House of Commons 29 false Department for Work and Pensions To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the additional cost to small businesses of abolishing the percentage threshold scheme for recovering statutory sick pay. Toby Perkins 192168 Work and Pensions 1 Chesterfield Work and Pensions 2014-03-13 2014-03-20T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-20 Biography information for Sir Mike Penning <p /> <p /> <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has published an impact assessment outlining the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme (PTS) and introduction of the new provision of health assessments and occupational health advice available at the following link: </p><p>&lt;<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111108468/impacts" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111108468/impacts</a>&gt;</p> Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on alternative models of compensating small businesses for sickness absence after the abolition of the percentage threshold scheme for recovering statutory sick pay. Department for Work and Pensions 192167 Toby Perkins 2014-03-20T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-20 <p /> <p /> <p>The Government believes that reinvesting savings from the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme to establish the Health and Work Service is the most effective means of targeting public funds to tackle sickness absence. The Health and Work Service will reduce the length of sickness absence and offers a more proactive approach to sickness absence management. Small businesses are least likely to have access to occupational health services, and will benefit from having access to occupational health assessments and advice through the Health and Work Service.</p><p> </p><p>We have considered an alternative approach along the lines of restricting access to a reimbursement scheme to employers with fewer than five employees. However, this was discounted because it resulted in additional burdens on employers and additional Statutory Sick Pay reimbursement costs for the state<em>.</em></p> 29 2014-03-13 false Work and Pensions 1 Chesterfield Work and Pensions 29 192158 To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the ability of small businesses to manage sickness absence of abolishing the Percentage Threshold Scheme for recovering statutory sick pay. 1 Work and Pensions Department for Work and Pensions 2014-03-13 Chesterfield Work and Pensions 2014-03-20T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-20 <p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p>The SSP Percentage Threshold Scheme compensates employers with high levels of sickness absence but an independent review of sickness absence[1] found it does nothing to tackle the causes of absence. As a result, the Government accepted a recommendation in the Review to abolish the Percentage Threshold Scheme. The Government also accepted a recommendation to establish a Service (now known as the Health and Work Service) to offer specialist occupational health assessment and advice to employers, employees and GPs. The Service is designed to reduce the costs of sickness absence for employers by addressing the obstacles preventing a return to work, and supporting employees back to work as quickly as appropriate. It will be funded from the savings made from the abolition of the PTS and will provide a more proactive way to manage sickness absence. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Small businesses are least likely to have access to occupational health services, and will benefit from having access to occupational health assessments and advice through the HWS.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><br /><p>[1] Black, C. and Frost, D (2011) <em>Health at work - and independent review of sickness absence.</em></p><p> </p> false Toby Perkins Toby Perkins Chesterfield To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the ability of older and disabled workers to find work as a result of the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme for recovering statutory sick pay. Work and Pensions 1 false 29 192157 2014-03-13 Department for Work and Pensions Work and Pensions 2014-03-20T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-20 <p>The Statutory Sick Pay Percentage Threshold Scheme is not linked to finding work, rather it compensates employers with high levels of sickness absence. An independent review of sickness absence[1] found that this scheme does nothing to tackle the causes of absence. As a result, the Government accepted a recommendation in the review to abolish the Percentage Threshold Scheme. The Government also accepted a recommendation to establish a Service (now known as the Health and Work Service) to offer specialist occupational health assessment and advice to employers, employees and GPs. The Service is designed to reduce the costs of sickness absence for employers by addressing the issues preventing a return to work, and supporting employees back to work as quickly as appropriate. </p><p> </p><p>We consider that the creation of the Health and Work Service, funded by the abolition of the Percentage Threshold Scheme, will enable sickness absence to be better managed and improve the employment prospects of all employees, including older and disabled workers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>[1] Black, C. and Frost, D (2011) Health at work - and independent review of sickness absen</p><br /> <p /> Biography information for Chris Ruane 29 1 2014-03-24T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-24 <p /> <p /> <p>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) initial claims and Incapacity Benefit (IB) reassessment claims, by outcomes of work capability assessments by regions in Great Britain are published. The numbers and the proportion of fit for work decisions can be found in table 1a and table 11 at: </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274091/esa_wca_140122.xls" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274091/esa_wca_140122.xls</a></p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1. There is a reporting lag of approximately 8-months at the issuing date of this statistical output owing to the time needed to process data and time allowed to enable each cohort's assessment phase to elapse.</p><p>2. Caseload figures rounded to nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to the rounding method use. Proportions are rounded to the nearest whole number.</p><p>3. Figures include those cases where the functional assessment has not been completed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm</a></p> Department for Work and Pensions To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2014, Official Report, column 280W, on the work capability assessment, how many and what proportion of those who have undertaken a work capability test in each nation and region of the UK have been declared fit for work. 2014-03-17 Work and Pensions Work and Pensions 192323 Vale of Clwyd Chris Ruane false 192455 Department for Work and Pensions Lucy Powell 2014-03-17 Work and Pensions Biography information for Lucy Powell 1 Manchester Central Work and Pensions false To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in (i) 2010, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. 29 2014-03-24T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-24 <p /> <p /> <p>There were 7 workplace nurseries operated by third parties, including some provision for subsidised places, on DWP premises on 5 May 2010; all of which were still in operation on 5 February 2014. </p><p> </p><p>DWP does not directly operate any workplace nurseries. The department is reviewing the position of all on site nursery provision, and until the review is complete, it cannot confirm whether any nursery will close.</p><p> </p><p>No information is held on executive agencies and non-departmental bodies. There would be a disproportionate cost to source that information</p> false 29 192085 2014-03-24T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-24 <p /> <p>To provide the requested information would incur disproportionate cost</p> To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 638W, on the work capability assessment, if he will make it his policy to collect such information in future. Vale of Clwyd 2014-03-17 Work and Pensions 1 Department for Work and Pensions Work and Pensions Chris Ruane To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken from an application for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision to a decision being made on the case was in each month since October 2013. 192738 false 2014-03-18 Alison McGovern 29 1 Work and Pensions Wirral South 2014-03-24T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-24 <p>Mandatory reconsideration was introduced for Employment and Support Allowance for decisions notified from 28 October 2013. The Department is collecting information to understand how it is operating from the point of its introduction, including the time taken from an application for reconsideration of an ESA decision to a decision being made on the case. </p><p> </p><p>At present, this data is not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available. </p> 192886 192887 Biography information for Alison McGovern Work and Pensions Department for Work and Pensions 192577 Work and Pensions 1 Work and Pensions Ogmore Biography information for Huw Irranca-Davies To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of work capability assessments appeals that were found in favour of the claimant heard by January 2014, were awarded zero points at the initial decision; and what proportion of such decisions were awarded to (a) the WRAG and (b) the Support Group. Huw Irranca-Davies 2014-03-25T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-25 <p /> <p /> <p>The information requested for all Work Capability Assessments is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> Department for Work and Pensions 29 2014-03-18 false Work and Pensions 192591 false Department for Work and Pensions Work and Pensions To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which organisations for deaf people his Department consulted before the Access to Work guidance on support workers was amended. 29 Biography information for Richard Fuller 1 Bedford 2014-03-18 Richard Fuller 2014-03-24T12:00:00.00Z Hemel Hempstead Mike Penning false 2014-03-24 <p>There have been no recent amendments to Access to Work guidance on support workers. </p> 533 0 1 10