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1366478

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of universal credit payments.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	904068
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Secretary of State is legally required to conduct an annual review of working age benefits rates to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices.</p><p> </p><p>The up-rating process for working age benefits has traditionally relied on the September CPI figure and in April 2021 Universal Credit was increased by CPI of 0.5%.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:52:24 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1366479

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	When her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a 12 month eligibility definition for the Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
tabling member constituency	Waveney
tabling member printed	Peter Aldous
uin	904069
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Department plans to implement the 12-month end-of-life approach across five DWP benefits, beginning in Universal Credit alongside Employment and Support Allowance next year. This will be followed by Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment subject to Parliamentary processes.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 08/11/2021 17:57:11 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
tabling member	4069 label Biography information for Peter Aldous

1366480

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent assessment she has made of the contractual performance of Serco plc in delivering call-handling services for her Department.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	904070
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>DWP regularly reviews performance with Serco to ensure they are meeting contractual responsibilities. During the term of the contract Serco have largely met their Key Performance Indicators, though more recently, competitive labour market conditions and subsequent challenges recruiting agents have led to some short-term performance impacts.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/11/2021 17:50:03 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1366481

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of ending the universal credit uplift on levels of in-work relative poverty.
tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
uin	904071
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The uplift to Universal Credit was a temporary measure, that is why an assessment has not been completed on its withdrawal.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures. We expect to spend over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit recipients in work will soon benefit from a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing the work allowance by £500 per year means that 1.9m working households will be able to keep substantially more of what they earn. These changes represent an effective tax cut for low income working households in receipt of UC worth £2.2 billion a year in 2022-23, for the lowest paid in society, and are combined with a rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:47:47 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1366482

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment she has made of the potential effect of ending the uplift to universal credit on (a) household budgets and (b) levels of poverty.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Dame Diana Johnson
uin	904072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The uplift to Universal Credit was a temporary measure, that is why an assessment has not been completed on its withdrawal.</p><p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures. We expect to spend over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p>Universal Credit recipients in work will soon benefit from a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing the work allowance by £500 per year means that 1.9m working households will be able to keep substantially more of what they earn. These changes represent an effective tax cut for low income working households in receipt of UC worth £2.2 billion a year in 2022-23, for the lowest paid in society, and are combined with a rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour.</p><p>We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:47:39 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1366483

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Children: Disadvantaged
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on support for vulnerable children.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	904073
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>DWP supports DfE’s Family Hubs work, backed by £82m of £300m announced in the Spending Review to transform services for parents and babies, carers and children.</p><p>At least 50% of the new Household Support Fund will be spent on support for vulnerable households with children this winter.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:51:55 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1366485

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Unemployment: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What support her Department provides to older jobseekers to reskill or change careers.
tabling member constituency	Broxtowe
tabling member printed	Darren Henry
uin	904075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Department’s plan for jobs provides funding to ensure that more jobseekers of all ages get tailored support, including to reskill or pivot sectors. This includes programmes such as the Job Finding Support service, Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) and the Restart scheme, to help them find work. The JETS scheme in particular helps jobseekers update their digital skills, job searching tools and to identify transferrable skills, which has been extended to September 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, as part of the £500m Plan for Jobs expansion, we are funding a new enhanced support package for workers over the age of 50 to help them to stay in and return to work. This offer has two strands – Older workers will receive better information and guidance on later life planning, helping them make informed choices and supporting them to plan their career and remain in work. For those who have lost their jobs, this funding will ensure that older job seekers on Universal Credit receive more intensive, tailored support as they look to take the next step in their career. A network of 50 Plus Champions across all 37 Jobcentre Plus districts will enable and encourage work coaches to direct suitable Plan for Jobs and local support to claimants aged 50 and over</p><p> </p><p>The UK government are also investing £2.5 billion in the National Skills Fund in England to aid The Lifetime Skills Guarantee. From April 2021, adults of any age over 24 who are looking to achieve their first full Level 3 will be able to access fully funded courses which will give them new skills and greater prospects in the labour market. The free online Skills Toolkit also provides online learning focused on digital, numeracy and employability skills.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/11/2021 18:05:23 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4794 label Biography information for Darren Henry

1366102

registered interest
date	04/11/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	HM Passport Office: Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will allocate additional funding to support the employment of more staff at UK passport offices to help process increased levels of applications and renewals.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	69618
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2021 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Passport Office is currently conducting a recruitment exercise for temporary staff to increase its operational capacity. This is in addition to its range of tried and tested arrangements, including the flexing of resources from across the Home Office and other government departments, to ensure that passports continue to be issued within the current published timeframe of up to 10 weeks even in periods of the very highest demand.</p> answering member constituency Torbay answering member printed Kevin Foster question first answered 12/11/2021 08:58:20 answering member 4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1366103

registered interest
date	04/11/2021
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Butterflies: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the retention of butterfly habitats throughout the UK.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	69619
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2021 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. In England, our 25 Year Environment Plan commits the Government to restoring 75% of our one million hectares of terrestrial and freshwater protected sites to favourable condition, and creating or restoring an additional 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat in England, as part of a Nature Recovery Network<em>.</em></p><p> </p><p>Action under the National Pollinator Strategy helps us to target such activity to improve, extend and connect habitats for insect pollinators, including butterflies. For example, the popular Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package in Countryside Stewardship includes management options to provide year-round habitat such as flower-rich margins.</p><p> </p><p>‘Back from the Brink’ and other collaborative programmes between Government, NGOs and land managers have supported landscape scale projects supporting species including the Duke of Burgundy and Marsh Fritillary butterflies, and the Barberry Carpet moth.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently, our Green Recovery Challenge Fund has supported habitat management for pollinators, including Butterfly Conservation’s project to restore habitats at 18 woodland sites in the Morecambe Bay area to promote the recovery of threatened butterfly species.</p><p> </p><p>We are building on these measures and projects in the design of our new environmental land management schemes, which will enable many more farmers and land managers to take positive action for butterflies and other pollinators.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 12/11/2021 14:39:36 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1366104

registered interest
date	04/11/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Members: Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to improve security at MP's surgeries.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	69620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2021 answer text <p>The killing of Sir David Amess at his Essex surgery was a shocking, abhorrent crime and a senseless attack on our democracy. The Government takes extremely seriously the safety and security of Members of Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office works closely with Parliament and the Police on the safety and security of Members, who are able to access a range of robust measures under Operation Bridger. As the Home Secretary made clear in Parliament on 20 October, significant work has already been taken forward in response to the tragic incident, and that continues at pace. It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on this work, including in relation to surgeries, or to comment in detail on the security measures that are available to Members of Parliament. Doing so risks compromising the security of Members and their staff.</p><p> </p><p>If Members receive a threat that they believe to be real and immediate, they should call 999 immediately or call x3333 while on the Parliamentary estate; or if they wish to report non-urgent crimes or criminal damage they should call 101.</p><p> </p><p>If Members have any concerns about their safety and security they should contact the Members Security Support Service in Parliament for advice and assistance.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 11/11/2021 17:40:22 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon