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1175722

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: 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, what welfare support she plans to make available to UK citizens living in the EU who are no longer entitled to that support from EU member states after the transition period.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	11641
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>UK nationals living in an EEA state or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, EU rules on social security coordination will continue to apply to them for as long as they remain in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.</p><p> </p><p>UK nationals who are currently being paid a pension or benefit by an EEA state or Switzerland will need to check with the organisation that pays them to find out what they will need to do to continue receiving any benefits or pension after 31 December 2020. For example, they may be required to register their residence. Country specific guidance can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/overseas-living-in-guides#eu-and-other-countries-affected-by-brexit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/overseas-living-in-guides#eu-and-other-countries-affected-by-brexit</a></p><p> </p><p>The rules for UK nationals who are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and move to live in an EEA state or Switzerland from 1 January 2021 will depend on the outcome of negotiations with the EU and may change.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/02/2020 11:04:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1237625

	registered interest
	date	24/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Bath
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families with children have received the £20 per week uplift in universal credit standard allowance payments in Bath in each month since that uplift was introduced.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	95171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2020 answer text <p>The available information on the number of households with children with Universal Credit in payment, by parliamentary constituency, is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 95000 95186 95220 question first answered 28/09/2020 12:17:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1244291

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	How many Child Maintenance Service cases with pre-existing arrears have continued to accrue arrears since covid-19 lockdown restrictions were introduced in March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	907714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Whilst this information is not readily available, we can see from official statistics a gradual and steady increase in paying parent compliance (from March 15 at 56% to March 20 at 68%).</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/10/2020 16:40:51 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1345538

	registered interest
	date	09/07/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Disability
	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 plans to publish its National Strategy for Disabled People before the summer recess.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	30407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2021 answer text <p>The National Disability Strategy will be published in the coming months. The strategy will take into account the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on disabled people and will focus on the issues that disabled people say affect them the most in all aspects of life, including employment, transport, housing and education.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/07/2021 13:24:08 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1380226

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2021
	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	Employment Schemes: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the £156 million committed in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 to provide job finding support for disabled people, what services that funding will support, in addition to the work coaches referenced in part 4.99 of that document.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	78481
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to seeing one million more disabled people in work between 2017 and 2027 and reducing the disability employment gap. The disability employment gap</p><p>has closed by around 5 percentage points since 2013 (the earliest comparable date, when the current way of measuring disability began) and in the last four years, the number of disabled people in employment has increased by 850,000. This is good progress, however, we know we need to go further to help more disabled people and people with health conditions start, stay and succeed in work, where it is right for them.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed in both the recent Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper and the National Disability Strategy, to continue to improve employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions to help support more people to move towards and into work. We are reviewing Green Paper responses now and will come forward with a White Paper next year.</p><p> </p><p>The Spending Review committed £339 million per year for the continued funding of existing disability employment programmes such as the Access to Work scheme and the Work and Health programme.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, £156 million has been agreed over the Spending Review 2021 period to provide job finding support for disabled people, with a focus on additional work coaches. We are continuing to develop detailed plans for a range of disability employment support to best support disabled people towards and into work across the Spending Review period.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 78482 question first answered 30/11/2021 17:33:11 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1380227

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2021
	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	Employment Schemes: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to (a) the disability employment gap remaining at 28.7 percentage points and (b) the Leonard Cheshire research finding that 69 per cent of disabled people have had their work impacted by covid-19, whether he has made a recent assessment of the need for additional funding to support disabled people entering and remaining in work.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	78482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to seeing one million more disabled people in work between 2017 and 2027 and reducing the disability employment gap. The disability employment gap</p><p>has closed by around 5 percentage points since 2013 (the earliest comparable date, when the current way of measuring disability began) and in the last four years, the number of disabled people in employment has increased by 850,000. This is good progress, however, we know we need to go further to help more disabled people and people with health conditions start, stay and succeed in work, where it is right for them.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed in both the recent Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper and the National Disability Strategy, to continue to improve employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions to help support more people to move towards and into work. We are reviewing Green Paper responses now and will come forward with a White Paper next year.</p><p> </p><p>The Spending Review committed £339 million per year for the continued funding of existing disability employment programmes such as the Access to Work scheme and the Work and Health programme.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, £156 million has been agreed over the Spending Review 2021 period to provide job finding support for disabled people, with a focus on additional work coaches. We are continuing to develop detailed plans for a range of disability employment support to best support disabled people towards and into work across the Spending Review period.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 78481 question first answered 30/11/2021 17:33:11 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1417314

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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	Pregnancy: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pregnant women who are suspended on full pay by their employer under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 each year.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	113227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2022 answer text <p>The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 do not require the collection of this information. The Health and Safety Executive cannot provide an estimate of the number of workers who are suspended on full pay by their employer.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 04/02/2022 10:53:00 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1417315

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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	Health and Safety: Pregnancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 98936 on Industrial Health & Safety: Mothers, what the timetable is for the Health and Safety Executive amending its guidance on Protecting New and Expectant Mothers at Work to explicitly state that an employer must undertake an individual risk assessment where a woman has notified her employer that she is pregnant, has given birth or is breastfeeding.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	113228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2022 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive is currently working with stakeholders and interested parties to update this guidance and will publish this as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 04/02/2022 11:03:29 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1417316

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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	Pregnancy: Employment
	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 undertake a communication campaign to raise awareness amongst employers of their legal obligation to undertake an individual risk assessment where a woman has notified her employer that she is pregnant, has given birth or is breastfeeding.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	113229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2022 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive is in the process of amending its guidance and will work with stakeholders and interested parties to communicate and promote the amended guidance to support employers in carrying out individual risk assessments.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 04/02/2022 11:09:58 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1417317

	registered interest
	date	27/01/2022
	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	Health and Safety: Pregnancy
	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 require the Health and Safety Executive to report annually on the number of (a) requests for advice from (i) workers and (ii) employers on health and safety for new and expectant mothers and (b) cases in which enforcement action was taken and the type of enforcement action carried out.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	113230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2022 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive does not routinely publish figures of the number or breakdown of requests for advice received and does not intend to do so. Details of all enforcement action are available on HSE’s website.</p><p> </p><p>However, over the last five financial years and current year to date, the number of concerns reported to HSE related to the terms ‘pregnant’, ‘pregnancy’ and ‘new mother’ are:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Pregnancy/New mother Related</p></td><td><p>Total Concerns Received</p></td><td><p>% of total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>16/17</p></td><td><p>167</p></td><td><p>22,497</p></td><td><p>0.74%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>17/18</p></td><td><p>156</p></td><td><p>26,507</p></td><td><p>0.59%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>18/19</p></td><td><p>146</p></td><td><p>29,476</p></td><td><p>0.50%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>19/20</p></td><td><p>173</p></td><td><p>32,490</p></td><td><p>0.53%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>20/21</p></td><td><p>282</p></td><td><p>46,103</p></td><td><p>0.61%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>21/YTD</p></td><td><p>104</p></td><td><p>19,904</p></td><td><p>0.52%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>There has been no enforcement action taken over this period related to the same terms.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 04/02/2022 11:07:21 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1420505

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2022
	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	Maternity Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of changes since 2010 in the relative value of the standard weekly rate of Maternity Allowance compared to (a) the adult rate of the National Living Wage and (b) women's median weekly earnings.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	119738
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/02/2022 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Maternity Allowance (MA) is not intended to replace a woman's earnings completely. Instead, it provides a measure of financial security to help pregnant working women take time off work for a reasonable period around the expected date of birth, to protect their own health and wellbeing and that of their baby. MA is a benefit paid by the State, which is treated as unearned income.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/02/2022 14:57:55 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1440208

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2022
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has for the role of Advanced Customer Support Senior Leaders in the future.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	138334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2022 answer text <p>During 2021 we continually assessed the effectiveness of the Advanced Customer Support Senior Leader (ACSSL) role. It has been demonstrated that ACSSLs are effective in supporting existing DWP Service Lines to assist customers most at risk of harm.</p><p> </p><p>Following this work, ACSSLs’ future focus will include their coaching and facilitator role, their work with external agencies, and strengthening the learning they return to the business in real time.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/03/2022 16:38:10 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1453393

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2022
	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	Bereavement Benefits: Parents
	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 introduce a bereavement support payment for parents who were full-time carers of a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition following the child's death.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	144993
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to introduce a Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) for parents who were full-time carer’s of a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.</p><p> </p><p>BSP is payable to working-age people following the death of a spouse or civil partner. BSP is a contributory benefit, based on the late spouse or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions.</p><p> </p><p>For support with funeral costs, the Children’s Funeral Fund ensures that bereaved parents do not have to meet the costs of a burial or cremation for their child. Where the bereaved parent is also on qualifying benefit, they may also receive support through the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme to help towards the cost of a funeral.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/03/2022 13:27:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1453557

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2022
	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	Maternity Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 23 February 2022 to Question 125365 and 8 March 2022 to Question 134067 on Maternity Allowance, and with reference to the data on Statutory Maternity Pay starts provided by HMRC in Freedom of Information Act responses dated 5 June 2019 (FOI2019/01113) and 24 September 2021 (FOI2021/20932), what assessment she has made of the reasons for the absence of any decline in the number of Statutory Maternity Pay starts over the period in which the number of grants of Maternity Allowance to employed women has fallen by 45 per cent.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	145959
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>Statutory Maternity Pay is delivered through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold the raw data on Statutory Maternity Payment starts.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/03/2022 13:35:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1455091

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2022
	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 she plans to (a) disregard property in Ukraine from any capital calculations for Ukrainian refugees applying for universal credit and (b) provide further exemptions from any capital calculations for Ukrainian refugees applying for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	148320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2022 answer text <p>The emergency regulations laid on Monday 21 March 2022 ensure Ukrainian evacuees can access Universal Credit and jobs support immediately. Each claim for benefit will be assessed individually and as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>Available capital in the form of savings and investments will be taken into account in the normal way. Legislation already provides for capital assets held overseas only to be taken into account on the basis of their market value: clearly assets such as property owned in Ukraine have no market value at the current time.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 05/04/2022 16:52:38 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1488777

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2022
	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	Maternity Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing statutory maternity pay in line with (a) inflation and (b) the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	36052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>The standard rate of statutory maternity pay (SMP) is reviewed annually, alongside state benefits, and is generally increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). From April 2022 the standard rate of SMP increased to £156.66, in line with the September 2021 CPI rate of 3.1%.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/07/2022 13:44:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1488779

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2022
	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	Maternity Pay: Self-employed
	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 plans to increase the level of maternity pay for self-employed mothers.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	36053
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>Maternity Allowance, which is payable to eligible self-employed women, is reviewed annually, alongside other state benefits, and is generally increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). From April 2022 the standard rate of Maternity Allowance increased to £156.66, in line with the September 2021 CPI rate of 3.1%. The Government has no plans to increase the standard rate of Maternity Allowance outside of annual uprating.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/07/2022 13:46:41 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519031

	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	Universal Credit: Employment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government's Growth Plan 2022, published in September 2022, if she will make an estimate of the number of people on Universal Credit who will be placed in the Intensive Work Search regime following the increase in the Administration Earnings Threshold announced in that plan by (a) constituency, (b) region and (c) nation.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	59194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>DWP forecasts that approximately 120,000 claimants will be affected by increase in the Administrative Earnings Threshold planned from January 2023. The information is not held in the format requested. The forecasts indicate that there is not a significant geographical variation in the number of claimants that will move into the Intensive Work Search Regime as a result of the planned changes.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/10/2022 15:49:27 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519266

	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	Local Housing Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the calculation of Local Housing Allowance rates applicable in financial year 2022-23.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	59968
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.<em> </em>For Great Britain in May 2022, 55% of the households on LHA had rents higher than the LHA rates. For these households the average gap was £146 per month.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2020 LHA rates were increased to the 30th percentile of local rents. This significant investment of nearly £1 billion provided 1.5 million claimants with an average £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received.</p><p> </p><p>LHA rates have been maintained at their increased levels since then, so that everyone who benefitted from the increase will continue to do so.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support with housing costs, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided almost over £1.5 billion in DHPs.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 18/10/2022 13:24:00 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1541912

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2022
	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	Maternity Allowance: Data Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the note on his Department's website, dated 17 October 2022, on the loss of Maternity Allowance statistics for May 2022, for what reason this data was lost; and whether his Department (a) has received and (b) expects to receive financial compensation for the data loss.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	86556
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>The 5% Maternity Allowance data scan for May 2022 has not been produced following an administrative error by data suppliers in the scheduling of the run of the data. The scan containing MA data was run a month ahead of schedule and therefore reflected an incomplete count.</p><p>Since discovery, suppliers have implemented safeguards to prevent a reoccurrence.</p><p>Data for the next data point, August 2022, were created successfully using the new safeguards and will be released at 9:30 on 14 February 2023.</p><p>Provision of this data is core funded with an internal Service Level Agreement with no financial compensation in the agreement. Therefore, no compensation is expected.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/11/2022 15:53:12 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1606350

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2023
	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	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, whether he plans to take steps to improve the application process for Personal Independence Payments.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	171508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process is kept under continual review to ensure it meets the needs of claimants and helps the department reach an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. Since PIP was introduced, we have introduced a range of accessibility improvements such as the Video Relay Service and Relay UK, improved the clarity of the PIP2 questionnaire to make it easier to complete, expanded the assessment methods to include video and telephone, and introduced recording by request for telephone and face-to-face appointments. Claimants are also kept informed and updated at each stage of the application process, including through our improved text message service.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, the Health Transformation Programme is transforming the entire PIP service which will reduce the time it will take to process a claim and create a vastly improved claimant experience and a more efficient service for the taxpayer. We will introduce an option to apply for PIP online, giving claimants a greater choice in how they interact with the DWP and the ability to save, resume and upload medical evidence. We are currently operating a small-scale test of the new online apply service, taking a small number of claims to begin with before we gradually and carefully increase the number of people using the service. This approach allows us to develop, test and evaluate the service, exploring and making improvements as we gradually increase its availability. We are also exploring options to re-use evidence we currently hold, removing the need for claimants to upload or re-submit it, and we are reviewing what evidence is relevant to a decision, to enable more accurate data gather and decision making.</p><p> </p><p>We published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15 March 2023 (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper</a>). The White Paper responds to feedback from The Health and Disability Green Paper consultation and sets out proposals to support more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work, as well as to improve the overall experience of, and trust in, the benefits system. We will continue to work with disabled people, people with health conditions and their representatives, to reach the important goals set out in the White Paper.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 28/03/2023 12:07:27 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1656531

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Refugees: Ukraine
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current guidance for Job Centre staff on assessing the education status of Ukrainian refugees.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	196355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has provided immediate access to Universal Credit, and jobs support, for those arriving in the UK from Ukraine because of the Russian invasion; individuals must still meet the eligibility criteria, in order to receive Universal Credit and other Social Security benefits.<strong><em>   </em></strong></p><p> </p><p>There are some exceptions where students may be eligible for Universal Credit such as where they are responsible for a child or are enrolled on a part time course and are seeking employment.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/09/2023 13:25:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1696454

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2024
	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: Rents
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that social housing tenants who receive Universal Credit are not financially affected by the 53-week rent year in the 2024-25 financial year.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	18923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>In the financial year 2024-25 social housing tenants will face 52 weekly rent payment days so Universal Credit will make provision for the exact amount of their liability.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. This may lead to a slight advantage to the claimant when converting weekly incomes and to a slight disadvantage when dealing with outgoings. The system is used because it is simple to operate and understand. The department has considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants and so there are no plans to change.</p><p> </p><p>The legitimacy of this calculation formula in Universal Credit was confirmed by the High Court in 2020 who found it to be neither irrational or discriminatory.</p><p> </p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/03/2024 12:10:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725661

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	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	Winter Fuel Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on those no longer eligible for that payment.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3026
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.</p><p></p><p>Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control.</p><p></p><p>Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over.</p><p> </p><p>We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock. Protecting the Triple Lock even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.</p><p> </p><p>The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.  An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 09/09/2024 15:02:39 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725662

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	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	Pension Credit: Take-up
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the take-up of pension credit.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the current Pension Credit Week of Action, we have joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.</p><p> </p><p>From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.</p><p> </p><p>Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p> </p><p>We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds grouped question UIN 3146 3894 question first answered 05/09/2024 15:37:40 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse