Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

90800

registered interest
date	04/09/2014
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	Poverty Truth Commission
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Poverty Truth Commission.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	208356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Ministers and officials continuously engage with a wide range of organisations to help shape and inform policies.</p><p>Checking whether any member of staff from across the Department for Work and Pensions has held any discussions with the Poverty Truth Commission would involve disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 09/09/2014 11:15:16 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

90567

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	New Enterprise Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many businesses have been created with help from the New Enterprise Allowance; and how many of those businesses have sustained operations for more than 52 weeks.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	208044
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Latest statistics show that since the launch of New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) in 2011 to the end of March 2014, there were 46,000 NEA weekly allowance claims. The weekly allowance is payable when the participant closes their claim to benefits and commences trading which is a proxy measure for business starts created by the scheme.</p><p>We do not have data on the numbers of NEA businesses trading for 52 weeks. However, an analysis of the benefit status of NEA participants, published in 2013, highlighted that of 3,000 people who took part in the scheme in the first year, 78% had remained off benefit continuously for 52 weeks after claiming the NEA weekly allowance.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 09/09/2014 11:55:11 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 18988 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

90568

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Carer's Allowance
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 it his policy that a person in receipt of carer's allowance may claim that allowance for each person cared for.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	208016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Carer’s Allowance was introduced to provide a measure of financial support for carers who have forgone the opportunity of full-time employment in order to care for a severely disabled person. Carer's Allowance is not a payment for the services of caring, therefore it is payable for the care of only one severely disabled person, even if the carer is looking after two or more people and there are no plans to change this policy.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/09/2014 15:10:42 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

90570

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Flexible Support Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on the Flexible Support Fund in each region of the UK in each year since it was introduced.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	208077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>Expenditure on Flexible Support Fund (FSF) since it was introduced in each year is:</p><table><tbody><tr><td>2011/2012</td><td>£70.2m</td></tr><tr><td>2012/2013</td><td>£125.0m</td></tr><tr><td>2013/2014</td><td>£106.2m</td></tr></tbody></table><p>2014/2015: This information is not currently for release as the data is subject to audit and change.</p><p>The FSF expenditure is only captured at a National level, not across UK Regions, this information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 09/09/2014 12:07:26 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 18989 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

90580

registered interest
date	03/09/2014
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	Carer's Allowance
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 adequacy of the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	208015
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p>The primary purpose of Carer’s Allowance is to provide a measure of financial support for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person. It is not, and was never intended to be, a carer’s wage or a payment for the services of caring. It is also not intended to replace lost or forgone earnings in their entirety.</p><p>In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Income Support and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate of up to an additional £34.20 a week.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/09/2014 11:48:20 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

90240

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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	Industrial Health and Safety
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 level of variation of health and safety regulations between local authorities and of the effect of such variation on small and medium-sized enterprises.
tabling member constituency	Redditch
tabling member printed	Karen Lumley
uin	207810
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has ongoing discussions with local authorities (LA) in respect of their regulation of health and safety, including an annual statistical return. The most recent assessment for 2013/14 and comparisons with previous years showed a continued move towards a greater consistency in approach by local authorities.</p><p>The national activity and variation between local authorities is reported to the HSE/LA Enforcement Liaison Committee, published on the HSE website and used by local authorities in bench marking and peer review processes.</p><p>No assessment has been made of the effect of any variation on small and medium-sized enterprises.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/09/2014 15:20:09 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4023 label Biography information for Karen Lumley

90389

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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	Welfare State: Reform
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made in the implementation of his overall welfare reforms in the last six months; and what progress he expects to be made in the next six months.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	207879
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2014 answer text <p>This government has made significant progress in implementing the most far-reaching programme of welfare reforms for a generation. We have</p><ul><li>Launched Universal Credit, the biggest change to the welfare system in a generation, in April 2013. Currently operating in 38 areas. It will be available in 90 - or one in eight - of the country's jobcentres by the end of the year.</li></ul><ul><li>Rolled out the household <strong>Benefit Cap</strong>, which ensures families don't receive more benefits than the average family earns. In total, more than 42,000 households had their benefits capped by March 2014. Almost 6,000 households who've had their benefits capped have moved into work. The policy is expected to save £110m in 2014/15.</li></ul><ul><li>Returned fairness to housing benefit by <strong>stopping paying housing benefit for spare rooms</strong>. The policy is already saving taxpayers over £1m a day.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Auto enrolled 3.6million people into a workplace pension</strong> - saving for the first time or saving more for retirement.</li></ul><ul><li>Launched the <strong>Child Maintenance Service</strong> to replace the failing Child Support Agency, introducing it first in December 2012 for parents of four or more children, in July 2013 for parents of two or more children, and since November 2013 to all separated parents.</li></ul><ul><li>Brought how claimants find work into the 21st century by launching <strong>Universal Jobmatch</strong>, rather than just leaving jobseekers to manage with old-fashioned job boards and vacancy printouts.</li></ul><ul><li>Implemented the <strong>Work Programme</strong> - the biggest single payment by results employment programme Britain has ever seen - which has helped around 300,000 long-term unemployed off benefits and into sustained work - more than previous schemes.</li></ul><ul><li>Introduced the <strong>Claimant Commitment</strong> in all British jobcentres, spelling out what we expect from jobseekers when they search for work, resetting the relationship between benefit claimants and Jobcentre Plus help.</li></ul><ul><li>Started the phased introduction of <strong>Personal Independence Payment</strong> on time and on budget in April last year.</li></ul><ul><li>Rolled out the biggest ever campaign to help disabled people into work - <strong>Disability Confident</strong> - breaking down barriers and boosting employers confidence and dispelling myths.</li></ul><p>We are implementing these major reforms in a careful and gradual way, testing and learning as we move forward. This is the right approach. All this while we've cut DWP costs by £2 billion a year compared to 2009-10. In total, our welfare reforms are set to save £50 billion over this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 09/09/2014 11:39:58 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 18528 answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey answering member 4084
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

90396

registered interest
date	02/09/2014
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 and Support Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken to process a mandatory re-consideration of an employment and support allowance is; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	207948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2014 answer text <p>This information is not yet available. DWP statisticians are currently working to collate and quality assure data on Mandatory Reconsideration for Employment and Support Allowance as a priority. The Department has committed to publishing the statistics when the Departmental statisticians judge that the data meet the standards set out in the UK Statistics Authority’s Codes of Practice. The aim is to release an initial set of official statistics on Mandatory Reconsideration by the end of 2014.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 05/09/2014 11:38:28 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

89980

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
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	Lead: Industrial Health and Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions have been brought against employers in respect of exposure of employees to lead in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	207775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Occupational exposure to lead is regulated by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 2002.</p><p> </p><p>In the last 3 years to April 2014, the Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted the following number of cases in relation to breaches of CLAW:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>No.</td></tr><tr><td>2011/12 <br></td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>2012/13 <br></td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2013/14 <br></td><td>2</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br></p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/09/2014 15:52:32 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

90222

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
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	Paint: Industrial Health and Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to protect the health of painters and decorators at work in relation to lead paint.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	207774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Protection of the health of painters and decorators at work in relation to lead based paint is achieved by restricting access to such paints and by limiting exposure.</p><p>The marketing and use of lead based paint is restricted in the UK by the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH). Under the current conditions of the REACH restriction, there is a derogation to allow for limited use of lead based paint in the restoration and maintenance of historic buildings and artwork. Those intending to use lead based paint must provide a declaration of the intended use to both the supplier and to the relevant competent authority before any work commences.</p><p>Further protection is afforded by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations (CLAW) 2002. These Regulations apply to activities involved in the application of lead based paint in permitted circumstances as described above and also to refurbishment work such as maintenance of buildings, where the removal of lead based paint can create risks of exposure.</p><p>Under CLAW duty holders are required to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, including identifying whether lead based paint or other lead-containing material is present. Informed by that assessment, duty holders must identify, and implement adequate control measures to minimise the exposure of workers to inhalable lead particles and ensuring high standards of personal hygiene. If exposure to lead is likely to be significant, employers are also required to carry out air monitoring and medical surveillance of employees.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/09/2014 15:43:11 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger