As my right hon. Friend has addressed his question to the Minister for Women and Equalities, I assume his interest in identity politics relates to Equality legislation which defines different groups of people by reference to their protected characteristics. That being the case, I understand his concern and we need to ensure that equality for everyone on the basis of protected characteristics does not result in micro-divisions in society created by identity politics.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-15T16:14:32.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Politics and Government"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect of identity politics on (a) political discourse and (b) the effectiveness of political processes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/350", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir John Hayes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Holland and The Deepings"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir John Hayes"} ], "uin" : "240956"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1105486", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1105486/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
100% of contributions to employer pension schemes, whether Net or Relief at Source pensions, will be taken into account when calculating the level of employed earnings in UC. This means that a UC claimant that contributes to either type of pension will, automatically (where employers report the information correctly), have their UC entitlement calculated on their taxable pay, after their pension contribution. This ensures fairness for all affected UC employed claimants.<\/p>
<\/p>
If there is some discrepancy in the way in which it\u2019s reported, DWP will manually ensure that the Relief at Source pension contribution is deducted before any UC entitlement is calculated on their employed earnings.<\/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" : "2019-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-17T15:25:05.92Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-27", "_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, whether universal credit claimants are able to deduct the tax relief claimed by relief at source pension schemes from their earned income figure to calculate their award of universal credit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"} ], "uin" : "237575"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083635", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1083635/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
If a claimant meets the conditions for an advance we aim to make the payment within 72 hours. However, an advance can be paid on the same day the claimant applies if they or their household would suffer genuine hardship if they had to wait 72 hours for the payment.<\/p>
Applications for a Universal Credit advance payment can be made in person, by telephone or online depending on the claimant\u2019s circumstances. Depending on the type of advance payment application, we will consider whether the claimant satisfies the eligibility conditions for receiving the advance. If the claimant is eligible we will agree the amount of the advance and the period over which the advance will be recovered from their future Universal Credit payments. The outcome of the application is explained to the claimant and their online journal updated.<\/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" : "2019-05-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-22T13:37:44.937Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-07", "_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 the process is for her Department when it considers an application for an advance payment for universal credit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1397", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hywel Williams"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arfon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hywel Williams"} ], "uin" : "229666"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1064763", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1064763/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Internal figures are provided in the table below from two DWP datasets.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. The aim of the deductions policy in Universal Credit is to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their gas, electricity and water cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services.<\/p>
<\/p>
The increase in Universal Credit caseload and activity to increase awareness of advances has had an effect on deductions. Increased awareness has resulted in around 60% of eligible new claims to Universal Credit receiving an advance in October 2018, providing further financial support until their first payment.<\/p>
<\/p>
Total amount deducted from Universal Credit payments between April 2017 and October 2018<\/p>
Month<\/p><\/td> | Amount deducted [rounded to the nearest million]<\/p><\/td> | Amount of Universal Credit paid [rounded to the nearest million]<\/p><\/td> | Amount deducted as a percentage of Universal Credit paid<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Apr-17<\/p><\/td> | £9,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £140,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May-17<\/p><\/td> | £10,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £148,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jun-17<\/p><\/td> | £10,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £159,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 6%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jul-17<\/p><\/td> | £11,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £166,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 6%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Aug-17<\/p><\/td> | £11,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £176,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 6%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep-17<\/p><\/td> | £12,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £186,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 6%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Oct-17<\/p><\/td> | £13,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £195,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Nov-17<\/p><\/td> | £13,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £205,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dec-17<\/p><\/td> | £15,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £216,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jan-18<\/p><\/td> | £17,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £232,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 7%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Feb-18<\/p><\/td> | £19,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £243,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mar-18<\/p><\/td> | £22,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £257,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Apr-18<\/p><\/td> | £23,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £266,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May-18<\/p><\/td> | £25,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £284,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jun-18<\/p><\/td> | £27,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £319,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 8%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Jul-18<\/p><\/td> | £29,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £335,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Aug-18<\/p><\/td> | £32,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £360,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep-18<\/p><\/td> | £35,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £380,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 9%<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Oct-18<\/p><\/td> | £39,000,000<\/p><\/td> | £410,000,000<\/p><\/td> | 10%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Notes:<\/p> <\/p> Data sources: Universal Credit Live Service Reference Datasets and Full Service PDM data, UC Analysis Division<\/p> <\/p> 1. Figures are provided for the total of UC Live Service and Full Service. The data is sourced from two different computer systems and the information available is slightly different on each system.<\/p>
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