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77248

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2014
	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, how many claims for personal independence payments submitted by individuals in Hemsworth in 2013 are still yet to be determined; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce delays in processing personal independence payment claims.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	205105
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>There are several reasons why a registered claim may not yet be determined. For example the claimant has not yet returned their additional information form or is awaiting their assessment date, DWP have not yet made a decision on their claim or the claimant has advised that they wish to withdraw their claim. At the end of December 2013 around 500 people in Hemsworth had registered a New Claim for PIP and around 100 decisions had been made.</p><p> </p><p>I also refer the hon. Member to the written answer the previous Minister for Disabled People, the Rt. Hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead, Mike Penning, gave the Hon. Member for Halton (Derek Twigg), on 7 July 2014, <em>Official Report,</em> column 110W.</p><p> </p><p>Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department took to reduce delays to personal independence payment (PIP) special rules claims; how long it took to resolve those delays; what steps he plans to take to reduce delays to PIP claims in the normal rules; and what estimate he has made of the time that will be taken to reduce those delays. [203699]</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As soon as I became aware of the length of time it was taking for some Special Rules cases to be processed I took action to reduce timescales and introduced:</p><p> </p><p>- a dedicated phone service.</p><p> </p><p>- an electronic transfer of information between a claimant's health professional, DWP and assessment providers.</p><p> </p><p>- a trial of a new process to enable decisions to be made in-house with support from health care professionals.</p><p> </p><p>I am pleased to say that we are now seeing improvements to clearance times for claims from terminally ill people.</p><p> </p><p>We have acknowledged that claims under our normal rules are currently taking too long. We are absolutely committed to improving performance-ours and that of the assessment providers. We are already seeing improvements to our processes and will continue to work further to reduce delays and backlogs.</p><p> </p><p>By the autumn, we expect no one to be waiting for an assessment 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> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/07/2014 16:34:19 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

77490

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2014
	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	Procurement
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many contracts (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (i) have let and (ii) plan to let that are worth (A) between £1 million and £3 million and (B) over £3 million since 2010; how much his Department has spent on monitoring each such contract; and how many officials in his Department monitor each contract.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	205377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Between 01/01/2010 and 14/07/2014, the Department for Work and Pensions awarded 71 contracts with a value of between one and three million pounds and 191 contracts with a value of over three million pounds.</p><p> </p><p>At 14/07/2014, our current commercial planning data indicates we intend to let 47 contracts with a value of between one and three million pounds and 30 contracts with a value over three million pounds.</p><p> </p><p>The award timelines on future contracts stretches to 2017 and beyond. As conditions change, some of these contracts may not yet proceed to the procurement stage. Also, award values are not yet firm for those at the earliest of planning stages.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department does not record the numbers of staff and their length of assignment in monitoring individual contracts, therefore the answer to this part of the question could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Between 01/01/2010 and 14/07/2014, the Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) awarded the following contracts within the requested values:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>NDPB</p></td><td><p>Number of contracts with Contract Value £1m -3m</p></td><td><p>Number of Contracts with Contract Value over £3m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pensions Ombudsman</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>NIL</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Pensions Advisory Service</p></td><td><p>NIL</p></td><td><p>NIL</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Pensions Regulator (TPR)</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Health and Safety Executive (HSE)</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC)</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Independent Living Fund (ILF)</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td><td><p>Nil</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Pensions Ombudsman estimate the cost of monitoring its contract at £7,000 per annum with a dedicated resource of 0.1 FTE.</p><p> </p><p>TPR have a planned contract to start in 2014/15 value £1-3m.</p><p> </p><p>TPR do not hold information regarding the total amount spent on monitoring the contracts and it would be disproportionate for it to calculate this. However, it has 2 FTE staff dedicated to monitoring the contract valued over £3m</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>NEST - The Scheme Administration Services contract has a Contract Manager (commencing August 2014) and is supported by a Procurement &amp; Contract Specialist.</p><p> </p><p>HSE is in the process of letting one contract with a value of between one and three million pounds.</p><p> </p><p>HSE does not record the numbers of staff and their length of assignment in monitoring individual contracts, therefore the answer to this part of the question could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/07/2014 16:09:42 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92706

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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, what estimate he has made of the number of cases in which disability living allowance payments have ceased before personal independence payment is received; and what steps he is taking to ensure that people are not left without either benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>No such estimate has been made. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who comply with the processes when claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) continue to receive their DLA up to, and for 28 days beyond the decision on their PIP claim.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 15/10/2014 13:59:29 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92715

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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	Funeral Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the value of help for funeral costs is calculated; what factors those calculations take into account; and what account is taken in such calculations of the income of the next of kin.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209863
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The value of help for funeral costs is calculated to cover the necessary costs of: a new burial plot with all necessary burial fees or the cost of necessary cremation fees; reasonable cost of transportation of the body in the UK, for any part of the journey that is in excess of 50 miles, and the necessary cost of that part of the return journey that is over 50 miles for the transport of the coffin and bearers, plus 1 additional vehicle; the cost of documentation needed for the immediate release of assets of the deceased; and the necessary expenses of one return journey for the responsible person to arrange or attend the funeral. We also provide up to £700 for other funeral expenses.</p><p> </p><p>To be eligible for a Funeral Payment the person who is responsible for payment of the funeral bill must be the partner of the deceased, if there is one, or a close relative or friend of the deceased and be in receipt of certain income based benefits.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 15/10/2014 13:20:55 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92728

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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, how many personal independence payment cases are in payment; and how many applications for such payments have been made.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	210018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2014 answer text <p>The latest statistics for the number of cases in payment, and applications made, for personal independence payment have been published and are available from the GOV.UK website: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2014</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 15/10/2014 13:57:31 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92716

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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	Funeral Payments
	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 monitor the average costs of funerals; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funeral payments to meet the average cost of a funeral.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>My department does not collect data to monitor the average cost of funerals.</p><p> </p><p>The Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme provides help towards the necessary costs of a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral and is not intended to meet all costs that could be associated with the day. The average award made in 2012/13 was £1,225.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 16/10/2014 13:55:01 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92726

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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	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 limit his Department has set on waiting times for work capability assessments; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure this limit is not exceeded.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209857
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>We do not have a limit for waiting times for work capability assessments. We are working with the existing supplier to improve processing times and reduce waiting times and are currently seeking a replacement supplier to undertake work capability assessments from early next year.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 16/10/2014 13:45:34 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92704

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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, what the current average waiting time is for personal independence payments from application to the date of award.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 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 PIP system 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 209887 question first answered 17/10/2014 10:53:02 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92705

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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, what the current average waiting time is for applicants for personal independence payments for a face-to-face assessment if required.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>Departmental statisticians are continuing to develop measures around clearance times and waiting times to ensure they provide a rounded and representative picture of PIP system 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 209886 question first answered 17/10/2014 10:53:03 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

92708

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2014
	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, what pilot or feasibility studies were carried out by his Department on managing the change over from disability living allowance to personal independence payment.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	209868
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2014 answer text <p>Details regarding the introduction of Personal Independence Payment can be found at <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><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/10/2014 12:48:52 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett