Since PIP was introduced 3.5m decisions have been made, of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department endeavors to get decisions right first time. The main reason why decisions are changed at tribunal is a combination of the claimant\u2019s oral evidence, the tribunal reaching a different conclusion on the same evidence and new written evidence not available to the original decision makers.<\/p>
<\/p>
We continue to monitor and improve our decision making processes. This includes the deployment of 150 Presenting Officers to represent the Department at tribunal hearings and provide valuable feedback to both Decision Makers and Health Care Professionals.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4071", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Newton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Truro and Falmouth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Newton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T12:14:17.74Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment: Appeals"} , "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 steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of personal independence payment applications that go to appeal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Upper Bann"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Simpson"} ], "uin" : "192872"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010267", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010267/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The number of staff employed by the department as at 31 October 2018 was 4146. This will be consistent with data due to be published by 7 December 2018 at Data.Gov.UK - Dataset Workforce Management Information Defra<\/a>, in line with Cabinet Office arrangements.<\/p> <\/p> We are unable to provide this data as at 19 November 2018 without incurring disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"}
}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people were employed by his Department on 19 November 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010269", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010269/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In EU food law, the expectation is that food is not contaminated. Food must be safe and fit for human consumption. This applies to all food placed on the market (i.e. supplied for profit or not) in EU Member States.<\/p> <\/p> Consumers should be provided with information about food which enables them to make safe and informed food choices.<\/p> <\/p> Even where foreign bodies found in food which might not in themselves be harmful to health, including insects or other foreign bodies that should not be in the food, or are not described as being part of the food, the food would still likely be deemed \u2018unfit for human consumption.\u2019<\/p> <\/p> Food imported into the EU for placing on the market within the EU must comply with the relevant requirements of food law.<\/p> <\/p> Importers, distributors and retailers of food are under a statutory obligation to comply with maximum residues levels set for pesticides in food. They must put in place appropriate quality controls to ensure this. This requirement is backed up by a substantial UK Government programme of testing for residues in food and drink; results are published on the GOV.UK website.<\/p> <\/p> Controlled plant products are inspected for quarantine pests on a risk basis.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4033", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Rutley"}
}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food: Imports"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what checks his Department takes to ensure that no insects or pesticides are brought into the UK through food imports.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010271", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010271/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are committed to meeting our legal obligations, including having set dates for fertiliser spreading under the requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to review agricultural policy to support farmers and deliver environmental benefits in a way that better reflects UK circumstances, in line with the terms of any future agreement with the EU.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fertilisers"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy will be on time limits for farmers to spread fertiliser after the UK leaves the EU.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Upper Bann"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Simpson"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010273", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010273/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is the long-standing policy of successive Governments that compensation is not paid for losses due to damage caused by flooding or coastal erosion. This is because, except in very limited circumstance, no-one has a right to flood or coastal erosion defences or, if defences are provided, there is no legal requirement to provide any particular standard of defence.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Farms are businesses and, like all businesses, should take actions to try and limit the impacts of flooding on their property or assets, and aim to have insurance in place for any losses incurred by a flood.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on financial support for farmers affected by heavy flooding.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010275", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010275/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The law requires employers to provide suitable and sufficient toilet facilities at readily accessible places. Employers should ensure, amongst other things, that toilets are kept clean and well maintained.<\/p> <\/p> The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to most workplaces. There is more specific legislation for construction sites, namely the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM).<\/p> <\/p> The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or Local Authority, as the relevant enforcing authority, will follow up complaints regarding unsuitable welfare facilities at workplaces.<\/p> <\/p> HSE provides guidance on what constitutes suitable and sufficient sanitary and washing facilities which is available to download for free on the HSE website:<\/p> http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l24.htm<\/a><\/p> http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg293.pdf<\/a><\/p> http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l153.pdf<\/a><\/p> http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/welfare/toilets-and-washing.htm<\/a><\/p>