Currently, when one member of a couple has reached Pension Credit qualifying age, that member may claim Pension Credit for the couple. Under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, Pension Credit will be available to couples only where both members have reached the qualifying age.<\/p>
<\/p>
We plan to implement the change to Pension Credit qualification for couples where one member is above and the other below Pension Credit qualifying age at the point that Universal Credit has been rolled out nationally and is available for all new claims. However, existing claims to Pension Credit from such couples will be protected.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T13:10:02.97Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pension Credit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the implementation of planned changes to pay Pension Credit to the youngest member of a couple rather than the youngest.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "135874"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884889", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884889/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the Rt. Hon Gentleman to the answer my predecessor gave him on 12th<\/sup> September 2017 (Hansard 7488).<\/p> <\/p> HMRC has processes in place for handling and scanning important documents and cherished items. The department endeavours to return such items but cannot legislate for documentation that is not accompanied by a covering letter or form that enables HMRC to identify the sender.<\/p> <\/p> In addition to the automated acknowledgements referred to in the previous answer, HMRC has introduced an online service that enables customers to track the progress of their tax credits renewal online through their Personal Tax Account. HMRC send tax credits customers their renewal packs between mid-April and the mid-June each year. These are followed by a series of reminders and an extensive advertising and social media campaign to encourage customers to renew on time.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3935", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mel Stride"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Devon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mel Stride"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-24T16:28:54.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Welfare Tax Credits"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a reliable mechanism which (a) makes clear the whereabouts of important documentation relating to tax credit claims, (b) acknowledges the submission of online renewals and (c) does not suspend payments until it can be proved that claimants have received and then failed to respond appropriately to the necessary paperwork.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135877"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " \u200bThe Prime Minister made a Written Ministerial Statement on 15 September 2016 informing Parliament that the government would consider what changes could be made to the Consolidated Guidance to address points made by Sir Mark Waller, the then Intelligence Services Commissioner. This work has been taken forward and the government has sought the views of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament on it in the context of their wider Detainee Inquiry. The government will carefully consider the report of the Committee once it is published later this year.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/343", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alan Duncan"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutland and Melton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir Alan Duncan"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T12:47:50.483Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Torture"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress the Government has made on updating Consolidated Guidance on the use of torture.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135883"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884897", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884897/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Disabled people can challenge the regulations underpinning the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy on the basis of discrimination by way of judicial review and seek a remedy (including damages for breach of the Human Rights Act). They can also ask the County Court to award damages for a breach of the Human Rights Act if it is found that they have been discriminated against under such regulations.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-24T11:47:33.117Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the availability of judicial legal remedies below High Court level for disabled people to challenge the under-occupancy penalty on the grounds of discrimination.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135885"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884958", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/884958/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I can confirm that no such instructions have been issued.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-19T14:42:32.857Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing Benefit"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether staff at her Department have instructed local authorities to cease paying housing enefit to all residents in receipt of personal independence payments pending a review into all claims for such payments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135946"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882194", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882194/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As part of NRM reform, Home Office Ministers committed to testing \u2018transition pathways\u2019 with local authorities to identifying best practice in supporting victims to move out of central government-funded support and into local communities.<\/p> <\/p> Nine local authorities applied to be part of this testing process and applications were assessed based on whether their proposals aligned with the aims of the project. For example, whether the proposals related to support for victims at the end of the NRM process, and whether they would provide opportunity to test the role of local authorities and their partners in supporting victims to transition out of NRM care.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T16:46:00.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Slavery"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many local authorities applied for the modern slavery pilot scheme; and how were successful applicants selected.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135265"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882195", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882195/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Over 99% of claims are made online, and claimants can contact their Work Coach at any point during their claim via email and their online journal if they require further help, including accessing the service.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T14:35:23.663Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit: Internet"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of visits to the Universal Credit website result in claimants successfully accessing the service following the (a) creation and (b) re-use of a verified account.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135266"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882201", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882201/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There has been no recent assessment of the adequacy of National Minimum Allowances for foster parents in covering the cost of raising children.<\/p> <\/p> \u2018Foster Care in England\u2019, the independent review of the fostering system and the Education Select Committee made a number of recommendations relating to the support foster parents receive, including financial support. We are carefully considering the recommendations made by both reports and the government response will be published in spring this year.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T16:55:29.727Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Foster Care: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of foster care allowances in covering the cost of raising children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "135272"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882273", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882273/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Ambulance handover performance for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust during the last three months for which data is available (December 2017 \u2013 February 2018) is shown in the table below:<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> December 2017<\/p><\/td> January 2018<\/p><\/td> February 2018<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Trust: Arriving by ambulance<\/p><\/td> 2,888<\/p><\/td> 2,819<\/p><\/td> 2,354<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Trust: Delay 30-60 mins<\/p><\/td> 376<\/p><\/td> 312<\/p><\/td> 269<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Trust: Delay more than 60 mins<\/p><\/td> 272<\/p><\/td> 219<\/p><\/td> 158<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Trust: Percentage Delayed more than 30 minutes<\/p><\/td> 22.4%<\/p><\/td> 18.8%<\/p><\/td> 18.1%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Source:<\/p>