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1144092

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Poverty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the report by the Social Metrics Commission Measuring Poverty 2019, published in July, and the appointment of the new Prime Minister on 24 July, what plans they have to revise their strategy for tackling poverty.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL17580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del><ins class="ministerial">The Government is committed to delivering a sustainable, long-term solution to poverty through reforming the welfare system so that it works with the tax system and the Labour market to support employment and higher pay. Promoting full-time work through work incentives are a key feature of this approach, reinforced by the National Living Wage and the rising Personal Tax Allowance, which work together to promote independence from benefits.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Universal Credit, which is now reaching over 2 million households, has already shown that it is more effective in getting people into work than the legacy benefits it replaces. Nine months into a UC claim, 40% of claimants are working for an employer in a paid role, compared with only 23% at the start of their claim. </ins><br /> <br /><ins class="ministerial"> The number of people in employment has increased by over 3.7 million since 2010. Three-quarters of the growth in employment has been in full-time work which substantially reduces the chances of being in poverty.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government is working with the Social Metrics Commission, and other experts in the field, to develop new experimental statistics which will help us to find new and better ways to analyse poverty in this country. These will be published in 2020 and, in the long-run, could help us target support more effectively.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:23:29 question first ministerially corrected 30/09/2019 14:54:43 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134826 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

1144129

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Pension Credit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 22 July (HL16979), whether they will provide details of the funding for charities that work with older people to support the take-up of Pension Credit in each of the three years specified in the original question.
tabling member printed	Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
uin	HL17617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del><ins class="ministerial">The Government works with a wide range of stakeholders including charitable organisations to promote the take-up of Pension Credit. However, the DWP does not provide specific funding to such organisations for Pension Credit take-up related activities. Support is available through a variety of information resources including the Pension Credit toolkit, which is an on-line tool for organisations to use in order to encourage people to claim Pension Credit.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 09/09/2019 15:36:02 question first ministerially corrected 02/10/2019 14:06:45 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134866 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	579 label Biography information for Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

1144138

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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	Sanitation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is a statutory requirement for public buildings and offices to provide appropriate disposal bins for the disposal of stoma and other continence products and personal care products in (1) female, and (2) male toilets.
tabling member printed	Baroness Greengross
uin	HL17626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most workplaces. These Regulations require for suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences to be available at readily accessible places. The attached documents the <em>Workplace Health Safety and Welfare Approved Code of Practice and Guidance</em> (L24) and <em>Welfare at Work – Guidance for employers</em> (INDG293), which are guidance to help dutyholders comply with the regulations, say:</ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">provision must be made for any worker with a disability to enable them to have access to facilities which are adjusted for their use as necessary; and</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">that toilets used by women should be provided with suitable means for the disposal of sanitary dressings.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There are no equivalent requirements for men.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">These regulations do not apply to non-workplaces; however, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s building regulations are applicable to public buildings and the advice is:</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Statutory guidance supporting Part M of the building regulations, includes a sanitary waste disposal bin in accessible toilets. All building other than dwellings in scope, including offices and all public buildings would require as a minimum one accessible toilet where a stoma bag can be safely disposed of.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">Building Regulations come with statutory guidance on the layout of wheelchair-accessible unisex toilets. These toilets offer private space for anyone needing to attend to a medical need and are not exclusively for use by ambulant disabled people. The guidance for accessible WCs includes a sanitary waste disposal bin with a lid and a wash hand basin. The layout and content of these spaces are controlled in all newly built offices and public buildings.</ins></li></ul><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><ul><li><ins class="ministerial">The statutory guidance given in Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings) also points to the British Standard BS8300-2:2018 “Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment. Buildings. Code of practice”. This independent best practice standard was updated in January 2018 with further information describing best practice in a range of toilets for people treating a medical condition.</ins></li></ul><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name HL17626 attachment 1 Workplace health and safety regulations.pdf title Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare 2 file name HL17626 attachment 2 Welfare at work.pdf title Welfare at Work question first answered 09/09/2019 15:38:19 question first ministerially corrected 30/09/2019 11:58:41 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott previous answer version 134882 answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	2518 label Biography information for Baroness Greengross

1142674

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Children: Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement actions the HMRC and Child Maintenance Group liaison group has conducted since January 2017.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	284156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department is currently working with HMRC to identify opportunities for closer working on a range of enforcement activities, as part of the implementation of the DWP’s child maintenance compliance and arrears strategy.</p><p>Alongside this work the Department’s Financial Investigations Unit continues to conduct investigations into child maintenance matters. Between January and March 2019 the CMS’s Financial Investigations Unit launched 530 complex earnings investigations and 20 criminal investigations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 05/09/2019 11:29:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1142684

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Universal Credit: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit appeals are awaiting allocation of a hearing date because her Department has not yet sent an appeal response to HMCTS.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	284154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>When a customer appeals a DWP decision this is made directly to HMCTS, who will schedule a tribunal date. Any question on waiting times would need to be answered by the MoJ.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 16:47:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1142685

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Universal Credit: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times her Department has requested that HM Courts and Tribunals Service provide an extension to a deadline for a universal credit appeal in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
tabling member printed	Peter Grant
uin	284155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not collect information on the number of extensions to a deadline requested to HM Courts and Tribunals Service for Universal Credit appeals.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 11:54:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1142694

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Pension 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 she is taking to increase the take-up of pensions credit by people who are entitled to claim it; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	284185
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>It is important to highlight that there are over 1.6 million people already claiming some £5.4 billion in Pension Credit but the Government wants to ensure that <em>all</em> pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled.</p><p>On a national basis the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p>Potential customers can use the Pension Credit <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling the Freephone number 0800 99 1234.</p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant stakeholders a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the changes introduced on 15 May for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2019 10:59:09 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1142697

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Children: Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department issues to (a) non-resident parents and (b) parents with care on changes to their child maintenance calculations when their case transfers from the Child Support Agency to the Child Maintenance Service.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	284195
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Ahead of closure Child Support Agency send customers a series of letters advising about their case closing and what they can do should they want child maintenance payments to continue. This advice includes making an advance application to the Child Maintenance Service, t o ensure there are no breaks in child maintenance.</p><p> </p><p>When the Child Support Agency case is closed, we write to non-resident parent during the stage where we are confirming the arrears position, to remind them of the amount we have worked out they owe. We advise them to contact us if they have any other relevant information which would impact this. A letter is then sent to receiving parent advising we have confirmed their balance of child maintenance. Where child maintenance is owed, we ask if the balance is correct and if they want their arrears written off or managed by Child Maintenance Service. Parents are provided with contact details to discuss their case, at all points.</p><p> </p><p>In cases where the arrears are moved to Child Maintenance Service, a letter is sent to both parties confirming their Child Support Agency case is fully closed. We also advise the unpaid child maintenance is now being managed by Child Maintenance Service. This provides the parent with the new telephone number they will need if they wish to contact Child Maintenance Service.</p><p> </p><p>Where there is a new Child Maintenance Service case, which was previously a Child Support Agency case, the calculation can change. This is because it is a fresh start under the new service, with new rules and data.</p><p> </p><p>At the outset of a Child Maintenance Service case, we issue an indicative calculation letter to the parents. This explains the new calculation, including the information used in the calculation. This provides opportunity for the non-resident parent to provide any further information that would impact the calculation. Following this we issue an initial calculation letter which confirms the calculation and the details used.</p><p> </p><p>Parents are advised they have the opportunity, throughout the application process and the life of the case as well as at annual review stage, to challenge the information used and request change.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/09/2019 13:21:58 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1142724

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	Access to Work Programme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether changes to Access to Work support are planned for staff employed by non-ministerial government departments.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	284252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Since 2006, employees of ministerial government departments have had their support funded directly by their Departments rather than through Access to Work, with the exception of Ministry of Defence employees working outside of London.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work is an important enabler in the delivery of the Government’s pledge to see a million more disabled people into work. As leaders in disability employment, and Disability Confident Level 3 Leaders, government departments should not be reliant on external grants to provide the necessary support for their employees.</p><p> </p><p>We have consulted with Ministerial and Non-Ministerial government departments, as well as their arms lengths bodies, to understand what any change could mean. We are currently reviewing this information and considering options for the future.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 06/09/2019 11:17:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1142752

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that state pensions for UK citizens living overseas increase at the same rate as pensions for pensioners who remain in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Warrington South
tabling member printed	Faisal Rashid
uin	284333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The UK State Pension is payable worldwide. It is up-rated for overseas residents where there is a legal requirement to do so and it is up-rated abroad at the same rate as in the UK. <strong> </strong></p><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/09/2019 15:31:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4670 label Biography information for Faisal Rashid