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818789

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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, whether his Department has plans to allow online applications for universal credit to be made without having to provide bank details.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2018 answer text <p>People can already claim Universal Credit online without a bank account and instructions are provided on the bank account page itself.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants can also use their relatives’ and appointees’ bank accounts in the short term. However, we would always recommend that claimants have and use their own bank accounts.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 16/01/2018 17:53:32 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818979

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2018
	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: Autism
	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 effect on young autistic adults in further education of the implementation of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121656
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2018 answer text <p>The Department continues to evaluate Universal Credit as it is delivered.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit Evaluation is a comprehensive and multi-dimensional programme of analysis designed to assess the economic, social and behavioural impacts of the Universal Credit experience. Research and analysis is conducted to provide continuous tracking and inform the evaluation and expansion of Universal Credit, focusing specifically on the effects of Universal Credit on all claimants’ behaviours and outcomes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 17/01/2018 17:32:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

851534

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2018
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that recipients of employment support allowance with the severe disability premium do not have payments reduced when they move to an area where universal credit has been implemented.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	130297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2018 answer text <p>We have always said that claimants who move over to Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process will not see a cash loss as a result of the change. This is provided that their circumstances remain the same.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants who naturally move to Universal Credit will do so because they have had a change of circumstances. In such cases claimants will continue to have their new welfare support entitlement calculated on the rules of their new benefit.</p><p> </p><p>DWP continue to evaluate this policy as it is delivered.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/03/2018 14:09:28 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010561

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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: Autism
	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 effect on the autism employment gap of the Access to Work scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>We have made no assessment of the effect of Access to Work on the employment rate of people with autism.</p><p> </p><p>Data on people with Autism Spectrum Disorders is not routinely disaggregated within Access to Work statistics. The primary medical condition categories used in Access to Work are consistent with the categories used in the Labour Force Survey. This is so we can compare our data to the disability employment rate.</p><p> </p><p>When a person with autism applies to Access to Work for support, it will be for particular conditions, such as difficulty in speaking, learning difficulties, etc., rather than ‘autism’.</p><p> </p><p>This will be recorded as the individual’s primary medical condition in the Access to Work database, even if it’s linked to their autism</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work has a specialist Hidden Impairments team who receive upskilling and awareness from organisations who have expertise of autism to ensure that advisors have a broad understanding of the barriers individuals with autism face.</p><p> </p><p>The official statistics published on 30th October 2018 provide the latest information on the Access to Work scheme, including breakdowns by customer characteristics such as primary medical condition. They may be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2018</a></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 27/11/2018 10:16:02 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010562

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has she made of the effect on the autism employment gap of the Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193495
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>We have not made any assessment of the effect the Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit has had on the autism employment gap.</p><p> </p><p>The toolkit was developed with support from disabled people with neuro-diverse conditions, medical professionals and disability organisations such as Autism Alliance UK and Autism Plus. It is designed to help to raise awareness and understanding, within DWP and across the wider Civil Service, about Autism Spectrum Disorders and neuro-diverse conditions.</p><p> </p><p>Disability Confident promotes the many benefits of employing disabled people including individuals with autism and neuro-diverse conditions. The scheme provides free information, advice and guidance for employers.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 27/11/2018 17:34:05 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010563

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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: Autism
	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 effect of the Disability Confident scheme on the gap between the number of people in employment (a) with autism and (b) in the general population.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193496
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>We have not made any assessment of Disability Confident on the autism employment gap.</p><p> </p><p>Disability Confident promotes to employers the many benefits of employing disabled people, including individuals with Autism and Neuro-diverse conditions. The scheme provides free information, advice and guidance to help them to do this. Over 10,000 businesses have signed up to the disability Confident scheme since it was launched in November 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit was developed with support from disabled people with neuro-diverse conditions, medical professionals and disability organisations such as Autism Alliance UK and Autism Plus. It is designed to help to raise awareness and understanding, within DWP and across the wider Civil Service, about Autism Spectrum Disorders and neuro-diverse conditions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 16:12:20 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010564

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase the rate of retention in employment of people with autism.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193497
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is strongly committed to increasing employment opportunities for disabled people, including those with autism, and improving employment retention rates. We are working across Government and with local authorities, voluntary organisations and employers in the public and private sectors to achieve this. Help and support for people with autism includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Disability Confident scheme, through which DWP is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with autism and associated hidden impairment conditions. Disability Confident offers advice and support, to help employers feel more confident about employing disabled people. Over 10,000 businesses have signed up to the disability Confident scheme since it was launched in November 2016</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, which has a Hidden Impairment Specialist Team that gives advice and guidance to help employers support employees with conditions such as Autism, Learning Disability and/or Mental Health conditions. It also offers eligible people an assessment to find out their needs at work and help to develop a support plan. <br></li><li>The Disability Passport ‘About Me’ which aims to encourage disabled claimants, including individuals with autism, to disclose their disability/ health conditions at the earliest stage to their Adviser, to improve communication and ensure reasonable adjustments are put in place. The passport is hosted on Autism Alliance’s website.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Civil Service has committed to support the Autism Exchange Programme, and my Department is working with Ambitious about Autism to provide work placement opportunities for young people.</p><p> </p><p>The number of working age disabled people in employment in the UK reached around 3.9 million in Q3 2018. This was an increase of 123,000 since Q3 2017, and an overall increase of 973,000 since Q3 2013, the earliest comparable figure.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 14:36:25 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010565

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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: Autism
	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 the steps that her Department has taken to provide employers with the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to employ people with autism.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government is strongly committed to working with employers to improve their approach to employing disabled people, including those with autism. For example:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Disability Confident scheme is engaging with employers, offering advice and support to help employers feel more confident about employing disabled people. Over 10,000 businesses have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme since it was launched in November 2016</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work has a Hidden Impairment Specialist Team that gives advice and guidance to help employers support employees with conditions such as Autism, Learning Disability and/or Mental Health conditions. It also offers eligible people an assessment to find out their needs at work and help to develop a support plan.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Disability Passport ‘About Me’ aims to encourage disabled claimants, including individuals with autism, to disclose their disability/ health conditions at the earliest stage to their Adviser, to improve communication and ensure reasonable adjustments are put in place. The passport is hosted on Autism Alliance’s website.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Disability Confident Autism and Neurodiversity Toolkit was developed with support from disabled people with neuro-diverse conditions, medical professionals and disability organisations such as Autism Alliance UK and Autism Plus. It is designed to help to raise awareness and understanding, within DWP and across the wider Civil Service, about Autism Spectrum Disorders and neuro-diverse conditions.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We have not made any assessment of the effect of these policies and initiatives on employers’ skills and knowledge in respect of employing people with autism in particular.</p><p> </p><p>Overall, the number of working age disabled people in employment in the UK reached around 3.9 million in Q3 2018. This was an increase of 123,000 since Q3 2017, and an overall increase of 973,000 since Q3 2013, the earliest comparable figure.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 16:29:15 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010566

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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 Schemes: Autism
	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 the Work Choice support programme in helping autistic people to (a) find, (b) keep and (c) make progress in a job.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>Work Choice was designed to help individuals whose needs cannot be met through other DWP employment programmes and who need more specialised support to find employment or to keep a job once they have started work. Work Choice referrals have now ended in all parts of England and Wales, and service delivery will end by 31 March 2019. The Work &amp; Health Programme, which rolled out in England and Wales between November 2017 and March 2018, builds on lessons learnt from both Work Choice and the Work Programme.</p><p> </p><p>Work Choice performance data allows us to monitor both short job outcomes (employment lasting at least 13 weeks) and sustained job outcomes (employment lasting at least 26 weeks) where the tailored support assists participants in achieving these. Work Choice official statistics are published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/work-choice-referrals-starts-and-job-outcomes-to-june-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/work-choice-referrals-starts-and-job-outcomes-to-june-2018</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Since 25<sup>th</sup> October 2015, Work Choice participants could voluntarily declare to their Work Coach that they had an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to allow providers to recognise their support requirements. A declaration of autism was recorded separately from individuals’ primary health condition. As these declarations are voluntary, we cannot be sure that they account for all Work Choice participants with ASD.</p><p> </p><p>For participants who have declared this information, the below data table shows the number of starts per year and the proportion of these starts that have since achieved a short job outcome (employment lasting at least 13 weeks) and a sustained job outcome (employment lasting at least 26 weeks). These data are a subset of the official Work Choice statistics.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="5"><p>Individuals who declared autism</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number of starts</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Of which have achieved a short job outcome</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Of which have achieved a sustained job outcome</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Latest year available:</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-17 to Jun-18 (for starts)</p></td><td><p>670</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-16 to Jun-17 (for short job outcomes)</p></td><td><p>1,120</p></td><td><p>430</p></td><td><p>38%</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-15 to Jun-16 (for sustained)</p></td><td><p>530</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Financial years:</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16 (Nov to Mar)</p></td><td><p>290</p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>44%</p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>27%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>1,090</p></td><td><p>420</p></td><td><p>38%</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>940</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Provider Referrals and Payments system (PRaP)</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>- Work Choice performance data for a particular cohort of starts are only comparable once we have given sufficient time from the end of that period for all of the starts to have received the tailored support from the programme and to have achieved the job outcomes. This means that the latest available data for numbers of starts is July 2017 to June 2018, for short job outcome rates is July 2016 to June 2017, and for sustained job outcome rates is July 2015 to June 2016.</p><p> </p><p>- The definition of short job outcomes changed slightly in November 2015. Therefore, short job outcome rates are not available for the July 2015 to June 2016 cohort and for the 2015/16 financial year they are only available from November 2015 to March 2016.</p><p> </p><p>- Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 14:12:42 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010567

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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 Schemes: Autism
	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 effect of the Specialist Employability Support programme on the employment outcomes of autistic people.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193500
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>Specialist Employability Support (SES) is a pan-disability employment programme providing specialist personalised employment support for around 1,700 participants with complex barriers to employment, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, each year. Individuals with autism may request that specific referral opportunities are used for their referral to SES, to allow providers to recognise their support requirements.</p><p> </p><p>The Government confirmed in ‘Improving Lives, The Future of Work, Health and Disability’, published in December 2017, that it is currently exploring the best policy options for continuing to support those with greatest needs and most complex situations, once the SES contracts come to an end.</p><p> </p><p>We have not made any formal assessment of SES programme including on the employment outcomes of autistic people but we continue to gather information and evidence including lessons learnt for developing our future support.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has recently completed negotiations with SES providers to extend referrals to the programme to end 2019 to ensure continuous provision for this customer group whilst future support is put in place.</p><p> </p><p>The number of working age disabled people in employment in the UK reached around 3.9 million in Q3 2018. This was an increase of 123,000 since Q3 2017, and an overall increase of 973,000 since Q3 2013, the earliest comparable figure.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 13:06:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1010568

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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 Schemes: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help young people diagnosed with autism into work in (a) Bristol and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	193501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>Jobcentre Plus partnership managers work with a range of organisations across Bristol to ensure we can hear the voice of the customer and to work collaboratively to address and remove barriers to employment.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the country, Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches offer people with disabilities and health conditions, including autism, tailored support to reduce barriers to work and help them into work. Work Coaches are trained in dealing with customers with a range of conditions, including autism, and have access to a range of resources, including an autism learning toolkit, free online courses, training for managers, guidance on reasonable adjustments, and employer guides. Work Coaches are supported by Disability Employment Advisers and DWP Work Psychologists, who can also directly support customers, and advised by Community Partners, who have a lived experience or expert knowledge of disability.</p><p> </p><p>Nationally, there is a range of support available for young people with autism, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Work and Health Programme, which offers a personalised local approach to supporting people, overcome barriers to employment, by targeting specialist support to those who are likely to be able to find work within 12 months.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, which has a Hidden Impairment Specialist Team offers advice and guidance to help employers support employees with conditions such as Autism, Learning Disability and/or Mental Health conditions.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Young people who start a work placement with an employer as part of the Department for Education supported internship programme or a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy traineeship are eligible to apply for Access to Work support for the period of the work placement. Supported internships are for young people aged 16—24 with learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who want to get a job and need extra support to do this.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Disability Confident scheme, though which DWP is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with autism and associated conditions. Over 10,000 businesses have signed up to Disability Confident since it was launched in November 2016.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Disability Passport ‘About Me’, developed to encourage disabled claimants, including individuals with autism, to disclose their disability/ health conditions at the earliest stage to their Adviser, to improve communication and ensure reasonable adjustments are put in place. The passport was launched in March 2017 and is hosted on Autism Alliance’s website</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Local Supported Employment Proof of Concept, which is being delivered with nine local authorities and will support those with a learning disability or autism who are known to adult social care, or those in contact with secondary mental health services.</li></ul><p> </p><p>We are also improving access to apprenticeships for people with learning disabilities and difficulties. For example, the government has introduced legislation which adjusts the minimum English and Maths requirements for apprenticeships for people with a learning difficulty or disability to entry Level 3. This change allows more people to benefit from the opportunities available through apprenticeships and work.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 28/11/2018 15:44:21 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

789189

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that training offered to those carrying out work capability assessments complies with statutory obligations under the Autism Act 2009.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	112979
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>The Autism Act 2009 does not impose any specific statutory obligations on DWP or its Providers. The Department is, however, fully committed to improving the services it provides for people with autism. Part of the Department’s Autism Strategy Action Plan focuses on key areas for improvement, including promotion of the autism agenda to our Assessment Provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments. In order to improve the skills and knowledge of Healthcare Professionals that undertake Work Capability Assessments, the Department supported the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments in the development of condition specific training on autism which is quality assured by external reviewers.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2017 15:50:57 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

789193

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people administering work capability assessments are required to undertake training on autism and autistic spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	112878
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>All Healthcare Professionals conducting Work Capability Assessments receive extensive training regarding autism spectrum disorders as part of their initial new entrant training. This training programme includes simulated assessments covering claimants with autism and learning disabilities to allow Healthcare Professionals to develop appropriate consultation skills. All Healthcare Professionals have access to condition specific information on autism which is quality assured by external reviewers. Healthcare Professionals are further supported by Functional Champions who are available to provide advice to Healthcare Professionals on particular conditions including autism before, during or after an assessment.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 20/11/2017 15:48:03 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818966

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2018
	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: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much public money has been spent on tribunals relating to Personal Independence Payments in 2016-17.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121643
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2018 answer text <p>As per the answer to PQs 107049 and 109256, the information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 15/01/2018 15:32:09 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

914705

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2018
	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, for how long her Department has required Access to Work claimants to provide invoices for the services of their self-employed support workers; and what guidance and notification was given to Access to Work claimants about that change of practice.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	148867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2018 answer text <p>Access to Work grant funding is awarded and claimed in arrears with the customer being responsible for ensuring claim forms and the appropriate documentation is attached. This is either receipts, invoices or appropriate documentation demonstrating the support costs that have been incurred. This is a requirement of verification and assurance that the public funds are issued for the purpose for which they were intended. There has been no change to the requirements of supporting information when claiming and as such there is no guidance or notification given to the Access to Work claimants.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/06/2018 14:17:22 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818786

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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	Jobcentre Plus: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to provide training to JobCentre staff to support refugees.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2018 answer text <p>Jobcentre Plus staff are trained to consider a person's circumstances and to tailor support according to their individual needs. Staff complete claimant awareness training that covers a wide range of claimant circumstances including refugees. Staff also have access to information on services and support available in their local area for vulnerable claimants including refugees.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 15/01/2018 15:27:52 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818788

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on ensuring that newly recognised refugees receive the first payment of universal credit within 28 days of their application.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2018 answer text <p>DWP and the Home Office have recently introduced a supported handover process to assist newly recognised refugees needing assistance to claim benefits. This enables those participating in the process to access benefits by the end of the 28 day move on period, either through their claim to legacy benefits being processed by day 28, or through the offer of an advance payment of benefit that is made at their work-focused interview if they are being considered for Universal Credit. New claimants can already receive an advance of up to 50% of their estimated entitlement and this will increase to 100% later this month. Their repayment period may also move from six months to 12 months accordingly.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 15/01/2018 15:30:03 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818790

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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 he plans to add newly recognised refugees to the list of groups exempt from the seven day waiting period for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121554
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2018 answer text <p>From February 2018, newly recognised refugees, like all other claimants will be eligible for Universal Credit from the first day they claim it (subject to satisfying the conditions of entitlement), removing the seven days some households currently have to wait. The most vulnerable refugees such as those with serious illnesses are already exempt.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 16/01/2018 12:05:12 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

818795

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2018
	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: Refugees
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to refugees to find employment; and if he will make it his Department’s policy to work with local authorities to increase such support.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	121559
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2018 answer text <p>Jobcentre Plus work coaches provide tailored support to claimants with complex needs, including refugees, to help them find employment. Refugees will have early access to the Work and Health Programme which will help people who face additional barriers find work. Partnership managers work with a range of stakeholders, including local authorities, to establish what support is available locally, to encourage partnership working and to ensure claimants are signposted appropriately.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 16/01/2018 12:07:45 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

983153

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the level of successful collections of child maintenance for (a) employed payees and (b) self employed payees.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	176376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>The Child Maintenance Service includes two service types: ‘Direct Pay’ where payments are arranged and agreed between parents, and ‘Collect &amp; Pay’ where payments are collected and paid to the receiving parent by Child Maintenance Service.</p><p>The Department does not record data for direct pay compliance. If the paying parent <ins class="ministerial">does not</ins><del class="ministerial">don't</del> pay they can be moved onto the Collect and Pay at the discretion of the child maintenance service. The department does hold data on the compliance of Collect and Pay arrangements. Please refer to Table 7 of the Child Maintenance Service Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>Data on compliance is recorded separately to data on employment status<ins class="ministerial"> and cannot be easily linked. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost</ins>.<del class="ministerial"> Although the department does hold some of the data to answer your question we estimate the cost of complying with your request would exceed the appropriate limit for central government, set by regulation at £600.This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 3 and half working days in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting it. We believe it would take longer than 3 and half days to match the compliance of a paying parent with their employment status. As a result, under section 12 of the Freedom of information Act the department is not therefore obliged to comply with your request and we will not be processing it further.</del></p><p> </p><p>The Child Maintenance Service Statistics <del class="ministerial">which shows overall compliance</del> <ins class="ministerial">ca</ins>n be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-june-2018-experimental" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-june-2018-experimental</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/10/2018 16:11:07 question first ministerially corrected 12/11/2018 12:22:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 78842 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

810058

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Workplace Pensions: Public Consultation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the outcome was of the Government's consultation entitled Defined Benefits Schemes: Security and Sustainability which ended on 14 May 2017; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	120524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>The Government published a consultation entitled Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Schemes on 20 February 2017. The 12-week consultation closed on 14 May 2017. Over 800 responses were received from pension scheme members (active and deferred), pensioners, scheme trustees, employers and national pension associations. We are in the process of analysing these results and we will publish a white paper in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/01/2018 12:22:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

810059

	registered interest
	date	20/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensions: Uprating
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require all pension schemes to index according to inflation for pre-1997 components of defined benefit pensions.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	120525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>If a pensioner’s pre-1997 defined benefit pension rights include a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) earned after April 1988, that element must be increased by inflation, capped at 3 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>Defined benefit pensions accrued after 1997 are subject to statutory limited price indexation: inflation capped at 5 per cent for pensions accrued between April 1997 and April 2005 and inflation capped at 2.5 per cent for pensions accrued after April 2005.</p><p> </p><p>We have no plans to change this.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/01/2018 12:13:35 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

864314

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2018
	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	Workplace Pensions
	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 take steps to review the regulatory framework for occupational pension schemes including the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	132798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2018 answer text <p>On Monday we published our White Paper; Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes, which sets out our proposals for strengthening the regulatory framework following a thorough review of the current system of pension protection.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/03/2018 14:02:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

963999

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	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: EU Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the framework for state pensions in respect of work carried out by non-UK EU citizens in the UK will remain in place after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	169469
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2018 answer text <p>There are no plans to change the conditions of entitlement to UK state pension, which is based on an individual’s national insurance record. The Government has previously reached an agreement with the EU on citizens’ rights in negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Subject to overall agreement and subject to reciprocity, the current structure of the EU social security co-ordination rules will continue to apply to EU and UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 10/09/2018 12:43:10 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

964001

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2018
	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
	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 developed proposals for the free movement of capital with in relation to pensions for (a) UK citizens that have accrued pensions in the European Union and (b) for non-UK EU citizens that have accrued pensions in the UK after the UK has left the EU; and will she make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	169471
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2018 answer text <p>UK pensions legislation already ensures that any member of a UK pension scheme has a statutory right to transfer their pension, which includes the option to transfer to any overseas pension scheme where that scheme meets certain requirements. Equally, UK pensions legislation does not prohibit a UK pension scheme from receiving capital from overseas pension schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The UK and EU have already agreed the terms of an implementation period lasting until the end of 2020. During this implementation period, access to one another’s markets will remain unchanged and on the current terms, ensuring continuity for consumers and businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Under any other scenario to the rights of members of UK pension schemes to transfer their pension, will not be affected. Whether they are a UK citizen or a non-UK EU citizen, they will continue to be able to transfer their pensions to overseas pension schemes. Equally, UK pension schemes will continue to be able to receive transfers from overseas pension schemes.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/09/2018 10:48:08 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire