Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Government is committed to tackling poverty in all its forms by building a strong economy and a benefit system that supports employment and higher pay. A child growing up in a home where all adults are working is around 5 times less likely to be in poverty than a child in a household where nobody works. Since 2010, there are around 1 million fewer workless households and 667,000 fewer children in such households.</p><p>To help make sure every child gets the best start in life, the Department for Education is investing up to £26 million in a programme to establish or improve breakfast clubs in over 1,700 schools, targeting most disadvantaged areas. The programme’s effectiveness will be reviewed once it concludes next year. Additionally, over 1.2 million of the most disadvantaged children receive a free school meal.</p><p>The Government has not made an assessment of the incidence of food banks or similar charity-based provision in England and Wales. However, new questions have been added to the Family Resources Survey to develop a food insecurity measure from 2021 to help better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p><p>This Government spend more on family benefits than any other country in the G7, at 3.5% of GDP (OECD, 2015 data), demonstrating a commitment to providing a strong safety net for those that need it.</p>Baroness Stedman-Scott2019-08-05false2019-08-05T15:49:45.287Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-24Poverty2House of LordsTo ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the National School Breakfast Programme feeding an estimated 280,000 children, (2) the number of pupils receiving Free School Meals, (3) the incidence of food banks, food pantries and similar help in kind, throughout England and Wales; and what consideration they are giving, as a result of any such assessment, to reviewing their policies to address destitution, food and fuel poverty and ensure sufficient services to prevent poverty.falseLord HyltonHL17466Department for Work and Pensions<p>The EU has recently reviewed the occupational exposure limit value for formaldehyde, and in the Phase 3 amendment to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive 2004/37/EC, introduced a new binding occupational exposure limit value (BOELV) of 0.3ppm, which came into force on 11 July 2019. The current GB work place exposure limit (WEL) is 2ppm.</p><p> </p><p>Member States have two years to transpose the new BOELV (i.e. by 11 July 2021). Because of differences in cultural practices; cost of embalming and greater capacity in the facilities available; and the limited use of embalming in other Members States, the UK negotiated an additional 3-year transitional period (until July 2024) for the funeral and embalming sector, during which time an interim BOELV of 0.5ppm will apply. This is to allow the UK funeral and embalming sector to comply with the Directive without incurring disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive is currently working to implement the revised exposure limits for formaldehyde.</p>Baroness Stedman-Scott2019-08-05HL17390false2019-08-05T15:23:53.607Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-23Formaldehyde: Industrial Health and Safety2House of LordsTo ask Her Majesty's Government when the Health and Safety Executive will revisit its current work place exposure limits for formaldehyde.falseBaroness CrawleyHL17389Department for Work and Pensions<p>The EU has recently reviewed the occupational exposure limit value for formaldehyde, and in the Phase 3 amendment to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive 2004/37/EC, introduced a new binding occupational exposure limit value (BOELV) of 0.3ppm, which came into force on 11 July 2019. The current GB work place exposure limit (WEL) is 2ppm.</p><p> </p><p>Member States have two years to transpose the new BOELV (i.e. by 11 July 2021). Because of differences in cultural practices; cost of embalming and greater capacity in the facilities available; and the limited use of embalming in other Members States, the UK negotiated an additional 3-year transitional period (until July 2024) for the funeral and embalming sector, during which time an interim BOELV of 0.5ppm will apply. This is to allow the UK funeral and embalming sector to comply with the Directive without incurring disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>The Health and Safety Executive is currently working to implement the revised exposure limits for formaldehyde.</p>Baroness Stedman-Scott2019-08-05HL17389false2019-08-05T15:23:53.66Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-23Formaldehyde: Industrial Health and Safety2House of LordsTo ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of occupational exposure limits and maximum exposure limits for formaldehyde in the UK being higher than those of France, Germany and several other European member states.falseBaroness CrawleyHL17390Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Department is committed to supporting vulnerable claimants, such as those with mental health conditions. We understand that these claimants may face extra challenges in their lives. Universal Credit is designed to target resources at those that need them most and to provide support for people who cannot work or need extra help moving towards the labour market.</p><p>If a claimant is unable to complete their business transaction through any other channel, a referral for a visit is sent to DWP Visiting. The majority of DWP Visiting work takes place in claimants’ homes, however appointments can be arranged at an alternative place such as a hospital or low secure unit.</p><p>We recognise the importance of understanding how a mental health condition impacts someone’s ability to prepare for and look for work. That is why we have developed a range of specialised mental health training for work coaches and increased the number of Disability Employment Advisers who can provide additional support where needed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department is committed to the provision of a safe and healthy working environment for employees and claimants, therefore all our visits, irrespective of location, are individually risk assessed which determines the most appropriate means of engagement.</p>North SwindonJustin Tomlinson2019-07-26false2019-07-26T10:25:13.84Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Universal Credit: Mental Illness1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2019 on Universal Credit: Mental Illness, whether her Department provides support visits for benefit claimants in secure psychiatric settings.falseBristol WestThangam Debbonaire280236Department for Work and Pensions<p>It is not possible to confirm exactly how many people in (a) Wales and (b) each parliamentary constituency in Wales became ineligible for the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) following their move to Universal Credit (UC) due to a change in circumstance. This is because each case must be individually assessed to determine whether SDP eligibility would have continued following the end of their claim to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) or Income Support (IS).</p><p> </p><p>Information on claimants of JSA and IS in receipt of SDP who have moved to Universal Credit would incur disproportionate cost in response to a Parliamentary Question.</p><p> </p><p>Regulations announced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 22 July 2019 provide support for claimants who were entitled to the SDP, and who have already moved to UC. From 24 July 2019, these claimants will be considered for backdated payments covering the time since they moved to UC. We estimate that by 2024/25, approximately 45,000 of the most vulnerable claimants will benefit from this package of support, worth an estimated £600million over the next six years.</p>North SwindonJustin Tomlinson2019-07-26false2019-07-26T10:41:01.2Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Universal Credit: Severe Disability Premium1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have lost the severe disability premium following a change of circumstances since the inception of universal credit in (a) Wales and (b) each parliamentary constituency in Wales.falseNewport EastJessica Morden280184Department for Work and Pensions<p>The information requested on the number of individuals eligible for Pension Credit but do not claim it in (a) Wales and (b) each parliamentary constituency in Wales is only available at Great Britain level.</p><p> </p><p>Official statistics on the take-up of income-related benefits at Great Britain level, including Pension Credit, can be found in the ‘Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up in 2016 to 2017’ publication.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017</a></p>HexhamGuy Opperman2019-08-01false2019-08-01T09:20:34.3Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Pension Credit: Wales1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals are eligible for pension credit but not claiming the benefit in (a) Wales and (b) each parliamentary constituency in Wales.falseNewport EastJessica Morden280185Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Department laid The Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 before Parliament on 22 July 2019. This means we can identify claimants who are potentially eligible for Severe Disability Premium transitional payments and start making these payments as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>From 24 July 2019, eligible claimants will be considered for backdated payments covering the time since they moved to Universal Credit. We estimate that by 2024/25, approximately 45,000 of the most vulnerable claimants will benefit from this package of support, worth an estimated £600million over the next six years.</p>North SwindonJustin Tomlinson2019-07-26false2019-07-26T11:05:01.31Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Universal Credit: Severe Disability Premium1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timeframe is for her Department to bring forward legislative proposals for severe disability premium to be available under universal credit.falseSittingbourne and SheppeyGordon Henderson280278Department for Work and Pensions<p>This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p>ColchesterWill Quince2019-07-29279455false2019-07-29T14:18:24.39Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Children: Maintenance1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions her Department has registered the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies.falseMotherwell and WishawMarion Fellows280279Department for Work and Pensions<p>This information is provided in our internal procedures. It is a discretionary decision and intended as a deterrent measure on those who may otherwise choose to evade maintenance payments, so getting more money flowing to the children and separated parents who need it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We can consider referral to a Credit Reference Agency (CRA) in the following circumstance:</p><ul><li>when a Liability Order is in force against the non-resident</li><li>21 days (plus postage timing and 2 days) have passed since a written notice was posted to the Paying Parent advising them that we intend to supply information about them to a CRA</li><li>the welfare of the child has been considered</li><li>the Paying Parent has not agreed to a payment agreement where the outstanding amount will be repaid in line with our debt steer, of 2 years</li></ul>ColchesterWill Quince2019-07-29false2019-07-29T11:06:25.357Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Children: Maintenance1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's criteria is for registering the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies.falseMotherwell and WishawMarion Fellows280280Department for Work and Pensions<p>Performance-related end year awards are given following the end of each appraisal year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2016 Senior Civil Servants also became eligible for non-consolidated in-year performance awards to recognise outstanding contribution.</p><p> </p><p>Awards have not yet been made for the 2018/19 performance year; the total amounts paid out in end-year and in-year awards for the earlier periods requested are shown below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Performance Years</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total Spend on Performance Related Awards for SCS in DWP </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>£659,675</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>£665,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>£719,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>£675,392</p></td></tr></tbody></table>ColchesterWill Quince2019-07-29false2019-07-29T11:17:12.153Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-07-22Department for Work and Pensions: Pay1House of CommonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Written Question 265470 on Department for Work and Pensions: Pay, how much her Department spent on performance-related awards for Senior Civil Service officials in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018 and (f) January to June 2019.falseNewport EastJessica Morden280191100116208