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1218363

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What plans she has to review the equity of state pension ages for women.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	903920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>We committed in legislation to undertake a review of State Pension age every six years, which means that the statutory deadline for the publication of the next Government review is 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The purpose of the review is to ensure that the State Pension system protects current pensioners, is affordable, sustainable and fair to future tax payers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/06/2020 16:03:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	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

1270739

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	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 her Department has made of waiting times for work capability assessment referral.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	128977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Statistics on Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit are currently under development for future publication and have not previously been published as official statistics. We will issue them in due course as an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Whilst the initial statistics will not have median clearance times, these will be developed for publication in due course. There are no plans to provide these statistics by medical condition.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering the median end-to-end clearance time, which includes ‘claim registration to WCA referral’ by month of clearance up to March 2020, can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>UC claimants are generally referred for a work capability assessment at day 29 of their health-related claim. If the claimant has certain conditions (e.g. pregnant and risk to self or child) or are undergoing certain treatments (e.g. chemotherapy) they will be referred for a WCA earlier.</p><p> </p><p>Once referred claimants are issued a capability for work questionnaire (UC50). Claimants have 4 weeks to complete and return this along with any supporting evidence to the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS).</p><p> </p><p>Once received at HAAS, the information is reviewed by a Healthcare Professional (HCP). The HCP will determine if there is enough information to enable the case to be cleared on scrutiny. This may include contacting other professionals who support the claimant, such as their GP or Consultant, for supporting evidence. If the HCP is unable to clear by paper scrutiny a face-to-face assessment is scheduled.</p><p> </p><p>Due to Coronavirus restrictions claimants may experience a longer wait for their assessment, and may be asked to attend a telephone assessment while face-to-face assessments remain suspended. If, following an assessment, we decide that the claimant is entitled to extra benefit, we will pay any arrears owed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 128978 128979 question first answered 16/12/2020 17:41:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1270740

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for working capability referrals for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	128978
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Statistics on Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit are currently under development for future publication and have not previously been published as official statistics. We will issue them in due course as an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Whilst the initial statistics will not have median clearance times, these will be developed for publication in due course. There are no plans to provide these statistics by medical condition.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering the median end-to-end clearance time, which includes ‘claim registration to WCA referral’ by month of clearance up to March 2020, can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>UC claimants are generally referred for a work capability assessment at day 29 of their health-related claim. If the claimant has certain conditions (e.g. pregnant and risk to self or child) or are undergoing certain treatments (e.g. chemotherapy) they will be referred for a WCA earlier.</p><p> </p><p>Once referred claimants are issued a capability for work questionnaire (UC50). Claimants have 4 weeks to complete and return this along with any supporting evidence to the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS).</p><p> </p><p>Once received at HAAS, the information is reviewed by a Healthcare Professional (HCP). The HCP will determine if there is enough information to enable the case to be cleared on scrutiny. This may include contacting other professionals who support the claimant, such as their GP or Consultant, for supporting evidence. If the HCP is unable to clear by paper scrutiny a face-to-face assessment is scheduled.</p><p> </p><p>Due to Coronavirus restrictions claimants may experience a longer wait for their assessment, and may be asked to attend a telephone assessment while face-to-face assessments remain suspended. If, following an assessment, we decide that the claimant is entitled to extra benefit, we will pay any arrears owed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 128977 128979 question first answered 16/12/2020 17:41:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1270741

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of publishing condition specific processing times for work capability assessments referrals from universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	128979
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Statistics on Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit are currently under development for future publication and have not previously been published as official statistics. We will issue them in due course as an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Whilst the initial statistics will not have median clearance times, these will be developed for publication in due course. There are no plans to provide these statistics by medical condition.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering the median end-to-end clearance time, which includes ‘claim registration to WCA referral’ by month of clearance up to March 2020, can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>UC claimants are generally referred for a work capability assessment at day 29 of their health-related claim. If the claimant has certain conditions (e.g. pregnant and risk to self or child) or are undergoing certain treatments (e.g. chemotherapy) they will be referred for a WCA earlier.</p><p> </p><p>Once referred claimants are issued a capability for work questionnaire (UC50). Claimants have 4 weeks to complete and return this along with any supporting evidence to the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS).</p><p> </p><p>Once received at HAAS, the information is reviewed by a Healthcare Professional (HCP). The HCP will determine if there is enough information to enable the case to be cleared on scrutiny. This may include contacting other professionals who support the claimant, such as their GP or Consultant, for supporting evidence. If the HCP is unable to clear by paper scrutiny a face-to-face assessment is scheduled.</p><p> </p><p>Due to Coronavirus restrictions claimants may experience a longer wait for their assessment, and may be asked to attend a telephone assessment while face-to-face assessments remain suspended. If, following an assessment, we decide that the claimant is entitled to extra benefit, we will pay any arrears owed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 128977 128978 question first answered 16/12/2020 17:41:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1283982

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2021
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the government is taking to support disabled people affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	149237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing and new data sources.</p><p> </p><p>We are ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to employment support, disability benefits, financial support; food, medicines, as well as accessible communications and updated guidance.</p><p> </p><p>We are clear that consideration of equality impacts must be integral in all key policy decisions. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office Disability Unit works with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the Government’s response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will publish the National Strategy for Disabled People this year taking into account the impacts of the pandemic on disabled people. The strategy will focus on the issues that disabled people say affect them the most in all aspects of life.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 149238 149299 question first answered 09/02/2021 13:44:10 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1283983

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2021
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment 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	149238
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing and new data sources.</p><p> </p><p>We are ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to employment support, disability benefits, financial support; food, medicines, as well as accessible communications and updated guidance.</p><p> </p><p>We are clear that consideration of equality impacts must be integral in all key policy decisions. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office Disability Unit works with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the Government’s response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will publish the National Strategy for Disabled People this year taking into account the impacts of the pandemic on disabled people. The strategy will focus on the issues that disabled people say affect them the most in all aspects of life.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 149237 149299 question first answered 09/02/2021 13:44:10 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1286261

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2021
	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: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of guidance to people in receipt of a pension on avoiding poverty in retirement.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	153245
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2021 answer text <p>Pension Wise and The Pensions Advisory Service provide free, impartial guidance to help inform individuals of their pension options. Supporting individuals to make considered decisions regarding their pension savings and income in retirement is of the utmost importance.</p><p> </p><p>Pension Wise evaluates its service annually. In 2019/20, Pension Wise appointment customers were extremely satisfied with the service with 94% being very or fairly satisfied with their overall experience in 2019/20. Nine in ten appointment customers (91%) agree that Pension Wise helped them to consider their pension access options more thoroughly. A similar proportion (89%) felt they learned something new from using the service. These findings suggest that Pension Wise can help customers make better-informed decisions when accessing their pension pots, which is the key aim of the service.</p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. For current pensioners, this includes the contribution of the Triple Lock, the new State Pension and Pension Credit. As a result of the Triple Lock, the full yearly basic State Pension is now over £1,900 a year higher than in 2010, in cash terms. From this April, it will be £2,050 higher. In 2018/19 there were 100,000 fewer pensioners in absolute low income poverty than in 2009/10.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/02/2021 17:01:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1311415

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2021
	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	Poverty: Children
	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 has plans to bring forward further legislative proposals to help tackle child poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	185883
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/04/2021 12:37:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1315568

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2021
	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: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to encourage the full-time return to work for staff of her Department as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	2989
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>The Department has successfully enabled the majority of colleagues to work from home over the last 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>As Covid restrictions began to be lifted in April, many of the Work Coaches in Jobcentres have returned to the office so that they can continue to support jobseekers, including offering face-to-face appointments, all in accordance with government guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is developing plans for more colleagues to return to offices, and move to the next stage of easing of restrictions, currently planned for 21 June in England. This will be managed in a planned and phased way in line with government guidance. As part of this the Department will also work towards adopting further flexibilities, aligned to smarter working, which includes more opportunities to work in a hybrid way.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/05/2021 15:09:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon