The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living this winter and is taking action to help. The Government's Energy Price Guarantee will save a typical British household around £900 this winter, based on what energy prices would have been under the current price cap - reducing bills by roughly a third. This is in addition to the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, paid over six months starting in October 2022.<\/p>
<\/p>
For those who require additional support the current Household Support Fund, running in England from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, is providing £421 million of funding. The devolved administrations have been allocated £79 million through the Barnett formula.\u202f\u202fThe Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2023/24, subject to parliamentary approval, we are uprating all benefit rates and State Pensions by 10.1%, in order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap levels are also increasing by the same amount.<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, for 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. This will be split into three payments of around £300 each across the 2023/24 financial year. A separate £300 payment will be made to pensioner households on top of their Winter Fuel Payments and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment. Further to this, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023/24.<\/p>
<\/p>
To further support those who are in work, from 1 April 2023 subject to parliamentary approval, the National Living Wage (NLW) will increase by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are committed to ensuring staff who engage with customers identify and signpost customers to the financial support they require. We continue to work closely with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), which is an Arm\u2019s Length Body of DWP, to identify and maximise all the touchpoints where it may be appropriate to signpost our customers to the expert financial help they need.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have also been working with MaPS to upskill some of our frontline staff to give them the confidence and skills to have those difficult and sensitive conversations with customers regarding their finances before signposting them to the most suitable organisation. This may be for help with budgeting and money management, or with debt. Customers contacting the Department\u2019s Debt Management Team are routinely referred to this service.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department has a well-established process for working with individuals to support them to manage repayment of Government debt to DWP. Our priority is to negotiate affordable and sustainable repayment plans that do not cause undue financial hardship. For overpayment deductions specifically, where a person feels they cannot afford the proposed rate of deduction for an overpayment recovery they are encouraged to contact the Department\u2019s Debt Management Team to discuss a temporary reduction in their rate of repayment or, if necessary, a temporary cessation of the deduction may be considered. When a customer is notified of an overpayment, they are advised to contact us if they would struggle to make their repayment. Customers are also notified of deductions, giving them a further opportunity to contact us to negotiate a more affordable rate.<\/p>
<\/p>
There is no minimum amount that a customer has to pay, and we have recently extended the time period for any reduced payment to remain in place.<\/p>
<\/p>
We also remain committed to His Majesty\u2019s Treasury\u2019s Breathing Space policy, which provides those with problem debt the right to legal protections from creditor action for a period of 60 days to enable them to receive debt advice and enter into an appropriate debt solution.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-02-09T14:50:31.707Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cost of Living"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support households facing hardship and debt as a result of the increased cost of living.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1401655", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1401655/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Our statement with Troika partners (UK/Norway/US) and the EU on 4 January reinforced our support for Sudan's democratic transition. We urged the Sudanese military and other actors to engage in dialogue to secure a lasting solution to the current political crisis. We therefore welcome the UN's announcement that they will facilitate talks to help resolve the situation. The Sudan Quad (UK, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and US) released a statement on 8 January welcoming this initiative, urging all Sudanese political actors to seize this opportunity to restore the country's transition to civilian democracy.<\/p>
Since the military coup of 25 October 2021 we have been clear that, along with partners, we will consider all options to maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to recommit to country's democratic transition and deliver the Sudanese people's demands for freedom, peace and justice. This includes the possibility of measures to deliver accountability such as sanctions. It is however longstanding convention not to speculate on the specifics of such options given the risk of undermining their effectiveness and, in this particular case, while UN efforts to end political crisis are underway.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4062", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-01-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-01-18T14:51:02.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-01-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sudan: Politics and Government"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their statement on Sudan on 4 January, what steps they will take to \u201chold those actors impeding the democratic process accountable.\u201d", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3364", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Cox"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Cox"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1200346", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1200346/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The BEIS Energy Innovation Programme funded four feasibility studies into various innovative ways to produce hydrogen by electrolysis. The reports from these studies are available on the government website. Two projects went on to receive £10.6m in further funding.<\/p>
<\/p>
ITM Power, a Sheffield based electrolyser manufacturer, received £7.5m to further develop their technology; to trial semi-automation in their production process; and work with Orsted and Phillips 66, to design a system to supply Phillips 66\u2019s Humber oil refinery with green hydrogen.<\/p>
<\/p>
Environmental Resources Management, a global sustainability consultancy, received £3.1m to carry out a detailed engineering design on a concept that combined floating offshore wind with electrolysis to produce green hydrogen.<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, several relevant initiatives are funded through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These include \u201cGreen Hydrogen for Humberside\u201d funded from the £170m Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy Challenge Fund, and several smart local energy system project which incorporate hydrogen electrolysis funded from the £102.5m Prospering from the Energy Revolution Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Innovate UK is supporting electrolysis projects such as the £226k Centurion Power-to-Gas feasibility study, and several electrolysis research projects are supported through UKRI\u2019s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research hub (H2FC SUPERGEN).<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-06-17T15:04:39.733Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hydrogen: Production"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what research funding they are providing to accelerate the development of cost-effective production of clean hydrogen through electrolysis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4549", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Oates"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Oates"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/833610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/833610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
My Department has made clear that it considers that building owners are responsible for funding fire safety measures including replacement of dangerous cladding. Government will consider financial flexibilities for local authorities who need to undertake essential fire safety work to make a building safe. Housing associations that are concerned about their ability to meet these costs should contact the social housing regulator.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4282", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-02-07T13:15:02.913Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-01-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use the HM Treasury central contingencies fund to meet the costs of removing and replacing dangerous cladding on tower blocks in England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/685326", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/685326/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We would consider each case on its individual merits, looking at the case-specific evidence, the law and possibly make enquiries to determine whether they have any entitlement to citizenship.
However, the starting point is that the Constitution of Republic of Korea (South Korea) stipulates that all North Koreans are citizens of the Republic of Korea<\/p>
Article 1 of the Republic of Korea Nationality Act provides that a person, whose father or mother was a citizen of South Korea at the time of the person\u2019s birth, is a citizen of South Korea.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4311", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Williams of Trafford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-02-09T16:48:51.89Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum: North Korea"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether children born to one North Korean parent in the People\u2019s Republic of China who have not acquired citizenship of either the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, or the People\u2019s Republic of China, are treated as South Korean citizens by HM Government.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL5230"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/446458", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/446458/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2006 the United Nations imposed restrictions on a range of goods from entering or leaving North Korea and imposed a travel ban and asset freeze against those persons designated as persons who engage in or provide support for North Korea\u2019s nuclear-related, other weapons of mass destruction related and ballistic missile-related programmes. These restrictions were implemented in the EU in 2007, and have subsequently been expanded by the EU.<\/p>
<\/p>
The EU regulation prohibits financial institutions establishing new correspondent banking relationships with North Korean financial institutions if there are reasonable grounds to believe that this could contribute to North Korea\u2019s nuclear-related, other weapons of mass destructions related or ballistic missile-related programmes.<\/p>
<\/p>
HM Treasury is responsible for implementing these financial sanctions in the UK. Failing to comply with financial sanctions is a criminal offence and HM Treasury works closely with law enforcement to ensure breaches of sanctions are dealt with appropriately.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4536", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord O'Neill of Gatley"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord O'Neill of Gatley"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-02-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-02-02T16:15:03.52Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-01-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Financial Services: North Korea"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of whether any North Korean banks or businesses have direct or indirect access to the UK\u2019s financial system, and whether any UK banks provide financial services to (1) North Korean individuals or entities, or (2) any third-party banks or entities that have engaged with North Korean individuals or entities engaged in sanctionable conduct.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/223745", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/223745/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Home Secretary announced in October 2014 an in-depth review of the publication of Taser data and other use of force by police officers, to ensure these powers are being used appropriately and in a transparent way. The review will present options for publishing data on how Taser is being used, who it is being used on and what the outcomes are.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-02T15:14:00.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Police: Stun Guns"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what steps they are taking to review the use of Tasers by police officers and in particular their use against children and young people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2171", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Condon"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Condon"} ], "uin" : "HL5230"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 7, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }