate transparency and accountability with specific regard to the level of service provided to customers claiming personal independent payments.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	203323
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department has introduced a number of actions to ensure that our levels of service are transparent and claimants are aware of how long their PIP claim might take. Information about estimated journey times is included with the &quot;How your disability affects you&quot; form and by sending a text message acknowledging receipt of this form. We have updated the online information available to claimants and support organisations via gov.uk to include information regarding how long a claim might take.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to regularly publishing details of the numbers of cases we process and the numbers of awards of PIP.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 07/07/2014 13:58:41 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

65808

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his contribution of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 642, on DWP: performance, what level of service his Department expects to provide to meet his aim of providing a personal independence payment system that works for those most in need; and how he will measure success.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	203900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>By the Autumn, we expect no one to be waiting for an asessment for longer than 26 weeks and by the end of the year, we expect no one will be waiting longer than 16 weeks.</p><p>We have committed to two independent reviews of the PIP assessment, the first of which will report to Parliament by the end of this year, and we will carefully consider any recommendations made. The terms of reference for the review are available at:</p><p /> <p /> <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays/supporting-pages/introducing-personal-independence-payment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays/supporting-pages/introducing-personal-independence-payment</a></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 08/07/2014 14:23:33 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

65809

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his contribution of 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 647, on DWP: performance, how his Department will demonstrate that no claimant is waiting more than 16 weeks for their personal independence payment by the end of 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	203901
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication and the Department's analysts are currently considering what information will be included in the release.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 08/07/2014 14:14:42 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

65810

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2014
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	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 6 March 2014 from the Minister for Disabled People to Macmillan Cancer Support, for what reason his Department does not consider data on clearance times of personal independence payment normal and special rules claims to be robust enough to be included in the published quarterly statistics.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	203902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Releasing information on clearance times at this stage would give an incorrect representation of the process since the system has not yet reached maturity.</p><p>Professional statisticians determine when a series meets the criteria for publication as official statistics. That stage has not yet in their judgement been reached for this information.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 08/07/2014 14:38:58 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

681376

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2017
	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	Child Support Agency: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average time taken by the Independent Case Examiner to process a complaint relating to the Child Support Agency.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	62316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2017 answer text <p>Once a complaint has been accepted for investigation, the ICE Office will consider whether a solution to the complaint can be brokered with the relevant department or its supplier and the complainant – known as “resolution”. If it is not possible to resolve the complaint, the case papers will be requested and the case will be allocated to an Investigation Case Manager.</p><p> </p><p>Following a review of the evidence, it may be possible for the Investigation Case Manager to “settle” the complaint if the relevant department or its supplier agrees to action that satisfies the complainant. If the complaint cannot be settled, the ICE will issue a report detailing findings and any recommendations for redress.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2016 calendar year the average time taken to process complaints relating to the Child Support Agency, from the point the complaint was accepted for investigation to case closure, was 53 weeks.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Time taken to process Child Support Agency complaints during the 2016 calendar year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Less than six months</p></td><td><p>49</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than six months (but less than nine)</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than nine months (but less than 12)</p></td><td><p>76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than 12 months</p></td><td><p>265</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Resources for the Independent Case Examiner’s Office are reviewed annually.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 62317 62433 question first answered 07/02/2017 16:04:44 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

681377

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2017
	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	Child Support Agency: 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 peopled waited more than (a) six months, (b) nine months and (c) 12 months for the Independent Care Examiner to process their complaint about the Child Support Agency.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	62317
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2017 answer text <p>Once a complaint has been accepted for investigation, the ICE Office will consider whether a solution to the complaint can be brokered with the relevant department or its supplier and the complainant – known as “resolution”. If it is not possible to resolve the complaint, the case papers will be requested and the case will be allocated to an Investigation Case Manager.</p><p> </p><p>Following a review of the evidence, it may be possible for the Investigation Case Manager to “settle” the complaint if the relevant department or its supplier agrees to action that satisfies the complainant. If the complaint cannot be settled, the ICE will issue a report detailing findings and any recommendations for redress.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2016 calendar year the average time taken to process complaints relating to the Child Support Agency, from the point the complaint was accepted for investigation to case closure, was 53 weeks.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Time taken to process Child Support Agency complaints during the 2016 calendar year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Less than six months</p></td><td><p>49</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than six months (but less than nine)</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than nine months (but less than 12)</p></td><td><p>76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than 12 months</p></td><td><p>265</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Resources for the Independent Case Examiner’s Office are reviewed annually.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 62316 62433 question first answered 07/02/2017 16:04:45 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

682426

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2017
	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	Child Support Agency: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will increase resources for the Independent Care Examiner to enable it to deal with Child Support Agency appeal cases in a timely manner.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	62433
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2017 answer text <p>Once a complaint has been accepted for investigation, the ICE Office will consider whether a solution to the complaint can be brokered with the relevant department or its supplier and the complainant – known as “resolution”. If it is not possible to resolve the complaint, the case papers will be requested and the case will be allocated to an Investigation Case Manager.</p><p> </p><p>Following a review of the evidence, it may be possible for the Investigation Case Manager to “settle” the complaint if the relevant department or its supplier agrees to action that satisfies the complainant. If the complaint cannot be settled, the ICE will issue a report detailing findings and any recommendations for redress.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2016 calendar year the average time taken to process complaints relating to the Child Support Agency, from the point the complaint was accepted for investigation to case closure, was 53 weeks.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Time taken to process Child Support Agency complaints during the 2016 calendar year</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Less than six months</p></td><td><p>49</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than six months (but less than nine)</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than nine months (but less than 12)</p></td><td><p>76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than 12 months</p></td><td><p>265</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Resources for the Independent Case Examiner’s Office are reviewed annually.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes grouped question UIN 62316 62317 question first answered 07/02/2017 16:04:45 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

715806

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of planned increases in minimum contributions on the level of automatic enrolment opt-outs.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70109
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p>Automatic enrolment is a programme that is working: 7.5 million individuals have already been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension by over 464,000 employers. Due to lower than expected opt-outs the opt-out assumption over the duration of the programme has been revised from 28% to 15%. We continue to monitor the position as roll-out continues.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 18/04/2017 15:30:31 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

715807

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	Carers: Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the trends in the number of carers withdrawing their private pensions before reaching state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70110
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p>The government does not hold data on the number of carers withdrawing their private pensions to access the pension freedoms. The introduction of the pension freedoms offered individuals more choice on how to manage their financial affairs. The Government believes that in general people should be trusted to make their own choices about how to use their pension savings in later life - that includes access due to caring or ill health.</p><p> </p><p>Many people with caring responsibilities can and do balance work and care, and this helps them plan for and boost their retirement income, and maintain wellbeing in later life. In recognition Government is working to ensure that adult carers can be supported to remain in and return to work. For example Government is working with stakeholders on a Carers Strategy to strengthen the support that is available to carers and has ensured that carers are central to its reforms to care and support with stronger rights in the Care Act 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Through its recent Fuller Working Lives Strategy and its Work, Health and Disability Green Paper, the government has set out to ensure that wherever possible people with health conditions can be supported to remain in and return to work. This is good for both their finances, health and wellbeing. People who are unable to work and who are in receipt of certain welfare benefits will receive National Insurance credits to ensure they continue to build up Qualifying Years for their State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with industry bodies, consumer representatives, the Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator to interpret emerging research and data findings, and actively monitoring the market to understand the choices that consumers are making and identify emerging concerns.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington grouped question UIN 70182 question first answered 18/04/2017 16:39:45 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

715813

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for the financial security of people who are unable to work who withdraw their pensions before they reach the state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p>The government does not hold data on the number of carers withdrawing their private pensions to access the pension freedoms. The introduction of the pension freedoms offered individuals more choice on how to manage their financial affairs. The Government believes that in general people should be trusted to make their own choices about how to use their pension savings in later life - that includes access due to caring or ill health.</p><p> </p><p>Many people with caring responsibilities can and do balance work and care, and this helps them plan for and boost their retirement income, and maintain wellbeing in later life. In recognition Government is working to ensure that adult carers can be supported to remain in and return to work. For example Government is working with stakeholders on a Carers Strategy to strengthen the support that is available to carers and has ensured that carers are central to its reforms to care and support with stronger rights in the Care Act 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Through its recent Fuller Working Lives Strategy and its Work, Health and Disability Green Paper, the government has set out to ensure that wherever possible people with health conditions can be supported to remain in and return to work. This is good for both their finances, health and wellbeing. People who are unable to work and who are in receipt of certain welfare benefits will receive National Insurance credits to ensure they continue to build up Qualifying Years for their State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with industry bodies, consumer representatives, the Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Pensions Regulator to interpret emerging research and data findings, and actively monitoring the market to understand the choices that consumers are making and identify emerging concerns.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington grouped question UIN 70110 question first answered 18/04/2017 16:39:44 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

715814

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Age
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications of regional variations in life expectancy for the forthcoming changes to the state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government will present its first Review of the State Pension age to Parliament in May 2017. It will consider the reports produced by the Government Actuary and the independent reviewer John Cridland CBE. The Government’s review will be forward looking and will not recommend State Pension age changes to be made before 2028. Any proposed changes would be brought for Parliamentary consideration and would require primary legislation.</p><p> </p><p>The Office of National Statistics published figures on life expectancy at birth and at age 65 by local areas for the UK last November, as part of their publication on health state life expectancies. The publication and accompanying data can be found here: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/healthstatelifeexpectanciesuk/2013to2015" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/bulletins/healthstatelifeexpectanciesuk/2013to2015</a></p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 18/04/2017 16:34:54 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

715815

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	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	Retirement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of poor health on an individual's ability to make financial preparations for retirement.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70184
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>In addition to increasing employment prospects for women above the age of 60, this Government has introduced the New State Pension. The system in place for people who reached their State Pension age before 6 April 2016 was extremely complex and the new State Pension brings greater clarity by helping people to understand their State Pension more easily. It is also much more generous for many women who have been historically worse off under the old system. On average, women reaching State Pension age last year get a higher state pension over their lifetimes than women who reached State Pension age at any point before them, even when the acceleration of State Pension age is taken into account. And, by 2030, over 3 million women stand to gain an average of £550 extra per year as a result of these changes.</p><p> </p><p>The New State Pension works hand in hand with Automatic Enrolment, enabling many more people to save in a workplace pension. And, combined with reviews of the State Pension age, these measures are designed to form the main elements of a sustainable basis of retirement income in the decades to come.</p><p> </p><p>The new State Pension is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. There is a comprehensive crediting system in place for those who need it. People who are unable to work and who are in receipt of certain welfare benefits will receive National Insurance credits to ensure they continue to build up Qualifying Years for their State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>To provide a secure and dignified retirement for those pensioners who would otherwise find themselves without an adequate income, Pension Credit is available. This is an income-related benefit paid out of general taxation which targets help at the poorest pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>Pension Credit tops up a person’s other income to a standard minimum amount – currently £159.35 a week for a single person and £243.25 for a couple. Higher amounts may be available for those with a severe disability, caring responsibilities or certain housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>For private pension saving, the Government is committed to providing free, impartial guidance through Pension Wise, to help people make informed and confident decisions about how they use any defined contribution pension savings they may have for their retirement.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Through its recent Fuller Working Lives Strategy and the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper, the Government is working with employers to target the support needed for individuals aged 50 years and over to remain in the labour market for longer as this brings benefits for an individual’s finances, health and wellbeing.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 18/04/2017 16:57:39 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

720818

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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	Older Workers: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the number of people approaching state pension age who are assessed by the Government as unable to work.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>The information requested is not available.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is readily available information which shows the number of claimants receiving Employment and Support Allowance by phase of claim and age, and is published here:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington question first answered 24/04/2017 12:17:51 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

720829

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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	Older Workers: Manual Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) financial and (b) other support manual workers aged over 50 years old will receive to help them to work until they reach the proposed increased state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting people aged 50 and over to remain in and or return to the labour market. Universal Credit is replacing six benefits with a single payment designed to incentivise working and earning more. With none of the cliff edges of the old system and a smooth taper that reduces income at a predictable rate as earnings increase, people can be confident that they will be better off in work and earning more. And as of April this year the taper has been made more generous so people can keep more of their earnings, benefitting three million working families.</p><p> </p><p>Everyone that claims Universal Credit will get targeted, personalised and work focussed support from a work coach The Department aims to support claimants with the same Work Coach throughout the duration of their Universal Credit claim, meaning claimants can build a relationship with their Work Coach.</p><p> </p><p>To tackle outdated perceptions about older workers the Government has announced the appointment of the Business In The Community (BITC) Age at Work leadership team led by Andy Briggs, CEO of Aviva UK Life and Chairman of Global Life as Business Champion for Older Workers, to spearhead the Government’s work to support employers to retain, retrain and recruitment older workers. The team will actively promote the benefits of older workers to employers across England – influencing them both strategically and in terms of practical advice.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also published a new strategy ‘Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach’ on 2<sup>nd</sup> February. The Strategy is crucially led by employers, but also sets out the case for action by individuals, and the role of Government in supporting them in planning their careers and their approach to retirement. The Strategy and supporting evidence base are available at the attached web address: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach</a></p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/04/2017 16:33:19 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

720843

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of women born in the 1950s affected by the change in the state pension age who have access to an occupational or private pension.
	tabling member constituency	Stockton North
	tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
	uin	70331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>All women born in the 1950s from 6 April 1950 onwards are affected by changes to State Pension age under the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011. The estimated number of women in Great Britain born in the 1950s affected by the changes to State Pension age is 3.48 million.</p><p> </p><p>The latest figures on pension wealth, from the Wealth and Assets Survey, show that, in the period July 2012 to June 2014, 66 per cent of women aged 55-64 in Great Britain had pensions wealth. This would include those still paying into an occupational or personal pension and those accessing their pensions.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on private pension wealth can be found in chapter 6 of the Wealth and Assets Survey, at: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/compendium/wealthingreatbritainwave4/2012to2014/chapter6privatepensionwealthwealthingreatbritain2012to2014" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/incomeandwealth/compendium/wealthingreatbritainwave4/2012to2014/chapter6privatepensionwealthwealthingreatbritain2012to2014</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest figures from the Annual Population Survey, from July 2015 to June 2016, show that, of the 3.73 million women in the United Kingdom aged 56 to 65 inclusive at that time (the closest age grouping matching the women in question from the data available), 1,919,000 (51%) were in employment, 55,000 (1%) were unemployed, 955,000 (26%) were retired, and the remaining 806,000 (22%) were economically inactive for other reasons.</p><p> </p><p>The latest figures on Jobseeker’s Allowance are for March 2017, when there were around 34,000 women in Great Britain aged 55 and over in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance. These data can be found at: <a href="https://www.nomisweb.co.uk" target="_blank">https://www.nomisweb.co.uk</a>.</p><p> </p><p>A small additional number of women in this age group will instead have been in receipt of Universal Credit, which replaces Jobseeker’s Allowance and five other benefits and tax credits.</p> answering member constituency Watford answering member printed Richard Harrington grouped question UIN 70332 question first answered 24/04/2017 12:05:30 answering member 4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford
	tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham