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1186422

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2020
	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	Zero Hours Contracts: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing to people on zero-hours contracts whose employment has been terminated as a result of covid-19 and do not qualify for Statutory Sick Pay because they are not self-isolating.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	32138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances and we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government has been clear in its commitment to support those affected in these difficult times and we have made a number of changes to the welfare system in the past fortnight to ensure people are supported in doing this. These changes include:</ins><br /></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">making it easier to access benefits. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment. Both Universal Credit and Contributory ESA can now be claimed by phone or online;</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">increasing the standard allowance of Universal Credit and working tax credit for this year by around £1000 per year;</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">temporarily relaxing the application of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 to ensure that the self-employed can access UC at a more generous rate; and</ins></li><li><ins class="ministerial">increasing in the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial">Together, these measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Chancellor has also confirmed that, depending on their status, workers on zero hours contracts may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and we would urge people to explore this avenue too.</ins></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/03/2020 11:57:37 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:01:33 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 14226 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

717841

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2017
	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	Workplace Pensions: Pension Funds
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation (1) prohibiting companies withdrawing moneys from their pension funds for any reason, or (2) requiring them to keep their funds topped up to the level recommended by actuaries.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL6650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Current legislation already requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover the cost of paying future pensions when they fall due, or to put in place a recovery plan to ensure that the scheme returns to full funding within a reasonable period. It also prohibits the transfer of funds from the scheme to the employer apart from some limited circumstances and where there is a surplus.</ins></p><p>The Government’s Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Green Paper explores a number of aspects of defined benefit pensions, including scheme funding arrangements and invites views. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017.</p><p>The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address:</p><p>DB Consultation Private Pensions</p><p>First Floor</p><p>Caxton House</p><p>6-12 Tothill Street</p><p>London</p><p>SW1A 9NA</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 20/04/2017 09:35:00 question first ministerially corrected 20/04/2017 13:45:24 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley previous answer version 44619 answering member printed Lord Henley answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1105758

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2019
	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	Work Capability Assessment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of whether Maximus is meeting the SC12 and SC13 targets in schedule 2.2 of the Health and Disability Assessment Services contract; and whether the Government collates data from individual assessment centres on those targets.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	237797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The supplier aims to deliver quality assessments as efficiently as possible. Our priority is to ensure that claimants who attend an assessment centre are seen and the supplier is achieving the SC1<ins class="ministerial">3</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del> target which measures the percentage of claimants sent home unseen. Currently, more people are waiting longer in assessment centres than we would like; the supplier is currently just below the SC1<ins class="ministerial">2</ins><del class="ministerial">3</del> target level which measures waiting times in assessment centres. SC12 and SC13 are national contractual service levels, but the Department does monitor performance at assessment centre-level. We are working closely with the supplier to improve waiting times for more claimants while ensuring the length of the assessment meets the individual claimant’s needs and claimants who attend for an assessment are seen.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 04/04/2019 13:46:25 question first ministerially corrected 29/04/2019 16:36:42 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 112078 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

891535

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2018
	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: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of premiums claimed for universal credit after the age of 20; and how many of those people requested a mandatory reconsideration of the work capability assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Midlothian
	tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
	uin	138098
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The data requested is going through quality assurance clearance procedures in line with National Statistic and Official Statistics publication standards. We will announce the release date, as per the protocol of release of statistics, when they are ready.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 30/04/2018 15:05:28 question first ministerially corrected 17/05/2018 16:22:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 54947 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

836024

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2018
	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: Publicity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to publicise information to claimants eligible for universal credit who do not have internet access.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	126379
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The attached table shows all the contracts DWP currently holds with Capita including the total value of the contracts.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Our data shows that over 99% of claimants using the Universal Credit Full Service make their claim online.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department uses multiple channels to publicise information for claimants about Universal Credit. These include:</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Posters and leaflets in jobcentres, including a recent campaign to raise awareness about availability of advances.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Working closely with stakeholder organisations (many of whom interact with claimants, face to face and by telephone). This also includes working with local authorities as part of our on-going partnership to improve digital access and capability.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Playing short videos in Post Offices and GP surgeries in high claimant areas, and also advertising in transport hubs and shopping precinct locations.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To further support claimants without internet access, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available, including 8000 additional computers installed to support the introduction of Universal Credit. This provides access to digital channels in every jobcentre for claimants to use when they do not have access at home. A telephone helpline and face to face support are also available for claimants to make and manage a Universal Credit claim.</ins></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/02/2018 16:12:02 question first ministerially corrected 09/02/2018 14:43:00 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 40066 answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse answering member 4495 attachment 1 file name 125893 Capita Contracts FR.docx title Capita Contracts
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1010390

	registered interest
	date	19/11/2018
	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: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants receiving the housing element of universal credit are also claiming the state pension.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	192811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The table gives the estimated number of households receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018. The notes should be read in conjunction with the information provided in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p>Estimated number of households in payment and receiving the Housing Element of Universal Credit in Great Britain, May 2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p><del class="ministerial">471,800</del><ins class="ministerial">425,400</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Claiming State Pension</p></td><td><p>200</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Source:</strong> Household on Universal Credit dataset <strong>and</strong> Work and Pensions Longitudinal Survey.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ol><li>The figures are derived from unpublished information and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.</li></ol><ol start="2"><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. Individual figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.</li><li>A count date of the second Thursday of the month is used when calculating the statistics for households on Universal Credit.</li><li>Further information on the background and methodology for Universal Credit can be accessed here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739399/universal-credit-statistics-background-methodology.pdf</a></li></ol> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/11/2018 11:22:16 question first ministerially corrected 06/12/2018 16:58:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson previous answer version 87254 answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

997428

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2018
	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: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding has been provided to each London borough to date to support people transitioning to universal credit to make their claim online.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	184860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2018 answer text <p>The funding provided to London local authorities to provide Universal Support since 1 April 2017 is set out in the attached document. This includes payments for both digital and budgeting support which can not be disaggregated.</p><p> </p><p>The funding provided to each local authority includes:</p><p> </p><ol><li>Full payment for 2017/18 (1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018)</li><li>Payment in July 2018 of 50% of the 2018/19 (1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019) funding allocation</li><li>Additional payments in September 2018 to those local authorities who provided support for more than 50% of their estimated volumes in Quarter 1 (1 April to 30 June 2018)</li></ol><p> </p><p>Funding for the remainder of 2018/19 is being collated and analysed.</p><p> </p><p>The amount paid to local authorities varies according to the expected Universal Credit caseload and how long they have been delivering Universal Credit. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Harrow Council decided to opt out of the provision of Universal Support.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 06/11/2018 17:44:56 question first ministerially corrected 06/11/2018 18:04:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma attachment 1 file name TABLE DOC 184860.docx title Funding to London LAs Universal Support previous answer version 83693 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1185245

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	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 covid-19 outbreak, what plans she has to allow universal credit advance payments to be made as soon as possible without work coach meetings.
	tabling member constituency	Dundee West
	tabling member printed	Chris Law
	uin	29994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Face-to-face checks for Universal Credit advances have been removed for people self-isolating due to coronavirus so they can get the support they need quickly. Advances are available online or via the phone.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies previous answer version 13622 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies 13698 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies question first answered 20/03/2020 13:15:42 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 15:00:49 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4403 label Biography information for Chris Law

1187250

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he will take to increase staffing of the universal credit helpline in response to increasing demand as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	uin	33438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department is taking all appropriate steps to protect colleagues and customers, in line with Government advice.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Our priority as a Department is ensuring people get their benefit payments and that we can continue to support those who need us the most. We have mobilised our robust business continuity plans to ensure we can do just that. We are already redeploying 10,000 staff from other parts of DWP and are also recruiting additional staff to assist with the processing of claims, including support from other government departments and the private sector.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 31/03/2020 10:07:19 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 14:57:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 15512 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1187058

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2020
	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	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure limited social interaction in relation to appointments for new universal credit claimants since 16 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	33408
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2020 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department is taking all appropriate steps to protect colleagues and customers, in line with Government advice.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">DWP has always followed Public Health England guidelines on social distancing. As of 24th March, Jobcentres are only offering face-to-face appointments – conducted in accordance with PHE guidelines on social distancing - for the small number of claimants who would otherwise not be able to receive support. This helps us to continue to deliver our critical services whilst keeping our customers and staff safe.</ins></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 31/03/2020 10:07:19 question first ministerially corrected 15/04/2020 14:58:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 15508 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey