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1229168

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Child Maintenance Service: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she will take to improve the ability of the Child Maintenance Service to scrutinise effectively new claims of hardship from a paying parent who has previously been proven by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) to falsify their financial records.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	81753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Maintenance liabilities broadly continue to be based on the NRP’s historic income; this is largely gross annual income information provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the latest available tax year. This will enable calculations to be made more quickly minimising opportunity for inaccuracies.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme is designed so that liabilities remain consistent over the year, with limited changes. The calculation is reviewed annually, and generally only changes during the year if a parents’ income increases or decreases by at least 25%. This threshold ensures calculations are relative stable for both the paying parent and receiving parent, so both parents know what to expect in terms of payments.</p><p> </p><p>The Department recognises that some parents have more control over providing false income records which we use to calculate maintenance. In the first instance, we are working more closely with HMRC and making changes to prevent fraudulent behaviour. The CMS recently introduced changes to improve channels of communication between the Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) who investigate cases with complex earnings queries and HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS).</p><p> </p><p>Where an NRP’s gross income has been disputed, the Child Maintenance Group (CMG) can request a breakdown of the income figure provided by HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>Those found to be abusing the system at this difficult time are subject to the full extent of our enforcement powers and the Child Maintenance Service will pursue these, where appropriate. The department remains committed to an effective child maintenance scheme that ensures all parents contribute financially for their children.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2020 16:23:07 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1229169

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Child Maintenance Service: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to prevent silo working and improve information sharing within the Child Maintenance Service.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	81754
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service is committed to keeping an open dialogue and providing a cohesive service with other departments and stakeholders. We also continue to take opportunities to improve sharing of information where legislation allows.</p><p> </p><p>Some examples of this are obtaining Real Time Income information from HMRC to inform Maintenance Calculations and ongoing negotiations to share information relating to self-employed parents who have been furloughed as a result of COVID-19</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we have worked closely with HM Passport Office and Border Agency to taken forward the removal of passports to enhance our enforcement powers. The Service is also creating closer working with HMCTS, as Courts Services are being digitised, to deliver a more efficient and cost effective service for our customers.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2020 16:13:58 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1229167

	registered interest
	date	28/08/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Child Maintenance Service: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service's Financial Investigations Unit.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	81752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) is equipped with powers to conduct full and in depth investigations in to allegations made against a paying parent’s financial circumstances. They will then determine the most appropriate action to get Child Maintenance Payments flowing to the receiving parent.</p><p> </p><p>Please find attached statistics of actions taken by FIU. These can be found on Table 12 of the National Tables available on Gov.uk</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-march-2020-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-statistics-data-to-march-2020-experimental</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/09/2020 16:26:59 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

521335

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2016
	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	Child Support Agency: Expenditure
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much expenditure was incurred by the Child Support Agency in making ex-gratia or special payments as a result of poor service or errors by that agency in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	38136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2016 answer text <p>The information on the total amount paid as ex-gratia or special payments across child maintenance in the last three years is in the attached table.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£'000s</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013 - 2014</p></td><td><p>£1,090</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014 - 2015</p></td><td><p>£847</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015 – 2016 *</p></td><td><p>£941</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes -</strong></p><p>These amounts include payments made across the Child Support Agency and Child Maintenance Service for the following:</p><p>Ex-gratia – Actual Financial Loss</p><p>Ex-gratia – Consolatory</p><p>Compensation for Delay</p><p> </p><p>*The figure for 2015/16 is draft and subject to audit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 01/06/2016 12:28:18 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

712527

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2017
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of fees in the Child Maintenance Service on collection rates of child maintenance.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	68507
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2017 answer text <p>Evaluation and research on the effects of the introduction of fees and charges in the Child Maintenance Service was published in December 2016, in line with our statutory obligation. The Department expects to publish a Review Report in spring this year, including a summary of the key findings from the research and statistics.</p> answering member constituency Romsey and Southampton North answering member printed Caroline Nokes question first answered 28/03/2017 15:08:15 answering member 4048 label Biography information for Caroline Nokes
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

457785

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2016
	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	Disability Living Allowance: Continuing Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of disability living allowance claimants have received an NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment to date.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	29799
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2016 answer text <p>Information on whether claimants of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment have received an NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment is not centrally recorded and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 29802 question first answered 08/03/2016 15:20:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1185687

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Discretionary Housing Payments: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people with a reduced income after following guidance on coivd-19 are eligible for assistance with rented housing costs through the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme; and whether additional funding has been allocated to local authorities for that payment scheme.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	30724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Discretionary Housing Payments are made at local authority discretion, including the amount and duration of any award.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Local authorities administer the scheme as they are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and the limited funds are targeted effectively.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As we have announced at the spending round for 2020/21 there is £179.5m in DHPs for Local authorities to support renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sector. The increase to the Local Housing Allowance rates will help alleviate shortfalls in the private rented sector and relieve pressure on DHPs.</ins></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/03/2020 16:12:34 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:03:03 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 13953 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

626716

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2016
	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	Employment: Disability
	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 has taken to make sure that British Sign Language users are made aware that the two-ticks scheme is being transferred to Disability Confident.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	51335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2016 answer text <p>Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become Disability Confident.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 51336 51382 question first answered 09/11/2016 15:59:33 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

626725

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2016
	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	Employment: Disability
	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 has taken to ensure that employers who engage with the Disability Confident scheme are provided with the information they need to be able to employ people with hearing loss.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	51382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2016 answer text <p>Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become Disability Confident.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 51335 51336 question first answered 09/11/2016 15:59:33 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

626717

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2016
	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	Employment: Disability
	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 has taken to ensure that employers based within the construction industry are engaged with the Disability Confident scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Bedford
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	51336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2016 answer text <p>Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become Disability Confident.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 51335 51382 question first answered 09/11/2016 15:59:33 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller