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1672046

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
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	Health and Safety: Artificial Intelligence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 5 June 2018 (HL8200), what testing and examination was carried out to ensure that any artificial intelligence software supplied for use in the Department for Work and Pensions is safe and without risks, as required by section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL473
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>We will continue to work in close collaboration and partnership with other government departments and bodies to align with government’s AI approach, particularly the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-safety-institute-overview/introducing-the-ai-safety-institute" target="_blank">AI Safety Institute</a>. DWP is exploring the use of AI and how it can support better digital services in a safe, transparent, ethical and considered way. We will work with HSE as and where it is appropriate to do so.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 29/11/2023 13:57:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1670113

registered interest
date	14/11/2023
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: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why, from the next release of the benefit cap statistics, information on the youngest child in capped households will be suspended; and whether they propose to resume publication of those data in later releases.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>The Department advised users on GOV.UK on 7 November 2023, that information on the age of youngest child for capped Housing Benefit households will be suspended from the next release of Benefit Cap statistics (due to be published on 12 December 2023). This is due to an issue with the quality of the HM Revenue &amp; Customs (HMRC) statistical Child Benefit data, which is currently being investigated. We will reinstate the breakdown in the statistical series as soon as possible, in line with the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Code of Practice for Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>In May 2023, 91% of capped households were on Universal Credit (UC) and are not affected by this issue. The statistics for the age of youngest child in UC capped households will be published as normal on 12 December 2023.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 21/11/2023 17:21:51 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1668688

registered interest
date	08/11/2023
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 Support
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have used the Universal Support programme in 2023 in England and Wales.
tabling member printed	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
uin	HL139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2023 answer text <p>Universal Support is a new, voluntary employment programme for inactive disabled people and those with health conditions who have additional barriers to employment. The main programme expected to launch in Autumn 2024, will offer individuals up to 12 months of ‘place and train’ support by a dedicated keyworker, helping them find a suitable role and catering to their needs.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Support is in the early stages of development, and we will publish further information in due course.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/11/2023 15:03:27 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3703 label Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

1668689

registered interest
date	08/11/2023
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 Schemes: Chronic Illnesses and Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many employment advisors there are in health settings in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
uin	HL140
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2023 answer text <p>There are 1,500 employment advisors as of the end of October 2023 in England.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Activity</p></td><td><p>FTE</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) Armed Forces Champion Lead.</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) Armed Forces Champion.</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) DWP Group Partnerships Mgmt.</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) DWP National Emp/Pship Teams.</p></td><td><p>70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) DWP Partnerships LM/Skills Prov.</p></td><td><p>200</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) DWP Partnerships Relationship Mgmt.</p></td><td><p>180</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) Emp/Pship Admin Support.</p></td><td><p>40</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) Employer Engagement.</p></td><td><p>750</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) FJ Verification Svs.</p></td><td><p>10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>(UCJC) SWAP Employer Partnership.</p></td><td><p>190</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>JC Employer and Partnerships - TOTAL</p></td><td><p>1,500</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: Derived from the department’s Activity Based Model (ABM).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ul><li>Employment Advisers (EAs) are based in Jobcentres and not in health settings. Their role includes finding employment opportunities for Work Coaches to discuss with claimants, setting up job fairs and liaising with employers. Data is drawn at the end of each month. Data is correct as of the end of October 2023 and has been rounded to the nearest 10.</li><li>For the purposes of answering this question the JC Employer and Partnerships product group has been used which contains the activity lines as shown in the table above.</li><li>Only those in England have been included.</li><li>Figures were derived from the department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment. No overtime FTE is included.</li><li>The number of Employment Advisers is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal department use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics standard. As the department holds the information, we have released it.</li></ul></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/11/2023 15:03:04 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3703 label Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

1668690

registered interest
date	08/11/2023
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of Universal Credit claimants met with a dedicated work coach in 2023 under the In-Work Progression Offer.
tabling member printed	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
uin	HL141
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting individuals who are in low paid work to progress, helping them increase their earnings and move into better paid quality jobs. Universal Credit seeks to ensure that claimants are better off working more hours and earning more money, helping them ultimately to become financially independent.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit claimants who earn below the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET) of £677 for an individual and £1083 for a couple are placed within the Universal Credit Intensive Work Search (IWS) labour market regime. This means they receive mandatory support from a work coach and must look for and take up more or better-paid work, as well as attend regular meetings with their work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Currently information regarding the proportion of Universal Credit claimants that met with a dedicated work coach in 2023 is not available, as data on work coach appointments is not currently recorded in a way that would allow this to be measured.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/11/2023 18:00:11 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3703 label Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

1668691

registered interest
date	08/11/2023
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: Fraud
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many staff were employed in (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023, in roles which target fraud, error and debt across the benefit system.
tabling member printed	Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
uin	HL142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>Everyone in DWP has a role to play in stopping fraud and error.</p><p> </p><p>In recent Spending Rounds we secured additional funding enabling us to enhance our counter-fraud and error capabilities including a new Targeted Case Review (TCR) team to review millions of Universal Credit claims, as well as recruitment into our Counter Fraud &amp; Compliance Directorate (CFCD).</p><p> </p><p>We are continuing to create a culture where stopping fraud and error and minimising debt is a shared goal of everyone in DWP and those who deliver services for us. All staff will understand the part they play within DWP, and they will have the knowledge, skills and tools they need to deliver.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Oct-21</p></td><td><p>Oct-22</p></td><td><p>Oct-23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CFCD/TCR staffing</p></td><td><p>7,410</p></td><td><p>9,240</p></td><td><p>10,260</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Source: Derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM).</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ul><li>Data is drawn at the end of each month. Data is correct as of the end of October in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and has been rounded to the nearest 10.</li><li>Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment. No overtime FTE is included.</li><li>The number of Fraud, Error and Debt staff is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal department use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics standard.</li></ul></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 21/11/2023 17:21:21 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3703 label Biography information for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

1668090

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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	Poverty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report Destitution in the UK 2023, published on 24 October, which found that "approximately 3.8 million people experienced destitution in 2022, including around one million children".
tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
uin	HL39
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>This government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. We are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households and individuals with the rising bills.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, government is committed to reducing poverty, including child poverty, and supporting low-income families and has overseen significant falls in absolute poverty since 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021/22 there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10, including 400,000 fewer children, 1 million fewer working age adults and 200,000 fewer pensioners. Rates of absolute poverty after housing costs for individuals in families in receipt of Universal Credit have also fallen by 12ppt since 2019/20.</p><p> </p><p>With almost one million job vacancies across the UK, our focus remains firmly on supporting people, including parents, to move into and progress in work. This approach is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks of poverty. The latest statistics show that in 2021/22 children living in workless households were 5 times more likely to be in absolute poverty, after housing costs, than those where all adults work.</p><p> </p><p>To help people into work, our core Jobcentre offer provides a range of options, including face-to-face time with work coaches and interview assistance. In addition, there is specific support targeted towards young people, people aged 50 plus and job seekers with disabilities or health issues.</p><p> </p><p>To support those who are in work, from 1 April 2023, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW. In addition, the voluntary in-work progression offer started to roll-out in April 2022. It is now available in all Jobcentres across Great Britain. We estimate that around 1.4m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into higher-paid work.</p><p> </p><p>To further support parents into work, on 28th June 2023, the maximum monthly amounts that a parent can be reimbursed for their childcare increased by 47%, from £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children to £950.92 and £1,630.15 respectively. Importantly, we can now also provide even more help with upfront childcare costs when parents move into work or increase their hours. This means that a parent who needs this additional financial help can now be provided with funding towards both their first and second set of costs (or increased costs), upfront, thereby easing them into the UC childcare costs cycle.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/11/2023 17:56:52 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	2024 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

1668166

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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	Poverty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle destitution in the UK, particularly destitution experienced by children.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL52
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to reducing poverty, including child poverty, and supporting low-income families. We will spend around £276bn through the welfare system in Great Britain in 2023/24 including around £124bn on people of working age and children, and around £152 billion on pensioners. Of this, around £79 billion will be spent on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>From April, we uprated benefit rates and State Pensions by 10.1%, and in order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap levels also increased by the same amount.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021/22 there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10, including 400,000 fewer children, 1 million fewer working age adults and 200,000 fewer pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>With almost one million job vacancies across the UK, our focus remains firmly on supporting people, including parents, to move into and progress in work. This approach which is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment - particularly where it is full-time - in substantially reducing the risks of poverty. The latest statistics show that in 2021/22 children living in workless households were 5 times more likely to be in absolute poverty, after housing costs, than those where all adults work.</p><p> </p><p>Through the ambitious package announced at the Spring budget we are delivering measures that are designed to support people to enter work, increase their working hours and extend their working lives.</p><p> </p><p>To help people into work, our core Jobcentre offer provides a range of options, including face-to-face time with work coaches and interview assistance. In addition, there is specific support targeted towards young people, people aged 50 plus and job seekers with disabilities or health issues.</p><p> </p><p>To support those who are in work, from 1 April 2023, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW. In addition, the voluntary in-work progression offer started to roll-out in April 2022. It is now available in all Jobcentres across Great Britain. We estimate that around 1.4m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into higher-paid work.</p><p> </p><p>To further support parents into work, on 28<sup>th</sup> June 2023, the maximum monthly amounts that a parent can<del class="ministerial">HL52</del> be reimbursed for their childcare increased by 47%, from £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children to £950.92 and £1,630.15 respectively<strong>.</strong> Importantly, we can now also provide even more help with upfront childcare costs when parents move into work or increase their hours. This means that a parent who needs this additional financial help can now be provided with funding towards both their first and second set of costs (or increased costs), upfront, thereby easing them into the UC childcare costs cycle.</p><p> </p><p>This government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living which is why we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households and individuals with the rising bills.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 15/11/2023 14:27:00 question first ministerially corrected 15/11/2023 16:10:23 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie previous answer version 743 answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1666292

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
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	Household Support Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how money from the Household Support Fund is allocated; and what criteria they use when deciding how much money each local authority is given.
tabling member printed	Lord Palmer of Childs Hill
uin	HL10694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>The Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England this financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion.</p><p> </p><p>In England this is being delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.</p><p> </p><p>The year-long Household Support Fund extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary cost of living support to those most in need.</p><p> </p><p>The distribution of the funding is targeted at the areas of the country with the most vulnerable households, on the basis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) local population estimates and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores. Allocation amounts for upper tier Local Authorities in England are therefore reflective of population size and relative deprivation.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 25/10/2023 10:52:58 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4214 label Biography information for Lord Palmer of Childs Hill

1666299

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
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 Services: Rural Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision of employability services in rural areas.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL10701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>Jobcentre Plus employer and partnership leads work closely with local employers and providers to understand labour market needs and to ensure provision is available to address skills gaps, and that the delivery of local employment support services is tailored to the needs of communities, alongside our national support offer. For example, our successful Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs) combines work experience, job specific training and a guaranteed interview to support claimants into local vacancies.</p><p> </p><p>Every Jobcentre Plus district has a place-based plan that uses local knowledge, experience, and insight to shape the services and activities in the area, in collaboration with local employers and partners. This includes taking account of the needs of claimants living in rural communities to access employment support services and vacancies, such as any barriers around travel and how these might be overcome.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 26/10/2023 10:08:25 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick