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1607663

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Employment: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their employment action plan for disabled people.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL6880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government will consult on the Disability Action Plan over the summer and will publish it at the end of 2023.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 05/04/2023 15:22:59 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1607700

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report entitled The sanctions surge: Shining a light on the universal credit sanctions regime, published in March 2023, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding that people in the North East are over 30 per cent more likely to be sanctioned than someone in the South West; and what steps he is taking to ensure that sanctions are applied consistently.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	174308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2023 answer text <p>The claimant commitment is agreed between the claimant and the work coach, and it is based on the claimant’s particular circumstances</p><p>Where a referral for a sanction is made, an independent Decision Maker will fully consider the claimant’s individual circumstances and look at any evidence of good reason before determining whether a sanction should be applied.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/04/2023 14:19:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1607739

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research his Department has commissioned on the effectiveness of benefit sanctions; and if he will place copies of that research in the Library.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	174184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>The Department has conducted internal analysis on some elements of benefits sanctions and intend to release this report by the 10th April.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/04/2023 14:25:10 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1607749

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Cost of Living Payments: Self-employed
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the ability of self employed people to access cost of living payments.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	174226
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>Self-employed people on a low income could be eligible for cost of living payments of up to £900 if they are entitled to a means-tested benefit, such as Universal Credit, in the relevant qualifying period. To qualify for the first payment of £301 an individual would need to have been entitled to a payment of either Universal Credit for an assessment period ending between 26 January and 25 February 2023 a payment of another DWP means-tested benefit for any day between 26 January and 25 February 2023; or have received (or later be found to have been entitled to) a payment of tax credits for any day in the same period. As with the first payment, the qualifying dates for the second and third payments of £300 and £299 will be set out in secondary legislation and announced once these regulations have been made.</p><p> </p><p>We have kept the eligibility rules for the cost of living payments as simple as possible in order to deliver them promptly and accurately. Whatever eligibility dates are selected there will be always be some individuals who are ineligible in the qualifying period – whether that is due for example to their earnings, capital or other income, or for a combination of reasons. Our decision to make three separate payments over 2023/24 will however reduce the chance of someone missing out altogether.</p><p> </p><p>To help households with the costs of essentials, including those who may not be eligible for cost of living payments, we are also extending the Household Support Fund in England. The Devolved Administrations will receive Barnett funding to spend at their discretion and with their local knowledge.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 174227 question first answered 30/03/2023 10:03:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1607751

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Cost of Living Payments: Self-employed
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to ensure that self employed people are able to access cost of living payments.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	Tony Lloyd
uin	174227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>Self-employed people on a low income could be eligible for cost of living payments of up to £900 if they are entitled to a means-tested benefit, such as Universal Credit, in the relevant qualifying period. To qualify for the first payment of £301 an individual would need to have been entitled to a payment of either Universal Credit for an assessment period ending between 26 January and 25 February 2023 a payment of another DWP means-tested benefit for any day between 26 January and 25 February 2023; or have received (or later be found to have been entitled to) a payment of tax credits for any day in the same period. As with the first payment, the qualifying dates for the second and third payments of £300 and £299 will be set out in secondary legislation and announced once these regulations have been made.</p><p> </p><p>We have kept the eligibility rules for the cost of living payments as simple as possible in order to deliver them promptly and accurately. Whatever eligibility dates are selected there will be always be some individuals who are ineligible in the qualifying period – whether that is due for example to their earnings, capital or other income, or for a combination of reasons. Our decision to make three separate payments over 2023/24 will however reduce the chance of someone missing out altogether.</p><p> </p><p>To help households with the costs of essentials, including those who may not be eligible for cost of living payments, we are also extending the Household Support Fund in England. The Devolved Administrations will receive Barnett funding to spend at their discretion and with their local knowledge.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 174226 question first answered 30/03/2023 10:03:31 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	450 label Biography information for Tony Lloyd

1607753

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Support for Mortgage Interest
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Bank of England Base Rate increases on the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme (SMI); and whether he plans to uprate the interest rate of 2.09 per cent on which the SMI payments are calculated.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	174269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The interest rate we pay for SMI is based on the Bank of England published average mortgage rate.  We do not align payment to the base rate because this would lead to uncertainty for both borrower and lender as well as increasing the administrative burden.</p><p> </p><p>An increase to the rate paid through the SMI scheme was triggered on Wednesday 29th March 2023.This rate increased from 2.09% to 2.65% and will be implemented on 10<sup>th</sup> May 2023. Any further changes to the standard interest rate will only occur when the Bank of England average mortgage rate differs by 0.5 percentage points or more from the rate in payment.</p><p> </p><p>We currently have no plans to amend the calculation of SMI. We have selected the Bank of England’s published average rate because it is the average interest rate that applies to outstanding mortgages, including fixed and variable mortgages. The Bank of England data is the most reliable as it is based on information that covers over 75% of all banks and building societies’ mortgage business. It is also updated on a regular (monthly) basis.</p><p> </p><p>If we were to base the rate we pay on the Bank of England Base rate, we would pay over and above the average interest rate paid by fixed rate mortgage holders. Conversely, the rate would be too low when the base rate is set at a low level such as the 0.1 base rate between March 2020 and December 2021.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 174270 question first answered 30/03/2023 16:41:25 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1607754

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Support for Mortgage Interest
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of fixing the interest rate used to determine payments under the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme to a set amount above the Bank of England Base Rate to better reflect the impact on those in receipt of SMI.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	174270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The interest rate we pay for SMI is based on the Bank of England published average mortgage rate.  We do not align payment to the base rate because this would lead to uncertainty for both borrower and lender as well as increasing the administrative burden.</p><p> </p><p>An increase to the rate paid through the SMI scheme was triggered on Wednesday 29th March 2023.This rate increased from 2.09% to 2.65% and will be implemented on 10<sup>th</sup> May 2023. Any further changes to the standard interest rate will only occur when the Bank of England average mortgage rate differs by 0.5 percentage points or more from the rate in payment.</p><p> </p><p>We currently have no plans to amend the calculation of SMI. We have selected the Bank of England’s published average rate because it is the average interest rate that applies to outstanding mortgages, including fixed and variable mortgages. The Bank of England data is the most reliable as it is based on information that covers over 75% of all banks and building societies’ mortgage business. It is also updated on a regular (monthly) basis.</p><p> </p><p>If we were to base the rate we pay on the Bank of England Base rate, we would pay over and above the average interest rate paid by fixed rate mortgage holders. Conversely, the rate would be too low when the base rate is set at a low level such as the 0.1 base rate between March 2020 and December 2021.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 174269 question first answered 30/03/2023 16:41:25 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1607775

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the first sanction for someone claiming Universal Credit with a formal warning; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	174171
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>Evidence from a previous Early Warning trial in 2016 showed the cost of the warning system outweighed the benefits. Since then, we have completed two small-scale proofs of concept to test a simple warning process and currently have no plans to run another test.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is focusing its efforts on intensifying the support we offer to get people back to work and into good jobs. The majority of sanctions are for failing to attend a meeting with a work coach and these can be quickly resolved by booking and attending another meeting.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/03/2023 13:53:58 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1607776

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Jobcentres: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how job centre work coaches are trained to understand the circumstances of working parents and disabled people when setting in-work progression requirements; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	174172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>All new entrant work coaches undergo a work coach learning journey which includes learning products on health and supporting claimants with disabilities which equips work coaches with tools, knowledge, skills, and behaviours to enable them to support individuals moving closer to the working environment. This includes childcare modules to support working lone parents.</p><p> </p><p>From October 2022 in work progression (IWP) work coaches have received tailored learning to support people with individual circumstances, including lone parents in-work and disabled people.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/03/2023 16:17:35 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1607779

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
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	Jobcentres: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential for Work Coaches or other Jobcentre Plus staff to support employers to job carve, to create roles suitable for single parents seeking to balance work with parenting responsibilities; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	174173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>It is for employers to consider the specifics of job design. This government however recognises the importance of flexible work for parents and is supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill throughout its journey in Parliament.</p><p> </p><p>Childcare is also important for working parents. We have just announced a generous new offer for parents needing childcare to work, to be rolled out starting this year. We are increasing the Universal Credit childcare cap to £951 for one child (up from £646) and £1,630 for two children (up from £1,108). We will also be paying parents on Universal Credit childcare support up-front when they are moving into work or increasing their hours, rather than in arrears, removing a key barrier for low-income families.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, from April 2024 we will be increasing the free childcare available to working parents in England in a staged rollout, so that by September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old will be able to access 30 hours free childcare per week.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/03/2023 13:43:37 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms