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1688103

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2024
	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	Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an estimate of the number of people on long-term sick leave as of 7 February 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	13553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2024 answer text <p>The Department does not hold data on individuals who are currently taking a long-term sickness absence.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Department’s 2019 ‘Health in the Workplace’ publication showed that in the previous 12 months, 1.4m working aged people (aged 16-64) in the UK had a total of 1.8m spells of long term (lasting 4 weeks or more) sickness absences. This analysis uses the cross-sectional Annual Population Survey (APS) January 2018 – December 2018.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The publication can be found <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d2c67de40f0b64a82516308/health-in-the-workplace-statistics.pdf" target="_blank">here.</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 21/02/2024 11:49:26 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684735

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2024
	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: Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support women who are physically unable to work to state pension age.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	11330
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>We know that older people are more likely to develop a disability or health condition that impacts on their ability to work, and the Department has initiatives to support them as part of the core Jobcentre Plus offer, as well as through specialist provision.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it, including when they near or reach retirement. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible to pensioner benefits because of their age. Good work is generally good for health. Therefore, where possible and appropriate, the Government supports disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work through an ambitious programme of initiatives.</p><p> </p><p>These include: the Work and Health Programme; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; a digital information service for employers; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. Building on existing provision and the £2 billion investment announced at the Spring Budget, we announced a new package of support in Autumn Statement 2023 including to explore new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to support; and establish an expert group to advice on a voluntary national baseline for Occupational Health provision. Access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. This can support people to find work they can do, and the appropriate adjustments to allow them to work successfully with their disability or health condition.</p><p> </p><p>The principle of having a State Pension age that is the same for everybody is fundamental in the UK. Unlike a personal or workplace pension, which can potentially be drawn earlier, it has always been the case that nobody can claim their State Pension early, before they reach their State Pension age. We have no current plans to change this principle.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 30/01/2024 17:36:44 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684758

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2024
	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 and 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 assessment he has made of trends in the level of claims for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance being allowed for (i) mental and (ii) physical health conditions in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	11341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>We continue to keep all aspects of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), including the outcome of claims by main disabling condition, under review to ensure the benefits are working as intended. Information on the number of claims cleared at assessment by condition is available on Stat-Xplore (<a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" target="_blank">Stat-Xplore - Log in (dwp.gov.uk)</a>). You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user and, if needed, you can access guidance (<a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html" target="_blank">User Guide (dwp.gov.uk)</a>) on how to extract the information required.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 30/01/2024 17:37:29 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684041

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2024
	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 and Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
	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 effectiveness of (a) PIP and (b) Employment and Support Allowance medical consultations.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	10814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2024 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance assessments are not medical consultations requiring a health professional (HP) to diagnose a condition, its severity or recommend treatment options. They are functional assessments, which require an HP to look at the impact of conditions and impairments on an individual’s daily life.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>All assessment providers (APs) have set standards regarding the quality of assessments. The department closely monitors all aspects of the process including the performance of the APs.</p><p> </p><p>Independent audit, a team comprising of experienced HPs, continually monitors performance and provides feedback to providers. Audit refers to a comprehensive check of the elements of the assessment, including the evidence collection, further evidence provided, and the assessment report completed by the HP. The check is completed against a set of guidelines to ensure a consistent approach is taken. This ensures that assessment reports are fit for purpose, clinically justified and sound, and provide sufficient information for the department to make an informed decision on entitlement to benefit.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department’s Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising health and disability benefit services. It will create a more efficient service, an improved claimant experience and help increase trust in decision making. Furthermore, an ongoing programme of engagement and research has been established to ensure that the design and delivery of the HTP is rooted in evidence.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 29/01/2024 17:36:15 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1623963

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2023
	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	Remote Working
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's most recent guidance is on working from home.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	182858
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2023 answer text <p>Due to the rise in the number of workers working from home, either on a permanent or hybrid basis, the Health and Safety Executive expanded its Home Worker guidance to cover employer’s responsibilities This updated guidance was published in November 2021 <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/home-working/index.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Home working - HSE</strong></a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/05/2023 16:17:40 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1611627

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2023
	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: Menopause
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support women with menopausal symptoms to stay in employment.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	181171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>On 6 March, DWP appointed Helen Tomlinson as the Government’s Menopause Employment Champion. Her role will be to work with employers and sectors to drive awareness of the issues faced by those experiencing menopause symptoms; encouraging employers to develop policies that create a more supportive environment to help these women stay in work and progress.</p><p> </p><p>The Women’s Health Strategy has menopause as a priority, and the UK wide Menopause task force will take a holistic approach to menopause care from healthcare to workplace support and education, enabling national coverage which will provide benefits at a local level.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/04/2023 13:58:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1535111

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2022
	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	Food Poverty: 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 support is available to young people who are not able to afford food during the period of increases to the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	69634
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2022 answer text <p>With 1.25 million vacancies across the UK, Government’s focus is firmly on supporting people, including young people, into and to progress in work. Our approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks of poverty. Employment support is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to help. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households – including young people - with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. <br> The Northern Ireland Energy Price Guarantee will provide households in Northern Ireland with equivalent financial support with their electricity and gas bills as for those in Great Britain beginning 1<sup>st</sup> November 2022 and backdated to 1<sup>st</sup> October 2022.</p><p> </p><p>This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier in the year, which includes Cost of Living Payments of £650 (paid in two lump sums of £326 and £324) to more than 8 million low-income households on means-tested benefits and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits – including young people who are in receipt of eligible benefits. These payments are delivered UK-wide.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We recognise that some people may need further support, which is why the government has provided an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021. Of the £500m, the NI Executive is receiving £14m.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/11/2022 14:12:14 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1523352

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Slavery
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of victims of modern slavery.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	65775
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of modern slavery. We are identifying more victims of modern slavery and doing more to bring perpetrators to justice than ever before.</p><p>The Home Office works with a range of partners to deliver effective prevention activity and to stop exploitation from occurring in the first place. These include:</p><ul><li>Providing dedicated funding to policing to drive forward work to increase modern slavery prosecutions.</li><li>Requiring large business to report on steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery in supply chains.</li><li>Providing training for frontline responders to better prevent and spot the signs of modern slavery including ensuring operational colleagues such as Border Force recognise signs and are equipped to step in.</li><li>Establishing a Modern Slavery Prevention Fund to fund organisations to deliver targeted prevention interventions and build up the evidence base on what interventions are most effective.</li><li>Working upstream with international partners to reduce vulnerability to exploitation and strengthen law enforcement approaches.</li></ul><p>We are also working to tackle abuses in the system and make sure foreign national offenders or those who arrive here illegally and have no right to stay in the UK are not able to misuse a system intended to protect genuine victims in order to avoid justice.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/10/2022 10:39:21 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1250748

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2020
	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	Biocidal Products: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive will remain the competent authority for inspection and enforcement of biocide regulations after the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	114178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2020 answer text <p>The competent authority role in relation to biocides approvals and authorisations formally rests with the Secretary of State and Ministers in the Devolved Administrations where appropriate. These functions are delegated by agreement to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and these arrangements will continue to apply for Great Britain after the transition period.</p><p> </p><p>HSE Northern Ireland (HSENI) will be the competent authority for Northern Ireland. HSE’s and HSENI’s role in inspection and enforcement will remain unchanged.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/11/2020 13:57:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1227172

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Disability: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What assessment the Government has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	905164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>We continue to monitor and understand the impact of the pandemic on people who are disabled or have a health condition by using both existing and new data sources.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/07/2020 16:36:26 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon