The Government\u2019s contract for the Post Office card account comes to an end on 30 November 2021. For those claimants and pensioners who are unable to open a mainstream account ahead of this date, the DWP will implement an alternative payment service that allows users to obtain cash payments in their local area (including suburban and rural locations) before the end of the contract. When commissioning this alternative payment service, it will be our priority to ensure that elderly vulnerable people are protected and catered for.<\/p>
<\/p>
Our communications with Post Office card account users will highlight that 99% of a banks\u2019 personal customers, are able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. Therefore, those receiving benefit and pension payments into a bank account can continue to collect their money from the Post Office so there should be minimal effect on elderly people in rural areas. We have already introduced a phased conversion process ahead of 2021 and we will be writing to all Post Office card account users to ensure they are provided with an alternative payment service.<\/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" : "2019-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-11T13:01:55.627Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Post Office Card Account: Rural Areas"} , "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 he has made of the potential effect on elderly people in rural areas of the planned discontinuation of the Post Office card system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"} ], "uin" : "215600"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964242", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/964242/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As part of our commitment to improve the Personal Independence Payment assessment process, we are progressing options to video record PIP face to face assessments across Great Britain. Following comprehensive work over the summer, we are designing a live testing pilot, due to begin in England later this year. The pilot will inform any full wider roll out decisions, which will be discussed with the Scottish Government.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4071", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Newton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Truro and Falmouth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Newton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-11T16:28:33.603Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: 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, whether her Department has plans to introduce the video recording of assessments for personal independence payments in Scotland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"} ], "uin" : "169674"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/908993", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/908993/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department has not made an assessment of the minimum monthly living expenses required for a single unemployed person in central Scotland.<\/p>
<\/p>
However, the Department publishes a range of measures of living standards in the Households Below Average (HBAI) publication. The latest estimates are to 2016/17<\/a> and 2017/18 results have been pre-announced<\/a> to be published in February / March 2019.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-05-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-05-29T13:56:12.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-21", "_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 estimate her Department has made of the minimum monthly living expenses required for a single unemployed person in central Scotland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"}
], "uin" : "146320"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860580", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860580/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Maintenance Service has wide ranging powers to enforce the collection of both ongoing child maintenance liability and also arrears. We recently consulted on a new Compliance and Arrears Strategy with the aim of increasing these powers. The Government\u2019s response to this consultation will be published in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "131938"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-16T16:33:21.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-12", "_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, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the outstanding money under the Child Maintenance Service's collect and pay system is swiftly collected.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"}
], "uin" : "131937"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860581", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860581/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Child Maintenance Service has wide ranging powers to enforce the collection of both ongoing child maintenance liability and also arrears. We recently consulted on a new Compliance and Arrears Strategy with the aim of increasing these powers. The Government\u2019s response to this consultation will be published in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "131937"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-16T16:33:21.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-12", "_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, what steps her Department is taking to prevent parents from accruing arrears under the Child Maintenance Service's collect and pay system.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"}
], "uin" : "131938"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/851507", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/851507/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As set out in the recent Command Paper, Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability<\/em>, we want to work in partnership with employers to help them draw fully on the talents of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and build workplaces that promote the health and wellbeing of their workforce. In turn, this can help businesses prosper and grow by attracting and retaining valuable skilled employees and increasing the productivity of the workforce. We are taking a number of steps to do this, including improving advice and support for employers and exploring how to achieve the right balance of incentives and expectations.<\/p> <\/p> Thriving at Work<\/em>: The Stevenson/Farmer Review of mental health and employers sets out a compelling business case for employer action to support staff\u2019s mental health and wellbeing and offers support and advice for businesses. This includes a recommended set of mental health core standards for all employers to adopt, which we will support and encourage employers to take up.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4071", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Newton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Truro and Falmouth"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Newton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-07T11:21:09.61Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-02-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Health"}
, "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 her Department plans to take steps to encourage companies to improve the health and well-being of their employees.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4604", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Kerr"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stirling"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Kerr"}
], "uin" : "130270"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/851525", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/851525/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " When measuring the effectiveness of collect and pay cases we collect data on rate of compliance. These figures are published quarterly in table 6 of the Child Maintenance Service experimental statistics data tables, which can be found here:<\/p> <\/p>