I have met senior representatives from the company to present the pensioners\u2019 arguments and make clear my interest in the matter.<\/p>
<\/p>
However, the company is meeting its legal obligations.<\/p>
<\/p>
Any increases to pensions in payment are likely to mean significant additional expenditure for any scheme and its sponsoring employer. Therefore, the Government has no plans to require all schemes to pay increases on pre-1997 pensions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-23T15:45:31.427Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Workplace Pensions"} , "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 progress his Department has made on behalf of DEC, Compaq and Hewlett Packard pensioners with pre-1997 pension contributions in resolving their case.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Corri Wilson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Corri Wilson"} ], "uin" : "68483"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712529", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712529/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department has spent £33,255.39 on legal fees in all stages of legal proceedings related to Pandemrix. This figure represents the costs of external Counsel and services provided by the Government Legal Department\u2019s Litigation team. In addition, the Department has received support from the Government Legal Department\u2019s Advisory team but this was provided as part of a broader fee arrangement and it is therefore not possible to separately identify the fee element relating to any particular case or group of cases.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-23T16:37:08.743Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Swine Flu: Vaccination"} , "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 much his Department spent on legal fees in all stages of legal proceedings related to Pandemrix.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4588", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tracy Brabin"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Batley and Spen"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tracy Brabin"} ], "uin" : "68578"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712135", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712135/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Statistics on Personal Independence Payment Mandatory Reconsiderations can be found in published statistics in data tables 7A and 7B of:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics<\/a><\/p> These statistics relate to normal rules claims (i.e. excluding special rules cases for the terminally ill), and are for both new claims and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reassessment claims.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-24T14:34:25.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: Appeals"}
, "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 personal independence payment assessment decisions have been overturned at mandatory reconsideration stage since 1 January 2017.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1383", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Tami"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Alyn and Deeside"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Tami"}
], "uin" : "68374"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712137", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712137/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The system of assessing claimants\u2019 eligibility for Personal Independent Payment (PIP) has been continually reviewed and refined in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. We continue to work extensively with PIP assessment providers and disability representatives to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure a quality service is maintained.<\/p> <\/p> Furthermore, as part of on-going review and improvement of PIP, we are continuing to make efforts to ensure that all decisions, whether made initially or at Mandatory Reconsideration, are the best informed decisions. For example, the department is running a series of tests which explores the different ways we can improve evidence gathering and the quality of our decision making.<\/p> <\/p> However, it is important that claimants can appeal their award decision if they are unhappy with it. Moreover, a request for an appeal does not mean that the decisions taken initially and as part of Mandatory Reconsideration were inaccurate. Claimants often provide new, relevant evidence at the tribunal stage.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-24T14:40:42.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: Appeals"}
, "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 he is taking to improve the ratio of personal independence payment cases that reach the appeal stage due to inaccurate assessments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1383", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Tami"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Alyn and Deeside"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Tami"}
], "uin" : "68371"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712138", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712138/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " a) Average Actual Clearance Times (AACT) figures for Sure Start Maternity Grants (SSMGs) are published in Section 4.11 of the Annual Report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/552482/social-fund-annual-report-2015-2016.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> These figures show the time from receipt of application to the payment being released. In 2015-16, this was 3.54 days. It then takes 3 working days to arrive in the claimant\u2019s bank account.<\/p> <\/p> Before a person can qualify for SSMG they have to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. In order for the qualifying benefit to be paid, the claimant would need to have passed the Habitual Residence test for that qualifying benefit. Therefore all claimants in receipt of SSMG are habitually resident.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> b) The Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) for Maternity Allowance (MA) for 2015/16 was 9.76 days. This shows the average time between receipt of the MA1 claim form and the decision to entitlement. The time taken to payment will depend on the circumstances of each case. The mother can apply for MA once she is 26 weeks pregnant. Payment can start any time between 11 weeks before the baby is due and the day after the baby is born, and is made when the mother leaves work.<\/p> <\/p> c) Women wishing to claim Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) do so directly to their employer and are paid SMP as part of their pay. DWP does not deal with these cases, and holds no information on timescales for payment.<\/p> <\/p> Habitual residence is not a qualifying condition for SMP or MA, entitlement to which is based on employment, earnings and National Insurance Contributions.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-22T16:12:27.727Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Maternity benefits"}
, "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 days on average it takes between receipt of an application by his Department from an applicant habitually resident in the UK and the date of first payment of (a) maternity grant, (b) maternity allowance and (c) maternity pay.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1468", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rob Marris"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wolverhampton South West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rob Marris"}
], "uin" : "68414"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712139", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712139/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The latest available data on personal independence payment (PIP) including clearances split by clearance type indicator and Re-assessment indicator, can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/<\/a><\/p> <\/p>