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1683189

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	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	Social Security Benefits: Armed Forces
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost of disregarding in full compensation awarded to wounded service people and veterans under the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation schemes as income under (a) Income Support, (b) Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, (c) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, (d) Working Tax Credit and (d) Pension Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	10335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>Universal Credit replaced a number of benefits and tax credits. Within Universal Credit it was decided that War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Payments would not be taken into account as income in calculating the award.</p><p> </p><p>Guaranteed Income Payments, Service Attributable Pensions and service-attributable, non-taxable Service Invalidity Pensions are also not taken into account in the Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>However, it has never been the intention that the rules around the treatment of income, or any other rules, should be changed across the legacy and other benefits to align them with Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Social care payments are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 10336 question first answered 25/01/2024 11:29:24 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1683190

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	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	Universal Credit: Armed Forces
	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 annual cost to the public purse of fully disregarding as income compensation awarded to wounded service people and veterans under the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation schemes under Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	10336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>Universal Credit replaced a number of benefits and tax credits. Within Universal Credit it was decided that War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Payments would not be taken into account as income in calculating the award.</p><p> </p><p>Guaranteed Income Payments, Service Attributable Pensions and service-attributable, non-taxable Service Invalidity Pensions are also not taken into account in the Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>However, it has never been the intention that the rules around the treatment of income, or any other rules, should be changed across the legacy and other benefits to align them with Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Social care payments are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 10335 question first answered 25/01/2024 11:29:24 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1648259

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2023
	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	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, how many people have received (a) Universal Credit, (b) Personal Independence Payment, (c) Employment and Support Allowance, (d) Disability Living Allowance for children and (e) housing benefit by gender in the last twelve months.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	191461
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2023 answer text <p>Benefit statistics are regularly published on <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Stat-Xplore</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Monthly statistics for people on Universal Credit by gender are available to May 2023. Quarterly statistics for people receiving Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (Child) by gender are available to November 2022. Monthly statistics for those entitled to Personal Independence Payment by gender are available to April 2023.</p><p> </p><p>As Housing Benefit can be claimed by a household as well as an individual, it is not possible to assign only one gender to a household. Therefore, gender refers to the gender of single claimants only and is available by month to February 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">guidance</a> on how to extract the information required.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/07/2023 09:55:03 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1519794

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	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	Cost of Living Payments: Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
	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 in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency did not receive the first cost of living benefit instalment due to them receiving a nil award during the relevant Universal Credit assessment period.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	60062
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2022 answer text <p>There were 1,200 households containing 1,400 claimants in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport who have not received the first Cost of Living Payment due to a nil award.</p><p> </p><p><em>Notes:</em></p><ol><li><em>Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. </em></li><li><em>Great Britain level figures have been provided. </em></li><li><em>Nil awards have been defined as households that received a £0 Universal Credit payment and had no deductions for advance repayments, third party debts or government debts and had no money paid directly to their landlord by Universal Credit.</em></li><li><em>Figures are provisional and are subject to retrospective change as later data becomes available. </em></li><li><em>The methodology used is different to those used to derive the Official Statistics Household series and therefore, figures may not be comparable.</em></li><li><em>The methodology and data source may be slightly different to those used to derive entitlement to the Cost-of-Living Payment.</em></li></ol> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 19/10/2022 17:02:06 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1452756

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Universal Credit: Refugees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether capital held outside of the UK by Ukrainian refugees will be treated as capital for the purposes of their universal credit eligibility.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	143785
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>The emergency regulations laid on Monday 21 March 2022 ensure that Ukrainian evacuees can access Universal Credit and jobs support immediately. Each claim for benefit will be assessed individually and as quickly as possible. Available capital in the form of savings and investments will be taken into account. In order to be eligible for Universal Credit, claimants may have capital in the form of savings and investments of up to £16,000. Only capital in excess of £6,000 would cause Universal Credit to be reduced.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 143786 question first answered 28/03/2022 15:28:18 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1452757

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Universal Credit: Refugees
	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 made an assessment of whether the time taken to determine Ukrainian refugees' eligibility for universal credit will be affected in the event that they hold capital outside the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	143786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>The emergency regulations laid on Monday 21 March 2022 ensure that Ukrainian evacuees can access Universal Credit and jobs support immediately. Each claim for benefit will be assessed individually and as quickly as possible. Available capital in the form of savings and investments will be taken into account. In order to be eligible for Universal Credit, claimants may have capital in the form of savings and investments of up to £16,000. Only capital in excess of £6,000 would cause Universal Credit to be reduced.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 143785 question first answered 28/03/2022 15:28:18 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1452758

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Refugees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional resources she is allocating to support the efficient processing of claims for assistance for refugees relocated under the Ukrainian visa schemes.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	143787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government’s new Ukraine Family Scheme and ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme will help thousands of Ukrainian families and individuals to enter the country. DWP is working closely with the Home Office to understand potential demand.</p><p>Under these schemes Ukrainian evacuees will have the right to work here from day one, as well as immediate access to the benefit system and our existing employment offer, including our £30 billion Plan for Jobs. Ukrainian evacuees who claim benefits like Universal Credit will have access to direct, personalised employment support from experienced Jobcentre Plus work coaches, who will help them to find and move into employment, with extra support available through DWP’s Flexible Support Fund. Translation services are available to help new arrivals with phone applications, with Work Coaches in DWP Jobcentres on hand to support people making claims online. DWP staff are also delivering additional face-to-face assistance to those who need it – including tailored support to find work and advice on benefit eligibility – and will continue to do so.</p><p>DWP’s National Employer Partnerships Team (NEPT) has received a number of approaches from employers. All have been contacted and advised that we will be in touch to take details of their opportunities to share with the wider DWP.</p><p>Timeframes are still being finalised and there is regular discussion with Other Government Departments. Refugee Employment Network are also linked into activity and will be involved in sharing opportunities.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 28/03/2022 15:24:00 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433697

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Pain
	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 revise the guidance for personal independence payment assessments relating to chronic pain following the updated guidance from NICE in relation to the prescribing of medication to manage these conditions.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2022 answer text <p>Entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is assessed based on the daily living and mobility needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not issue specific guidance to PIP assessors on chronic pain conditions or their management. However, the PIP Assessment Guide (PIPAG) contains guidance for Health Professionals (HP) carrying out PIP assessments, including how pain and medication such as painkillers should be considered. The PIPAG is regularly updated to ensure guidance for HPs remains relevant and accurate.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 28/02/2022 15:30:41 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433698

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Pain
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of personal independence payments where chronic pain is the primary health condition are (a) refused at the initial application stage and (b) overturned at the mandatory reconsideration stage or appeal stage.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2022 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The table below provides information on initial decisions, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals following a Personal Independence Payment assessment where the primary condition has been determined as chronic pain. Chronic pain has been taken as anyone listed in the chronic pain syndromes subgroup (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and chronic pain syndromes– other), non-specific back pain and specific back pain. The proportion of these figures as a percentage of initial decisions is also included.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Initial decisions</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Disallowed at initial decision</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Changed at reconsideration or appeal after being disallowed at initial decision</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>515,520</p></td><td><p>168,130 (33%)</p></td><td><p>33,050 (6%)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ul><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</li><li>Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.</li><li>These figures include initial decisions following assessment for PIP New Claims and Reassessments from the start of the benefit in April 2013 up to 30th June 2021, the latest date for which published data is available.</li><li>These figures cover mandatory reconsideration and appeal decisions at a tribunal hearing up to 31st September 2021.</li><li>Decisions that were changed at mandatory reconsideration that were further changed at appeal have only been counted once.</li><li>A change at appeal includes those that were overturned and those that were lapsed.</li><li>A lapsed appeal is where DWP changed the decision in the customer’s favour after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at a tribunal hearing.</li></ul> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 01/03/2022 15:12:10 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433699

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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	Personal Independence Payment: Pain
	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 has taken to assess the suitability of the personal independence payment assessment criteria for people with chronic pain.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2022 answer text <p>PIP is intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise from needs related to a long-term health condition or disability, such as a chronic pain condition. Entitlement is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from the health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently over 151,000 people in receipt of PIP whose primary disabling condition is a chronic pain condition.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 23/02/2022 16:55:56 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1433893

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	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	Social Security Benefits: Uprating
	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 impact of not uprating benefits in line with inflation on levels of child poverty in Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	126809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made. The Government is up-rating benefits in line with inflation. The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefits and pensions with reference to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). All benefit up-rating since April 1987 has been based on the increase in the relevant price inflation index in the 12 months to the previous September. The relevant benefits are increasing by 3.1% from April.</p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics on the number and proportion of children who are in low income families by local area, covering the six years, 2014/15 to 2019/20, can be found in the annual publication: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-in-low-income-families-local-area-statistics-2014-to-2020" target="_blank">Children in low income families: local area statistics 2014 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to reducing poverty and supporting low-income families, and believes work is the best route out of poverty. Our approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of parental employment – particularly where it is full-time – in substantially reducing the risks of child poverty and in improving long-term outcomes for families and children.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 126529 126555 126629 126695 126700 126782 127438 question first answered 25/02/2022 11:30:35 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1404580

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2022
	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	Employment and Support Allowance: Devon
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance in (a) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, (b) Plymouth Moor View and (c) South West Devon constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	107721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 19<sup>th</sup> January to question number <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-14/104377" target="_blank">104377</a>.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 21/01/2022 12:22:05 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1365939

	registered interest
	date	03/11/2021
	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: Ivory
	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 ivory items owned by or collated by her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	69183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2021 answer text <p>We have not made any estimates of the number of ivory items owned by or collated in this Department or institutions owned or managed by the Government.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 10/11/2021 12:32:27 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1359107

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Reform
	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 reform the triple lock on the State Pension.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	56145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>There are no plans to reform the Triple Lock.</p><p> </p><p>The legislation currently before Parliament is a one-year response to exceptional circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/10/2021 13:33:44 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1303532

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2021
	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	Kickstart Scheme: South West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobs the Kickstart scheme has created since its creation in (a) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency (b) Plymouth Moor View constituency (c) South West Devon and (d) the South West region.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	170737
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>I refer the honourable member to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-02-23/157063" target="_blank">157063</a>. I also refer the honourable member to PQ <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-03-09/165550?_sm_au_=iVVH8jWrFsrtkjD7W2MN0K7K1WVjq" target="_blank">165550</a> for regional breakdown of jobs made available for young people to apply to.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 23/03/2021 18:00:25 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1168419

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	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	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 disability training medical professionals undertaking personal independence payment assessments are required to have in respect to autism.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2020 answer text <p>All health professionals carrying out assessments are clinically qualified and registered practitioners in their own field.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>DWP requires health professionals to have a broad training in disability analysis as well as awareness training in specific conditions which include autistic spectrum disorder.</p><p> </p><p>While preparing to undertake an assessment, health professionals have access to a range of resources as well as experienced clinicians to support them in assessing claimants with conditions that they may not be familiar with.</p><p>Additionally, assessment providers engage with medical experts, charities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen their training programmes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/01/2020 14:51:35 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1149270

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	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	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 disability training medical professionals undertaking personal independence payment assessments are required to have in respect to autism.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	685
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>All health professionals carrying out assessments are medically qualified and highly trained practitioners in their own field.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>DWP requires health professionals to have a broad training in disability analysis as well as awareness training in specific conditions which include autistic spectrum disorder.</p><p> </p><p>While preparing to undertake an assessment, health professionals have access to a range of resources as well as experienced clinicians to support them in assessing claimants with conditions that they may not be familiar with.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, assessment providers engage with medical experts, charities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen their training programmes.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/10/2019 16:26:58 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1145895

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	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	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, if she will publish details of Access to Work spending by region.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	291067
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>Please see attached excel file.</p><p> </p><p>Here you will find Access to Work spending by region consistent with the published Access to Work statistics.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/10/2019 11:03:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson attachment 1 file name AtW expenditure regional breakdowns.xlsx title AtW Expenditure Regional Breakdown
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127546

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on issuing guidance to landlords who wish to rent to tenants who receive universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular dialogue with other Secretary of States in the course of normal ministerial business, which includes discussion surrounding aspects of Universal Credit.</p><p /><p>The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit. This helps landlords to understand what they can do to help their tenants prepare for: a) their move to Universal Credit and b) making payments of their housing costs (rent) direct to their landlord themselves. This can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government does not collect data on how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 256350 question first answered 28/05/2019 15:38:33 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127547

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256350
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular dialogue with other Secretary of States in the course of normal ministerial business, which includes discussion surrounding aspects of Universal Credit.</p><p /><p>The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit. This helps landlords to understand what they can do to help their tenants prepare for: a) their move to Universal Credit and b) making payments of their housing costs (rent) direct to their landlord themselves. This can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government does not collect data on how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 256349 question first answered 28/05/2019 15:38:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127548

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	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 recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the timeframe for fixing problems with GOV.UK Verify in respect of universal credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Design and delivery of the GOV.UK Verify platform is the responsibility of the Government Digital Service (GDS) and its partners. The Department for Work and Pensions, along with other government departments is a user of this service, and provides feedback to GDS about its operation, recognising that people wanting to claim Universal Credit, or check their State Pension, can choose to use it to confirm their identity. The Department has no access to this information and claimants have direct contact with identity providers (also called ‘certified companies’).</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to consider options to provide the easiest and most secure digital services for our claimants.</p><p /><p>There are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2019 11:54:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1127549

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will change the rules on universal credit joint applications to enable couples to verify their ID in person at separate times.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>At present, there are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: online using the gov.uk verify service; in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p><p> </p><p>If an appointment is needed to verify a claimant’s ID in person, both members of a “couple claim” are not required to attend at the same time. The current process is that separate appointments will be arranged for each partner, at a time that is convenient for them.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/05/2019 12:04:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1110301

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
	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 index the value of the UK state pension for British pensioners who live in Commonwealth countries.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	242248
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions paid to recipients living outside the UK has been in place for over 70 years. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide without regard to nationality. Entitlement to the UK State Pension is based on the national insurance contributions on a person’s national insurance record. The annual index-linked increases to UK State Pensions are paid to recipients overseas only where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in EEA countries or in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that provides for the up-rating of the UK State Pension. The Government has no plans to change the policy of all Governments, Labour, Coalition or Conservative since WW2.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 16/04/2019 11:27:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1088757

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2019
	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	Independent Case Examiner: Complaints
	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 waiting time is from the submission of a complaint to the office of the Independent Case Examiner to the allocation of the case to an Investigation Case Manager; and what steps she is taking to reduce that time.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	232654
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>As at 15 March 2019, the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office was allocating cases to Investigation Case Managers that were accepted for investigation on the following dates:</p><p> </p><ul><li>DWP Pension, Disability and Working Age benefits - 29 November 2017</li><li>Child Maintenance Group - 5 December 2017</li><li>Contracted Provision - 8 January 2018</li></ul><p> </p><p>The ICE Office resources are reviewed on an annual basis and the Office received funding for thirteen additional staff in the current financial year (2018/2019). Productivity within the ICE Office has increased during the current reporting year, having cleared 1,139 complaints between March 2018 and February 2019, compared to 868 in the same period the previous year.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 14:47:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1041466

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2019
	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	Escape Rooms: 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 she has made of the safety of escape rooms in the UK following deaths in a Polish escape room on 6 January 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	208427
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The enforcement of health and safety law in most leisure facilities, including escape rooms, is carried out by Local Authorities. Responsibility for assessing and managing health and safety risks in any business rests with the operator of the business and not the enforcement authority. Enforcement of fire safety legislation in escape rooms is a matter for the local fire and rescue service for that area.</p><p> </p><p>The general duty to ensure the safety of members of the public in Great Britain is set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the specific requirement to assess and control risk is contained in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Fire safety responsibilities are contained within The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales. In Scotland this is Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulation 2006. Businesses that comply with the relevant legislation will be doing enough to ensure the safety of participants.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 21/01/2019 15:34:19 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard