A range of Government initiatives are supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including those suffering from long covid, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:<\/p>
The Government is committed to providing a strong financial safety net for those in need. The benefit system is set up to consider the impact that a health condition has on an individual\u2019s ability to work and carry-out day to day activities. In terms of support for those with health conditions, decisions are based on an assessment of an individual\u2019s functional ability, not their diagnosed health condition(s). All health care practitioners who carry out assessments on behalf of the department have access to specific training and guidance modules on a wide range of clinical conditions, including long-COVID.<\/p>
<\/p>
DWP is responsible for the Industrial Injuries Scheme which compensates for injuries arising from an industrial accident or a prescribed disease contracted as a result of a person\u2019s occupation. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is an independent body of experts who advise the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the scheme. The Council considered the available scientific and epidemiological evidence around COVID-19 infection and has published a Command Paper entitled, \u2018COVID-19 and occupational impacts\u2019. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-occupational-impacts<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Command Paper and respond in due course.<\/p> <\/p> We will also continue to liaise with colleagues across Government and other stakeholders.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4369", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Pursglove"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Corby"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Pursglove"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-08T10:50:48.86Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Long Covid"}
, "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 has had discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (b) other Cabinet colleagues and (c) stakeholders on the potential merits of classifying long covid as an occupational disease.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "99917"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546847", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546847/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Pay Review Body (PRB) process is the established mechanism for determining pay uplifts in the public sector, including for staff working in the NHS.<\/p> <\/p> In formulating their recommendations, the Review Bodies carefully consider evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including NHS system partners and trade unions. In reaching their recommendations the independent PRBs consider a number of factors, including recruitment, retention, morale and motivation, alongside affordability and the economic context, including inflation.<\/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" : "2022-12-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-09T13:03:42.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Vacancies"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of below-inflation pay rises on the level of staff vacancies in the NHS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "99918"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546887", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546887/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " BEIS works with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Work and Pensions supporting workplace health and wellbeing through the delivery of Health is Everyone\u2019s Business consultation response.<\/p> <\/p> Employees have a statutory right to request flexible working, which can help them to balance employment alongside other aspects of life \u2013 such as managing a health condition like Long Covid. We recently announced that the Right to Request Flexible Working will be made available to all employees from their first day of employment. The Government is also supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Private Members Bill.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546887/answer/previousversion/40813", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kevin Hollinrake"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-13T09:53:50.4Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Long Covid"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to provide long-term support in the workplace for people suffering from long covid.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "99919"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546609", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546609/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No such assessment has been made of the impact of the two-child benefit cap on trends in the level of child poverty.<\/p> The Government has committed to annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics up to April 2022 can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2022/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2022<\/a><\/p> The latest child poverty figures (2019/20) demonstrate that absolute poverty rates (before housing costs) have not changed since 2016/17 when the two-child benefit cap was introduced. In 2019/20, 16% of children were in absolute poverty (before housing costs), the same level as in 2016/17.<\/p> This government believe that work is the best way out of poverty, and the latest statistics (2019/20) show that children in workless households are around 6 times more likely to be in absolute poverty, before housing costs, than those where all adults work. In 2019/20, the absolute poverty rate (before housing costs) of children, where both parents work full-time was only 3%, compared to 42% where one or more parents in a couple were in part-time work.<\/p> The government feels it is proportionate to provide support through Universal Credit for a maximum of two children. A benefits structure adjusting automatically to family size is unsustainable.<\/p> <\/p> On 9 July 2021, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in the judicial review of the two-child policy. The court found the two-child policy lawful and not in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.<\/p> This policy ensures fairness by asking families on benefits to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves solely through work. We recognise that some claimants are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family, which is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups, including those likely to have been born as a result of non-consensual conception. This includes rape or where the claimant was in a controlling or coercive relationship with the child\u2019s other biological parent at the time of conception. In this case, before a claim is approved, claimants are asked to contact a suitable third-party professional who can confirm the claimant\u2019s circumstances, as described by them, are consistent with the criteria for the exception. The third-party professional does not judge the credibility of the claimant\u2019s statement or require any further evidence.<\/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" : "2022-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-06T16:51:42.14Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-29", "_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 he has made of the impact of the two-child benefit cap on trends in the level of child poverty.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "98885"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546612", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546612/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No specific assessment has been made.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4679", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Neil O'Brien"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harborough"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Neil O'Brien"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-06T15:59:42.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Service: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of cuts to public services on trends in the level of excess deaths.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "98887"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546622", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1546622/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The core allocations that schools attract through the National Funding Formula (NFF) include funding in respect of free school meals (FSM). The FSM factor is worth £470 per eligible pupil in 2022/23. This will increase to £480 in 2023/24. The factor values for each year are published on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-funding-formula-for-schools-and-high-needs<\/a>.<\/p> The Department spends over £1 billion each year on FSM. This includes around £600 million on Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM), where the per meal rate has been increased from £2.34 to £2.41, and backdated to 1 April 2022, in recognition of increased costs.<\/p> The Department continues to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-06T12:14:18.593Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "98890"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1540797", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1540797/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " A breakdown of revenues expected from the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) for the period 2022-23 to 2026-27 is published in the 23 September Growth Plan, Table 4.2.<\/p> <\/p>