{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&answeringDeptId=29", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&answeringDeptId=29", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&answeringDeptId=29&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&_page=0&answeringDeptId=29", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&answeringDeptId=29", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-answer.dateOfAnswer=2014-12-11&answeringDeptId=29", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1734166", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1734166/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Statutory Maternity Pay is delivered through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Figures provided by HMRC on the number of new claims for Statutory Maternity Pay in Scotland in each financial year from 2019/20 to 2023/24 are shown in Table 1.<\/p>

<\/p>

Table 1. The number of Statutory Maternity Pay spells starting in Scotland in financial year<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Year<\/p><\/td>

Number of Statutory Maternity Pay spells in Scotland starting in each financial year<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2019 - March 2020<\/p><\/td>

27,600<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2020 - March 2021<\/p><\/td>

25,700<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2021 - March 2022<\/p><\/td>

27,500<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2022 - March 2023<\/p><\/td>

24,900<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2023 - March 2024<\/p><\/td>

24,900<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Statistics on the number of Maternity Allowance spells starting in each quarter in Scotland from February 2010 to November 2023 are published and can be found at Maternity Allowance: quarterly statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>. The latest release covers September \u2013 November 2023 and data from March 2019 \u2013 November 2023 are shown in Table 2. These figures are based on a 5% sample of Maternity Allowance Claims and should be treated with caution. This is because a recent review determined that the available sample used to estimate the Maternity Allowance statistics at a regional level was too small to provide a sufficient level of confidence.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Table 2. The number of Maternity Allowance spells starting in Scotland in each quarter<\/strong><\/p>

<\/p>

Quarter<\/p><\/td>

Number of Maternity Allowance spells in Scotland starting in each quarter<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September - November 2023<\/p><\/td>

840<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June - August 2023<\/p><\/td>

880<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March - May 2023<\/p><\/td>

920<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2022- February 2023<\/p><\/td>

1,020<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September - November 2022<\/p><\/td>

880<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June - August 2022<\/p><\/td>

740<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March - May 2022<\/p><\/td>

NA<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2021- February 2022<\/p><\/td>

700<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September - November 2021<\/p><\/td>

1,000<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June - August 2021<\/p><\/td>

600<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March - May 2021<\/p><\/td>

760<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2020- February 2021<\/p><\/td>

780<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September - November 2020<\/p><\/td>

660<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June - August 2020<\/p><\/td>

840<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March - May 2020<\/p><\/td>

1,000<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2019- February 2020<\/p><\/td>

1,140<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September - November 2019<\/p><\/td>

920<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June - August 2019<\/p><\/td>

880<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March - May 2019<\/p><\/td>

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

Notes<\/p>

  1. Figures for Statutory Maternity Pay are rounded to the nearest hundred and figures for Maternity Allowance are rounded to the nearest ten.<\/li>
  2. Figures for Statutory Maternity Allowance were collected using HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) and were extracted in August 2024. RTI is subject to revision or updates. The location of the claim is based on the taxpayers\u2019 residential address as recorded on RTI.<\/li>
  3. It is not possible to identify when an employee has started a second claim for Statutory Maternity pay within twelve months from the data so these figures may exclude a small number of claims where someone has given birth twice within a twelve month period.<\/li>
  4. Figures for Maternity Allowance should be treated with caution because they are based on a sample of Maternity Allowance claims that has since been found to be too small to provide a sufficient level of confidence. They also exclude a small proportion of clerical cases.<\/li>
  5. Maternity Allowance statistics for March - May 2022 were not published as planned due to a data production error so no figures are provided for this time period.<\/li><\/ol>

    <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4979", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Western"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stretford and Urmston"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Western"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-17T15:11:59.797Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Maternity Allowance and Maternity Pay: Scotland"} , "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 women claimed statutory (a) maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance in Scotland in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5240", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Melanie Ward"} ], "uin" : "9112"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733611", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733611/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    This government is committed to tackling poverty and reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty so this will be the foundation of our approach. The Get Britain Working White Paper, to be set out in the Autumn, will develop measures to reduce inactivity and help people to find better paid and more secure jobs. Alongside this, we have committed to reviewing Universal Credit by listening to the full range of views on potential changes, so that our social security system is fit for purpose.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government\u2019s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce, which includes the Department for Health and Social Care, has started urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025 and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    We will also take initial steps to tackle poverty by introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, so children don\u2019t go hungry, protecting renters from arbitrary eviction and banning exploitative zero hours contracts.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    For those most in need, we have extended the Household Support Fund for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual. As has been done for previous schemes, the Fund is available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the cost of essentials. The Fund can be used to provide support with food, energy, water and wider essentials.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4083", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison McGovern"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alison McGovern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-16T16:03:35.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food Poverty"} , "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 steps she is taking to help tackle food insecurity; and if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential impact of these steps on (a) physical and (b) mental health.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "8651"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733620", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733620/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    There are no plans to review the policy on up-rating the UK State Pensions Overseas.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    The policy on the uprating of UK State Pensions paid overseas is a longstanding one.<\/p>

    <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4077", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Reynolds"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wycombe"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Emma Reynolds"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-16T11:25:06.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad"} , "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, if she will review the Government's policy on uprating the State Pension for people living overseas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4827", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Claire Hanna"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Belfast South and Mid Down"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Claire Hanna"} ], "uin" : "8684"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733235", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733235/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    The Universal Support funding has supported the expansion of Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care and additional support through Work and Health Programme Pioneer.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    For Work and Health Programme Pioneer, between September 2023 and May 2024, the Official Statistics publication Work and Health Programme statistics to May 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a> shows that 17,000 individuals were referred with 11,000 starting on the programme. By May 2024, so far 1,700 people had achieved first earnings from employment and 290 people had achieved a sustained work job outcome.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Data on Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care will be published in due course.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    We will shortly announce further details about a new supported employment programme, which, using the funding originally intended for the main Universal Support programme, will be co-designed with local authorities. Once fully rolled out across England and Wales, the programme will support up to 100,000 disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to employment to help them get into and on in work per year. As local areas understand local needs best, they will be able to make choices about which eligible groups to prioritise for support.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4083", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison McGovern"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alison McGovern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-15T14:28:11.55Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal 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, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Support programme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that funding is targeted towards the areas of highest deprivation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5066", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Torbay"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Steve Darling"} ], "uin" : "8516"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733249", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733249/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    It is not possible to obtain estimates of trends in the levels of long-term youth unemployment in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency and Scotland because the sample sizes from survey data are too small to provide robust findings for these geographical areas.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Currently we have a national Youth Offer which is available in Jobcentres across Scotland. Through the Youth Offer we provide labour market support to young people aged 16-24 claiming Universal Credit through a range of tailored interventions to help reduce the barriers young people may face, bringing them closer to work or education.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Jobcentre Plus School Advisers target support to young people that schools have identified as being at greatest risk of not being in work or education, or who may be disadvantaged in the labour market.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    We understand Scotland have a Youth Guarantee that supports young people access employment, training and education opportunities. Under our plan to get Britain Working, we are in the process of introducing a similar concept through a new Youth Guarantee in England that will ensure all young people aged 18-21 can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Such ambitious plans require input and expertise from a wide range of stakeholders, and we are working closely with the Devolved Governments to share insights into what is currently working across Britain. We will set out further detail in the upcoming \u2018Get Britain Working\u2019 White Paper.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    <\/p>

    <\/p>

    <\/p>

    <\/p>

    <\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4083", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison McGovern"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alison McGovern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-15T14:42:40.49Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Unemployment: Scotland"} , "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 her Department has made of trends in the level of long-term youth unemployment in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency and (b) Scotland; and what steps she is taking to help tackle long-term youth unemployment in those areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5093", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Paisley and Renfrewshire North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alison Taylor"} ], "uin" : "8522"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733250", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733250/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    Statistics on the number of Children living in absolute and relative poverty per constituency are published annually in the \u201cChildren in low income families: local area statistics\u201d publication and can be found in tabs \u201c5_Relative_ParlC\u201d and \u201c6_Absolute_ParlC\u201d. These are only produced on a before housing cost basis. A link to these statistics can be found here: Children in low-income families: local area statistics 2014 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk<\/a>).<\/p>

    <\/p>

    Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government\u2019s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    The Child Poverty Taskforce has started work and will explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. The Child Poverty Strategy will be published in the Spring and is UK-wide.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    In September, the Taskforce heard from local leaders about the challenges faced in their communities, and how it can best work with Mayors, local authorities and other bodies to develop innovative solutions to tackle child poverty. This marked the first of a series of thematic sessions with key organisations, charities and experts on specific topics that will help to shape the strategy.<\/p>

    <\/p>

    The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to roll out free breakfast clubs at all primary schools, create 3,000 additional nurseries, as well as deliver our plan to make work pay to turn the minimum wage into a real living wage.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4083", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison McGovern"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alison McGovern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-15T14:32:58.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Poverty: Children"} , "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 her Department has made of trends in the level of child poverty in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency; and what steps she is taking to help reduce child poverty in that constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5145", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Ayrshire and Arran"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Irene Campbell"} ], "uin" : "8555"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

    An award of Pension Credit can include certain housing costs where the dwelling occupied as the home is not owned by the claimant and if these costs cannot be covered by Housing Benefit. Examples of housing costs covered by Pension Credit include:<\/p>

    <\/p>