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1169007

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Tax Avoidance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What steps he is taking to ensure that HMRC has adequate (a) powers and (b) resources to investigate tax avoidance enablers.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	900058
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government has taken significant action, including introducing 100 new measures tackling tax avoidance, evasion and other forms of non-compliance since 2010. This has secured and protected £200bn that would have otherwise gone unpaid, helping to bring the UK’s tax gap to a near record low of 5.6%.</p> answering member constituency Hereford and South Herefordshire answering member printed Jesse Norman question first answered 07/01/2020 17:29:46 answering member 3991 label Biography information for Jesse Norman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1169090

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
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	Thomas Cook: Insolvency
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 implications for her policies of reports that former Thomas Cook staff are having difficulties accessing and navigating the benefits system.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2020 answer text <p>The Department is offering a range of support to anyone affected by the closure of Thomas Cook, through our Rapid Response Service (RRS) and wider services. This is designed to give practical support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy.</p><p> </p><p>The RRS is delivered in partnership with a range of national and local partners, including National Careers Service and local service providers. It was mobilised for former Thomas Cook employees to help people find a new job as soon as possible by offering tailored and individual support. Each Jobcentre Plus district area deploys resources according to the local situation and the needs of their claimants.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland continue to deliver ‘Help to Claim’ support to claimants making a new Universal Credit claim. Help to Claim have offered locally tailored support to former Thomas Cook employees in need of assistance face to face, and through prioritised telephony and web-chat channels.</p><p> </p><p>The Department keeps information we provide surrounding redundancies under review. This includes how we explain RRS and entitlements to benefits such as New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit. We are committed to having the right level of resource in place to support and direct people to the correct benefit type.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/01/2020 13:09:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1169091

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
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, how many universal credit claimants have signed a waiver outlining any previous communication with a political representative regarding benefits before accessing appeals information since that policy was introduced.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2020 answer text <p>At no point during a Universal Credit claim does the Department ask a person to sign a waiver. To safeguard the sensitive and personal data we hold about people’s Universal Credit claims, we ask representatives making enquiries on behalf of others to demonstrate that they have claimant consent. This is a simple process, which can be completed online or by telephone by the claimant, and has been in place since 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit system is structured around an online personal account which contains all the information relevant to the claim. This can include details about: bank accounts, savings, capital, medical history and family relationships, in addition to third parties including landlords and employers. Therefore, we need to ensure a high level of security and protection exists to combat unscrupulous individuals and organisations who try to access the information and seek to impersonate genuine representatives.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is continuing to work with Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) and third party organisations to understand how Universal Credit can support organisations who help our claimants. We are committed to having processes in place which effectively supports claimants to access our services, but which also protects information.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 15/01/2020 17:12:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1169112

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Hunting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to tackle illegal fox hunting.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1051
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2020 answer text <p>The Hunting Act 2004 bans the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions set out in Schedule 1 to the Act.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 15/01/2020 10:02:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1166642

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the debt incurred by individuals as a result of being scammed into claiming an advance for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	6511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>On the 18<sup>th</sup> September 2019 we brought in changes to the application process for Universal Credit advances to protect innocent people from these scams.</p><p> </p><p>In order to determine whether an individual is liable to repay an advance, we look at the strength of evidence provided. Our investigations play an important part in establishing whether a claimant has had any involvement. In some cases, we will be able to establish that a claimant was entirely innocent and did not benefit from the payment, in which case we would not seek to recover the money from them.</p><p> </p><p>As each case is different and is judged solely on its merits, and as our investigations are still ongoing, it is not possible to accurately estimate the amount individuals could be asked to repay.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/10/2019 16:46:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1166654

registered interest
date	28/10/2019
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: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of universal credit claimants who have been referred for fraud relating to advance claims made after 18 September 2019.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	6512
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2019 answer text <p>It is not possible to answer this question. This answer could only be provided by accessing a substantial number of referrals to ascertain how many relate to advances claimed after 18<sup>th</sup> September 2019. As a result, we estimate providing this information would incur disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/11/2019 10:59:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1151364

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Bereavement Support Payment
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 to consult on increasing the eligibility for bereavement support payment to include cohabitees.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	3788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department currently has no plans to consult on increasing the eligibility for bereavement support payment to include cohabitees.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/10/2019 14:24:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1151368

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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
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 adequacy of the six-month limit on the easement of work-related requirements for universal credit for bereavement of a partner or child.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	3790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>When a Universal Credit (UC) claimant suffers a bereavement there are easements to work-related requirement which can be applied. These will be discussed and agreed, on an individual basis, with the claimant’s Work Coach or Case Manager. In some circumstances payment of UC, that would otherwise reduce or stop following a bereavement, can continue for a short time. This is called a ‘Bereavement run-on’, and may be applied when a partner or dependent child dies.</p><p> </p><p>The ‘Bereavement run-on’ results in UC continuing to be paid as if there had been no change of circumstances for the assessment period in which the death occurs and the following two assessment periods.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 30/10/2019 17:03:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150531

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost to her Department of universal credit scams to date.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>If a claimant has been the victim of a scam, and has not benefited from an advance in any way, they will not be asked to repay it. The Department considers all cases on their own merits and decisions are made on the strength of the evidence provided.</p><p> </p><p>Completed investigations thus far, have shown that the total amount claimed in fraudulent Universal Credit (UC) advances as of 30<sup>th</sup> September 2019 was £1,868,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand).</p><p> </p><p>It is important to clarify that these are not losses. The Department will endeavour to recover this money and pursue fraudsters. Recovery has already started in some of these cases.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 14:40:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1150532

registered interest
date	17/10/2019
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: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) individuals and (b) third party individuals investigated for universal credit fraud have been (a) referred for prosecution and (b) successfully prosecuted.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	1785
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes this issue very seriously and we are committed to taking appropriate action to deter this fraud.</p><p> </p><p>There are 28 individual cases being prepared for prosecution and 1 successful individual prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>There has been 1 successful third party prosecution and a 2<sup>nd</sup> third party case is due in court next month.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 22/10/2019 14:25:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury