{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133846", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133846/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The latest statistics on the number of paying parents and the proportion of those parents using the Collect & Pay service, who have paid some child maintenance in each quarter in the last three years are published in Table 7 of the Child Maintenance Service Statistics: Paying Parents Compliance.<\/p>

It is available online at:<\/p>

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2018-experimental<\/a><\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T10:28:17.587Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Maintenance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of paying parents using the collect and pay service have paid some child maintenance in each quarter of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"} ], "uin" : "267757"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133877", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133877/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The number of Paying Parents who were paying child maintenance using a Deduction from Earnings request under the Child Maintenance Service in each quarter of the last three years are outlined in the tables below. These figures count all Paying Parents due to pay maintenance via Deduction from Earnings request, regardless of whether any maintenance had been paid in that quarter.<\/p>

<\/p>

Calendar Year 2018<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Quarter ending<\/p><\/td>

March 2018<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

June 2018<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

September 2018<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

December 2018<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Number of paying parents with a Deduction from earnings request<\/p><\/td>

480<\/p><\/td>

580<\/p><\/td>

590<\/p><\/td>

570<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Calendar Year 2017<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Quarter ending<\/p><\/td>

March 2017<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

June 2017<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

September 2017<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

December 2017<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Number of paying parents with a Deduction from earnings request<\/p><\/td>

290<\/p><\/td>

320<\/p><\/td>

330<\/p><\/td>

380<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Calendar Year 2016<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Quarter ending<\/p><\/td>

March 2016<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

June 2016<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

September 2016<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

December 2016<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Number of paying parents with a Deduction from earnings request<\/p><\/td>

210<\/p><\/td>

230<\/p><\/td>

250<\/p><\/td>

270<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>

Please note that figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T10:42:35.363Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Maintenance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents were paying child maintenance using a deduction from earnings request under the child maintenance service in each quarter of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"} ], "uin" : "267758"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133878", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133878/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The following table shows the number of Paying Parents who had outstanding unpaid child maintenance (which now needs to be collected through the Collect & Pay service) at the end of the relevant month.<\/p>

<\/p>

Month<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Paying Parents with CMS arrears<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Sep-17<\/p><\/td>

105,900<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Dec-17<\/p><\/td>

117,100<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Mar-18<\/p><\/td>

126,800<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Jun-18<\/p><\/td>

136,400<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Sep-18<\/p><\/td>

143,800<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Nov-18*<\/p><\/td>

148,200<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

Please note the following points:<\/p>

  • A Paying Parent may be paying towards multiple child maintenance arrangements;<\/li>
  • These figures do not consider unpaid child maintenance that was arranged by the Child Support Agency;<\/li>
  • Paying Parents with any amount of unpaid maintenance which was arranged by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) are considered as having arrears;<\/li>
  • Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.<\/li><\/ul>

    <\/p>

    Information prior to September 2017 is not readily available and to produce it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>

    *Information for December 2018 is not readily available; November 2018 figures have been used instead.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T15:48:29.133Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Maintenance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Maintenance Service cases were in payment arrears for each quarter of the last three years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4440", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marion Fellows"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Motherwell and Wishaw"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marion Fellows"} ], "uin" : "267759"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    With reference to the previous question regarding PIP mandatory reconsideration work; for new claims and award reviews, these are managed at a national level to ensure that cases which have been outstanding for longest are actioned first. This means that a claimant could have their mandatory reconsideration considered at any of our 12 sites.<\/p>

    Operational Managers are in place at all of the sites to ensure that mandatory reconsiderations are processed as efficiently as possible.<\/p>

    The staffing for mandatory reconsiderations in PIP and across all benefits is currently adequate and is in constant review to ensure caseloads can be processed as efficiently as possible.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T12:06:42.303Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: County Duram"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 265490, what steps her Department is taking to (a) assess staff efficiency and (b) identify the adequacy of staffing levels to manage changes in mandatory reconsideration caseloads in the absence of data on staff levels.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "267733"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133920", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133920/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    The Early Years Family Support Ministerial Group is considering how the Government can improve the coordination and cost-effectiveness of early years (conception to age 2) family support and identify gaps in available provision. The group has now made recommendations to Secretaries of State.<\/p>

    <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T10:14:35.097Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Early Years Ministerial Group On Family Support"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Group on early years family support have been agreed by her Department; and what further steps she has taken to improve early years family support.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4117", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrea Leadsom"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Northamptonshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrea Leadsom"} ], "uin" : "267744"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133566", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133566/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    The paying parent\u2019s gross income is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs for the latest tax year available. Using the paying parent\u2019s gross income allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately.<\/p>

    There are no plans to change the way the Child Maintenance Service calculates child maintenance liabilities.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T12:37:04.753Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Maintenance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the Government's decision to calculate child maintenance liabilities as a proportion of gross rather than net parental income; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4621", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Darren Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bristol North West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Darren Jones"} ], "uin" : "267247"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133583", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133583/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    Neither tenants or landlords lose a week\u2019s rent in a 53 weekly rent payment year as has been alleged; no year contains 53 weeks. The problem is alignment between weekly and monthly cycles. Each month the UC housing element is a constant figure but claimants with weekly tenancy agreements will be required to make either four or five rent payments within this period. If the claimant always pays their rent on time, in five payment months they are effectively making payment for part of the following month. That month will always be a four rent payment month, so the combination of the advance payment and the \u2018overpayment\u2019 of housing support during that month will get the claimant back on track.<\/p>

    Where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, they will seek 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53rd payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year. The effect of this is that, over the course of the next housing association rental year, a tenant\u2019s UC payments will accurately reflect their liability, irrespective of the 53 payment weeks.<\/p>

    There is a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day\u2019s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T12:28:22.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on universal credit claimants of the 53-week rent year in the 2019-20 financial year.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir George Howarth"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Knowsley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir George Howarth"} ], "uin" : "267199"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133632", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133632/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020.<\/p>

    The government and the BBC agreed this is a fair deal for the BBC - in return we closed the iPlayer loophole and committed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation. And to help with financial planning, we agreed to provide phased transitional funding over 2 years to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.<\/p>

    This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament.<\/p>

    On 10 June 2019, the BBC announced<\/a> that the current scheme will end. From 1 June 2020, a free TV licence will only be available to a household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit.<\/p>

    The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/td>

    Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    <\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    2017-18<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    (a) Kensington constituency<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    £0.69<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    (b) Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea local authority area<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    £1.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

    <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T12:44:04.567Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Older People"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) Kensington constituency and (b) Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4683", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Dent Coad"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kensington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Dent Coad"} ], "uin" : "267288"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133723", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133723/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    The Work and Health Decision Making Directorate makes decisions on benefit entitlement for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC) customers who have failed to attend Work Capability Assessments.<\/p>

    Whilst we would be able to ascertain the total number of ESA claims closed for failing to attend a Work Capability Assessment without good cause, this would incur disproportionate costs. Further, the information would not provide details of how many of those customers were vulnerable or how many received a home visit. To obtain the details requested would require scrutiny of thousands of individual claims. Therefore, the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.<\/p>

    In respect of Universal Credit claims, these are not closed as a result of the claimant failing to attend the Work Capability Assessment. Where a decision is made that the claimant failed to attend without good cause, the claimant\u2019s health journey is ended and their work conditions are changed accordingly. Information about the number of claims referred for a home visit during the decision making process is not collated. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T12:15:18.247Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disqualification"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many vulnerable claimants whose benefits claim was closed as a result of them not attending a Work Capability Assessment (a) received a home visit and (b) did not receive a home visit in 2018-19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "267198"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133351", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1133351/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020.<\/p>

    The government and the BBC agreed this is a fair deal for the BBC - in return we closed the iPlayer loophole and committed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation. And to help with financial planning, we agreed to provide phased transitional funding over 2 years to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.<\/p>

    This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament.<\/p>

    On 10 June 2019, the BBC announced<\/a> that the current scheme will end. From 1 June 2020, a free TV licence will only be available to a household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit.<\/p>

    The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.<\/p>

    <\/p><\/td>

    Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    <\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    2017-18<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    (a) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    £0.93<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    (b) Carmarthenshire local authority area<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    £2.29<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

    (c) Wales<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

    £34.11<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-26T16:32:48.387Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Television Licences: Older People"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency and (b) Carmarthenshire local authority area and (c) Wales in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3943", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jonathan Edwards"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Carmarthen East and Dinefwr"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jonathan Edwards"} ], "uin" : "266831"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-06-26&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&max-date=2019-06-21", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 15, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }