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1171321

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Children: Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to undertake a public consultation on changing the sequence by which deductions from benefits are ordered to ensure that child maintenance payments, if applicable, would always be one of the three possible third party deductions.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	4373
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department recognises the importance of Child Maintenance payments and these deductions are already prioritised above others such as legacy benefit overpayments of Housing Benefit, Tax Credit and DWP overpayments and Recoverable Hardship and Social Fund loans.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to consult on the sequence by which deductions from benefits are ordered.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/01/2020 17:37:33 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1171374

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Families
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on her Department's application of the Family Test.
tabling member constituency	St Austell and Newquay
tabling member printed	Steve Double
uin	4382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>As the lead department for the Family Test, DWP is currently leading on work to strengthen implementation of the Family Test across government. As part of this work, we set up the Family Test Network, which was designed to bring departments together to share best practice and work collaboratively to strengthen implementation of the Family Test.</p><p> </p><p>Each department has a Family Test lead who is part of our Family Test Network. This Network is the central forum through which we have sought input and comments on the support departments need to help with Family Test implementation. This includes Network members feeding into improvements to the existing guidance for officials in all departments on Family Test implementation.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/01/2020 12:07:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4452 label Biography information for Steve Double

1171399

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Climate Change
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 the effect of climate change on the work of her Department; and what steps she is taking in response to that effect.
tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
tabling member printed	Darren Jones
uin	4447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions assesses climate change as a potential risk to its operational responsibilities.</p><p>The UK Government recognises climate change as a material risk to most if not all pension schemes. Therefore, we have clarified trustees’ investment duties in legislation to consider all financially material considerations – including climate change. Trustees have to document a policy on how they take account of climate change. Defined contribution and hybrid benefit schemes are required to publish their policy and defined benefit schemes will be required to publish from 1 October.</p><p>With respect to its own operations, the Department applies criteria that considers the effect of climate change, such as flood risk, when deciding on future site strategy.</p><p>The Department also undertakes regular reviews of their location specific emergency planning, disaster recovery and business continuity plans.</p><p>The Department’s estate supply chain is undertaking site visits which include an assessment of climate change risk with recommendations on investment. Investment in the Departmental estate is focused upon its core assets, with the level of criticality of those assets a key measure. This helps to ensure that its buildings are as resilient as possible. By using data, asset management principles and specialist knowledge we are able to identify assets most at risk of failure and to mitigate accordingly.</p><p>The DWP has a dedicated Estates Sustainability and Environment Team. Their purpose is to oversee that from an estate perspective: -</p><p>• Our effects on sustainability and the environment from appropriately managed and</p><p>• That risks from the environment are proportionately managed.</p><p>In terms of sustainability, the Department is committed to tackling climate change and delivering against the Government’s sustainability targets. We are currently exceeding our carbon reduction targets under the Greening Government Commitments (GGC). The GGC requires the Department to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2020 against a 2009/10 baseline. As of June 2019, we are currently at a 56% reduction.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 23/01/2020 17:39:52 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1171442

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Occupational Health: Fringe Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on making (a) early intervention mental health support and (b) physiotherapy provided by employers non-taxable benefits-in-kind.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	4356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>The government is exploring a range of policy options aiming to reduce ill-health related job loss. The consultation ‘Health is Everyone’s Business: Proposals to Reduce Ill Health-related Job Loss’ closed in October 2019.</p><p>It set out proposals to boost Government support available to employers to support employees who are managing health conditions in work and to manage sickness absence more effectively. It included proposals to encourage employers to take early, sustained and proportionate steps to support a sick employee to return to work, reform Statutory Sick Pay, improve occupational health availability and improve the provision of advice and support for employers. We have received a good response from a range of stakeholders, which we are reviewing.</p><p> </p><p>We know that being in the right work is good for health and that being out of work can have a detrimental effect on health. In addition to working with employers to help individuals get the support they need, at the right time, to return to work, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for up to 28 weeks to employees needing to take time off to recover from short-term illness.</p><p> </p><p>There is limited evidence to suggest that making the tax treatment more generous is the most effective way of incentivising more employers to offer occupational health provision, if the initial cost of provision is the main barrier for them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 4357 question first answered 22/01/2020 11:56:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1171444

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Occupational Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent comparative assessment she has made of the potential benefits to (a) workers, (b) employers and (c) the NHS of providing workers who have physical and mental health conditions with (i) early access to free clinical support and (ii) 28 consecutive days of absence.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	4357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>The government is exploring a range of policy options aiming to reduce ill-health related job loss. The consultation ‘Health is Everyone’s Business: Proposals to Reduce Ill Health-related Job Loss’ closed in October 2019.</p><p>It set out proposals to boost Government support available to employers to support employees who are managing health conditions in work and to manage sickness absence more effectively. It included proposals to encourage employers to take early, sustained and proportionate steps to support a sick employee to return to work, reform Statutory Sick Pay, improve occupational health availability and improve the provision of advice and support for employers. We have received a good response from a range of stakeholders, which we are reviewing.</p><p> </p><p>We know that being in the right work is good for health and that being out of work can have a detrimental effect on health. In addition to working with employers to help individuals get the support they need, at the right time, to return to work, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for up to 28 weeks to employees needing to take time off to recover from short-term illness.</p><p> </p><p>There is limited evidence to suggest that making the tax treatment more generous is the most effective way of incentivising more employers to offer occupational health provision, if the initial cost of provision is the main barrier for them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 4356 question first answered 22/01/2020 11:56:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1171495

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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 her Department is taking to ensure that the monthly assessment period for universal credit takes into account a claimant’s fluctuating income.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	4486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. This includes any earnings reported by an employer or claimant during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if claimants’ incomes fall, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p>Information is available for claimants about earnings patterns and how they may affect award of Universal Credit and is published on GOV.UK at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p>Claimants can discuss queries with their case manager or work coach, who can signpost to services appropriate to individual circumstances, including those delivered through the Money and Pensions Service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/01/2020 17:19:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1171496

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Social Security Benefits: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the freeze in working-age social security benefits on levels of poverty.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	4487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>The Benefit Freeze was designed to put welfare on a sustainable footing, incentivising work and making welfare fairer.</p><p> </p><p>The Government conducted a number of assessments of the impact of the benefit freeze as set out in the analysis of the measures in the Welfare Reform and Work Act, published at the time of the Summer Budget 2015.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>30% of households were then estimated to be affected by this policy, and no one faced a cash loss as a result of the freeze.</p><p> </p><p>The benefit freeze will come to an end in April 2020.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 23/01/2020 17:32:36 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1171498

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	Social Security Benefits: UK Relations with EU
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has for social security co-ordination between the UK and EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	4488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>During the Implementation Period the Government will be negotiating a future relationship with the EU. As set out in the Political Declaration published on 19 October 2019, both Parties have agreed to consider addressing social security coordination in the light of future movement of persons.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Withdrawal Agreement provisions on social security coordination will apply to those in scope of that agreement.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/01/2020 14:41:26 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1171499

registered interest
date	16/01/2020
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	UK Shared Prosperity Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on employment and skills support to be provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	4489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>The government’s manifesto committed to replace European structural funds with a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a proportion of which will be targeted to ensure disadvantaged people gain the skills they need to make a success of life. We are continuing to work with government departments – including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the design and priorities of the new fund.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/01/2020 15:09:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1170937

registered interest
date	15/01/2020
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	Attendance Allowance: York
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in (a) the City of York and (b) York Central constituency were in receipt of the (i) higher and (b) lower rate of attendance allowance in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	3844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>Information on the number of Attendance Allowance claimants receiving the lower and higher rate in York Central and York Outer Constituency in each year since 2010 is shown below. As of 2010 the constituency City of York was abolished, alongside the Vale of York Constituency. In their place the York Central and York Outer Constituencies were created on the Boundary Commission for England’s recommendation. Therefore, figures for the City of York were unavailable to answer this question.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="3"><p>York Central Constituency</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>York Outer Constituency</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Lower Rate</p></td><td><p>Higher Rate</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>Lower Rate</p></td><td><p>Higher Rate</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>919</p></td><td><p>1,349</p></td><td><p>2,271</p></td><td><p>902</p></td><td><p>1,609</p></td><td><p>2,515</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>908</p></td><td><p>1,284</p></td><td><p>2,194</p></td><td><p>892</p></td><td><p>1,612</p></td><td><p>2,511</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>890</p></td><td><p>1,235</p></td><td><p>2,125</p></td><td><p>912</p></td><td><p>1,561</p></td><td><p>2,474</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>795</p></td><td><p>1,183</p></td><td><p>1,979</p></td><td><p>872</p></td><td><p>1,484</p></td><td><p>2,354</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>760</p></td><td><p>1,166</p></td><td><p>1,925</p></td><td><p>840</p></td><td><p>1,535</p></td><td><p>2,373</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>706</p></td><td><p>1,185</p></td><td><p>1,888</p></td><td><p>821</p></td><td><p>1,589</p></td><td><p>2,408</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>707</p></td><td><p>1,160</p></td><td><p>1,866</p></td><td><p>801</p></td><td><p>1,590</p></td><td><p>2,393</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>679</p></td><td><p>1,171</p></td><td><p>1,855</p></td><td><p>796</p></td><td><p>1,610</p></td><td><p>2,406</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>667</p></td><td><p>1,157</p></td><td><p>1,817</p></td><td><p>797</p></td><td><p>1,715</p></td><td><p>2,510</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>641</p></td><td><p>1,213</p></td><td><p>1,857</p></td><td><p>780</p></td><td><p>1,709</p></td><td><p>2,492</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Note: </strong>number of claimants as at May each year and relates to claimants receiving payment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The information is published and available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/User-Guide.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/User-Guide.html</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/01/2020 18:14:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell