theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help prevent the misuse of Motability vehicles in criminal activity. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office has not issued national guidance to police forces on the recording and investigation of criminal activity involving Motability vehicles.

Enforcement of the law, including road traffic legislation, is an operational matter for individual police forces to determine in line with resources and local policing plans.

The Government will continue to support the police to ensure that they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation.
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Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of rescheduling psylocibin to allow for research into its potential merits in the treatment of mental health issues. \p Sarah Jones: Psilocybin is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (‘the 1971 Act’) and placed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (‘the 2001 Regulations’). Drugs are typically placed in Schedule 1 when there is no established medical use in the UK. Drugs that have an established medical use are typically placed in another schedule to enable prescribing.

The Government recognises that studies into the potential use of psilocybin as part of the treatment for mental health conditions have been or are being conducted in the UK. However, medicines based on psilocybin have to date not been assessed on the basis of their safety, quality and efficacy and granted a marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA).

The MHRA supports the safe and scientifically sound conduct of trials in this area and provides regulatory and scientific advice to companies at all stages of developing medicines. Should a company apply for a marketing authorisation (a product licence), it will ultimately be a decision for the MHRA whether to license a psilocybin-based medicine as a therapy. Reconsideration of scheduling under the 1971 Act would ordinarily follow such an assessment by the MHRA.

Research into Schedule 1 drugs, including psilocybin, proceeds in the UK under Home Office licence. On 16 July, the Government responded to recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) on how best to reduce barriers to research with Schedule 1 drugs. The Government intends to trial an approach whereby a domestic controlled drug licence is not required in universities, university colleges and hospitals, nor for clinical studies with relevant approval from the Health Research Authority or MHRA. These measures will support the Government’s aim of facilitating access to Schedule 1 controlled drugs for legitimate research into potential uses in healthcare, while minimising the risk of harm, diversion and misuse.

Ministers are under a duty to consider advice from the ACMD prior to making regulations under the Misuse of the 1971 Act, for example if the Government were minded to reschedule a drug to enable it to be prescribed. The Government has no current plans to commission the ACMD to assess the scheduling of psilocybin.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the proportion of crimes involving Motability vehicles where the vehicle was used (a) by the registered Motability customer, (b) by another person with permission and (c) without the registered customer’s consent. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office holds data on the number of vehicle related incidents of crime recorded by the police in England and Wales. However, we do not hold data on whether a vehicle was used as part of the incident or the type of vehicle used.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of recorded crimes in which motability vehicles were identified as being involved, listed by each police force area. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office holds data on the number of vehicle related incidents of crime recorded by the police in England and Wales.

However, we do not hold data on whether a vehicle was used as part of the incident or the type of vehicle used.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help reduce crimes against (a) endangered species and (b) other wildlife. \p Sarah Jones: Wildlife crime can have devastating consequences for our natural environments and countryside communities. This Government is committed to reducing crime, including in rural areas, and anyone exploiting or deliberately harming British wildlife should face the full force of the law.

This financial year, we are continuing to fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit who provide intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to forces and other law enforcement agencies across the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime.

They are also the UK policing focal point for EUROPOL and INTERPOL wildlife crime activity, tackling the illegal trade of endangered species.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle car theft. \p Sarah Jones: We are working with the police and the automotive industry, to ensure the strongest response possible to vehicle crime.

The National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the police-led National Vehicle Crime Working Group are focusing on prevention and deterrence of theft of, and from, vehicles. This includes training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles, encouraging vehicle owners to secure their vehicles, and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.

In the Crime and Policing Bill we are banning the electronic devices used to steal vehicles, empowering the police and courts to target the criminals using, manufacturing, importing and supplying them.

We are providing £485,000 this financial year to the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership to tackle the export of stolen vehicles.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her oral contribution of 13 October 2025 during the statement on Manchester Terrorism Attack, Official Report, column 27, what legislative vehicle she plans to use to amend section (a) 12 and (b) 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to allow the police to take account of the cumulative impact of frequent protests when considering whether to impose conditions. \p Sarah Jones: The Government has tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which will allow senior officers to take account of the cumulative impact of protest activity when considering whether to impose conditions under sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.

This provision will help protect communities from repeated disruption caused by protests, while protecting the right to peaceful protest.
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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police front counters were closed between 2010 and 2024. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office does not collect data on the number of police front counters in use across all police forces, nor on closures.

Decisions regarding the management of the police estate, including public access counters at police stations, is a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents). They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need, experience, and in line with their existing budget.

A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing, and rebuilding trust and confidence in policing, The commitments set out in the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are now making a considerable difference to the service communities receive from their neighbourhood policing teams. We have also provided £200 million in Financial Year 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recorded (a) hate crimes and (b) religiously motivated offences have involved (i) Christian places of worship and (ii) other religious premises since 2010. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office collects and publishes data on hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales, including information on religious hate crimes by the targeted religion of the victim. Information is not collected on whether or not the offence took place at a place of worship or other religious premises.

The latest official statistics can be found here: Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025 - GOV.UK
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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many training materials (a) produced and (b) utilised by his Department include examples of income from OnlyFans creating. \p Andrew Western: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Access to Work scheme in supporting disabled people to (a) enter and (b) remain in employment; and what steps he is taking to (i) reduce delays, (ii) improve administrative efficiency, and (iii) ensure adequate funding of the scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Access to Work (AtW) is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant which supports the recruitment and retention of disabled people in employment. The Scheme has been providing support for over 30 years.

In 2024-2025, 61,670 people were approved for Access to Work provision. This is around a 10% increase when compared to 2023/24. Expenditure on Access to Work provision was around £320.7 million, which supported around 60,000 disabled people in employment.

We recognise that Access to Work is providing a poor experience for some applicants with processing delays affecting employees’ ability to start or continue in employment, and employers’ ability to support them.

That is why in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people in work. We are reviewing all aspects of Access to Work as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
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Chris Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households receiving housing benefit have been impacted by the benefit caps for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to 12 months, (d) 12-24 months and (e) more than 24 months in each February since 2019. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information is not part of our routinely released statistical series.
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Patricia Ferguson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what priority his Department gives to responding to MPs' enquiries. \p Andrew Western: The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.

We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve the timeliness of responses to MP enquiries. The Department has also published guidance on the W4MP website to ensure MP offices have clear visibility of appropriate contact numbers for each DWP benefit product line.

Data on responses to correspondence from MPs is regularly published and can be found here: Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers - GOV.UK
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October to Question 80160 on Apprentices: Special Educational Needs, whether it is his Department's intention to expand this flexibility further. \p Andrew Western: Where an apprentice has a learning difficulty or disability which is a barrier to them achieving the standard English and maths requirements, there is the flexibility for them to achieve the lower Entry Level 3 qualification in the adjusted subject. In August 2024, this was extended to apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities but no Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of government-funded skills programmes on staffing levels in hospitality. \p Andrew Western: The hospitality industry has a need for skilled workers to support growth in the economy and opportunity for all, as we have identified through IfATE’s (Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) 2024 report into the future of skills training for the catering and hospitality sectors.

We have a comprehensive skills programme to support employers in growing their business, and to support learners to develop better skills for better jobs. Training products are based on the skills, knowledge and behaviours that employers themselves have identified. These programmes, covering technical qualifications and apprenticeships, will support the industry to access the skills they need. Skills England meets regularly with representatives of the hospitality industry to understand skills challenges in that sector and how current technical qualifications and apprenticeships are meeting their needs.

The government is funding a number of Sector-based Work Academy Programmes – or SWAPs. These are short-term training programmes designed to support jobseekers to get back into work. SWAPs bring together employers, Jobcentre Plus, and training providers, matching people to jobs and providing job-specific training, preparation and support. In May of this year the Department for Work and Pensions announced a partnership with UKHospitality to rollout hospitality SWAPs to 26 new areas providing real opportunities for individuals and employers.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there has been a change in guidance for decision makers looking at Attendance Allowance applications in the last 12 months. \p Torsten Bell: Attendance Allowance guidance is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it reflects current policy and operational processes.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support SMEs to access skills funding in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England. \p Andrew Western: The government provides a range of financial support to help Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in England access apprenticeships. To support non-levy paying employers, which are likely to be SMEs, to access apprenticeships, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16-21, and for apprentices aged 22-24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care. For all other apprentices, employers that do not pay the levy are required to co-invest 5% towards apprentice training costs. For all employers, government also pays £1,000 to both employers and training providers for apprentices aged 16-18, or apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHC plan or have been in local authority care. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 where they earn less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year).

In addition we are investing in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.

As of August 2025, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. For learners in Hexham, Northumberland, and Newcastle, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) decides how to make best use of their ASF to meet their local needs beyond four statutory entitlements, including which courses are funded and the eligibility criteria. By honouring our commitments to combine and further devolve adult skills funding, we give those with local knowledge the power they need to make decisions that are best for their areas.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his letter to the joint chief executives of Skills England entitled Skills England priorities for 2025 to 2026, dated 27 October 2025, what estimate he has made of the number of learners who will enter (a) level 4 and (b) level 5 education or training by age 25 in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency in the next three years. \p Andrew Western: On 20 October, we published the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which outlines our reforms to develop a world-class skills system that supports young people into education and training, meets learner and employer needs, and drives innovation and economic growth. This includes our bold new target of two-thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning - whether academic, technical or an apprenticeship - by age 25. This includes a sub-target of 10% of young people participating in higher technical education or training - at levels 4 or 5 - by age 25, by 2040.

We do not hold forecasts of the numbers of learners who will enter level 4 or level 5 study by age 25. The number of entrants that entered level 4 and level 5 study in previous academic years, broken down by local authority level, can be found in the Higher Level Learners publication here: Higher Level Learners.
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Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of raising statutory maternity and paternity pay to match the National Living Wage. \p Andrew Western: The Government has committed to review the parental leave and pay system. All current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements are in scope of the Parental Leave and Pay Review.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to question 82834 on Social Security Benefits: English Language, how many claimants have been required to attend English language courses as a work preparation activity in each of the last five years. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) consistency and (b) transparency in Access to Work funding decisions in different types of (i) disability and (ii) employment sectors. \p Sir Stephen Timms: For the last year, we have worked to improve decision-making throughout the Scheme by ensuring that guidance is applied with greater consistency, helping to provide a fairer process.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with stakeholders on the availability of apprenticeship schemes for 16-24 year olds in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle and (d) the North East. \p Andrew Western: This government wants to rebalance the programme back towards young people beginning their careers.

In August we introduced new foundation apprenticeships, which are jobs with training that give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. This new offer will help more young people learn high-quality skills at work and fuel innovation in businesses across the country, including in the North-East.

The department recently ran a workshop with the North-East Combined Authority, exploring how employers and providers in the region could access foundation apprenticeships.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to stop illegal gas installation in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) forms the basis of the Health and Safety Executive’s approach to ensuring the safety of gas appliances and systems within England (a) and Romford (b). This includes taking enforcement action against those who do not comply with their legal obligations, including unsafe gas work or carrying out gas work whilst unregistered.

GSIUR also allows for the establishment of the Gas Safe Register (GSR). GSR aims to protect the public from unsafe gas work through:

GSR will apply appropriate sanctions on those businesses found carrying out unsafe gas work as per their Sanctions Policy.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Access to Work application process for people with (a) learning disabilities, (b) mental health conditions and (c) neurodivergent needs; and what steps his Department is taking to simplify the process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As part of the application process for Access to Work, we encourage individuals to provide as much information about their circumstances as possible, to help us understand how best to offer support which is tailored to their needs.

There is a variety of accessible contact methods which customers can utilise when making applications. These include telephone, textphone, Video Relay Service and email as a reasonable adjustment. Where a customer would like to use email to contact the department as a reasonable adjustment, they should let the Access to Work team know so the Case Manager can follow the appropriate procedure to ensure we can try to accommodate the request. Details can be found at Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK

We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, hat steps his Department is taking to ensure timely payments to Access to Work support providers. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are continuing to streamline delivery practices and have increased the number of staff processing claims. Since May 2024, 118 additional staff have been redeployed to support Access to Work. We also prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks. We are reviewing all aspects of Access to Work as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the amount spent on Universal Credit payments to people with refugee status in each region of the UK in each of the last ten years; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that spending on departmental (a) planning and (b) resource allocation. \p Andrew Western: The expenditure information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff left his Department in each of the last five years by grade. \p Andrew Western: Information on the number of civil servants leaving each government department and organisation by responsibility level for the years 2021 to 2025 is published annually through the ‘Civil Service data browser’ as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. Information can be accessed through the Civil Service data browser for 2021 through 2025 at the following web address:

https://civil-service-statistics.jdac.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to increase the number of (a) training and (b) apprenticeship positions in areas where construction represents a substantial share of local employment. \p Andrew Western: The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to expanding access to high-quality construction training and apprenticeship opportunities across England, particularly in areas where the sector plays a significant role in the local economy.

A wide range of government-funded programmes are available to support construction employers in hiring new staff, offering work experience, and upskilling existing employees. These include Apprenticeships, including foundation apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, and Free Courses for Jobs.

Through the Construction Support Package, the Government is investing £625 million to train up to 60,000 additional construction workers by 2029.

To ensure strategic delivery and alignment with workforce needs, the Construction Skills Mission Board has been established.

This coordinated approach is helping to increase the number of training and apprenticeship positions in local areas, ensuring that communities benefit from secure, well-paid jobs in construction and that the sector has the skilled workforce it needs to deliver vital infrastructure and housing projects.
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Patricia Ferguson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the potential impact of the time taken for his Department to make decisions on the finances of applicants. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The department endeavours to process new claims for benefits and changes of circumstances as quickly as possible after customers have provided all relevant information and evidence relating to their claim.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will review eligibility criteria for Carer’s Allowance in cases where unpaid carers support individuals with severe epilepsy. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The government keeps eligibility criteria under review to ensure they are meeting the needs of carers. Entitlement to Carer's Allowance depends on certain conditions relating to the circumstances of both the disabled person and the carer being satisfied. A carer must care for a severely disabled person for a minimum of 35 hours per week. The disabled person (including those with severe epilepsy) must be in receipt of a gateway benefit:
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the level of readability of the correspondence sent by his Department when setting out how a constituent's New State Retirement Pension has been calculated (a) when considering contracted-out National Insurance contributions and (b) in general. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Individuals enrolling in a private pension scheme should receive clear and accessible information from their pension provider or employer about how the scheme may affect their State Pension entitlement. They can forecast their State Pension entitlement using the 'Check Your State Pension' service on GOV.UK, the HMRC app, or by requesting a paper statement with form BR19.

The Department is committed to making communications clear, understandable and accessible for all customers. DWP Customer Communications are tested regularly to ensure they continue to meet customers’ needs. For example, Easy Read products are specifically created to help and support disabled customers. MENCAP test our Easy Read products before publication.
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the Access to Work cap for people who require BSL interpreters to remain in full time work. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The cap was introduced in 2015 to enable Access to Work to continue to provide tailored support for those with the most significant needs and at the same time grow the overall number of customers receiving support from the scheme. The cap was introduced that year, set at 1.5 times the national average salary. This was revised upwards to twice the national average salary in 2018, based in part on the recognition of needs of deaf customers, particularly British Sign Language users.

Since its introduction in 2015 the cap has been increased annually in line with average earnings. The cap was originally introduced at £40,800 in 2015/16, and it now stands at £69,620.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress the Government has made in implementing the British Sign Language Act 2022. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Everyone in our country should have access to important information from the government and should be able to engage with the government on issues that will affect them. That is why it is crucial to make sure that government communications are as inclusive and accessible as possible, including for the Deaf community and British Sign Language (BSL) users.

The British Sign Language Act 2022 supports this by creating a greater recognition and understanding of BSL, and requires the government to report on what departments listed in the Act have done to promote or facilitate the use of British Sign Language in their communications with the public.

The third BSL report was published on Monday 21 July 2025 and demonstrates an increase in the usage of BSL by government departments in public-facing communications since reporting started in 2023. We will continue to publish a report every year on an annual basis up to 2027, going further than the frequency required by the Act. The next report will be published in July 2026.

In addition to overall reporting, each ministerial department has produced a 5 year BSL Plan, setting out how they plan to improve the use of BSL within their departments. These were published alongside the third BSL report in July 2025.

Following the passage of the BSL Act, the BSL Advisory board was created to advise the Government on key issues impacting the Deaf community in their everyday life. It is the first dual language board advising the UK Government, and it meets regularly. We will continue to work with the BSL Advisory Board, Deaf people and their representative organisations, and with Ministers across government, including our Lead Ministers for Disability, to continue to make tangible improvements for the Deaf community
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Chris Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to provide improved guidance to (a) employers and (b) employees on lone working. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 9 September 2025 to Question UIN 75301.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_118

Patricia Ferguson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on reducing the time taken for Access to Work applications to be allocated to a case manager. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As set out in the Green Paper, we are reforming Access to Work to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people into and on in work.

We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims to the Access to Work Scheme. We also prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks. To support our customers several measures have already been put in place, including streamlining our delivery processes and recruiting additional staff.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_119

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to consult with (a) disabled and (b) chronically ill people as part of the Timms Review of the PIP Assessment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon.

I have announced that the Review will be co-chaired by myself alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. We will oversee a steering group responsible for leading the co-production process, setting the Review’s strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The group will be made up of a majority of disabled people or representatives of disabled people’s organisations and will be recruited through an open and transparent Expression of Interest process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_120

Rebecca Long Bailey:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Poverty Strategy will end the two-child limit on Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

The Child Poverty Taskforce will publish a Child Poverty Strategy in the autumn that will deliver measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty.

The Strategy will look at all available levers, including social security changes, across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience, and better local support especially in the early years.

The commitments we have made at the 2025 Spending Review and since are a downpayment on our Child Poverty Strategy, which will build on the expansion of free breakfast clubs, extension of free school meals to all households claiming Universal Credit, national minimum wage boost and the cap on Universal Credit deductions through the Fair Repayment Rate.
wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_121
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_121

David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of its proposals to replace expiry dates for biocidal active substance approvals with a mechanism to ‘call in’ these substances for review on (a) the safety of active substances on the market and (b) their impact on (i) health and (ii) the environment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) legislative reforms aim to provide greater flexibility to the regulator while maintaining the current high standards offered by chemicals regulatory regimes, including the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), to human health and the environment.

The proposal to remove fixed expiry dates and introduce a risk-based 'call-in' system for active substance reviews would permit HSE to focus evaluation work where it would have the greatest impact particularly on addressing initial assessments that are required as part of the GB Active Substance Review Programme. Active substances requiring initial evaluation will as yet have had no evaluation, consequently risks are much less well understood than active substances (biocidal approvals) that have already been thoroughly evaluated and deemed acceptable.

This proposed change of approach will enable HSE to continue to make efficient and effective regulatory decisions to address risks to people’s safety, health and the environment.

All decisions on these proposals are subject to an analysis of the consultation responses, which is currently underway, and all final decisions are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_122

Amanda Hack:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help ensure that entering employment does not result in a net financial loss for young people living in supported housing. \p Sir Stephen Timms: It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for working age customers residing in supported and temporary accommodation.

Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups.

We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions will be taken in the round and in the context of the current fiscal environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_123

Sorcha Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how income earned by Northern Ireland residents in the Republic of Ireland is treated for (a) Universal Credit and (b) contributory pension entitlements. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Universal Credit in Northern Ireland is administered by the Department for Communities (DfC). DfC is responsible for how income earned by Northern Ireland residents in the Republic of Ireland is treated for the purposes of Universal Credit and contributory pensions entitlements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_124

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Access to Work scheme for deaf people. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There is a variety of contact methods which customers with hearing loss can utilise. These include textphone, Video Relay Service and email as a reasonable adjustment. Where a customer would like to use email as a method of contact, they should inform the Access to Work team or Case Manager. Details can be found at Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_125

David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Health and Safety Executive will take steps to align with (a) EU mandatory hazard classifications (under EU Classification, Labelling & Packaging Regulation) and (b) EU decisions to (i) approve, (ii) not to approve, (iii) restrict and (iv) ban biocide active substances. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In Great Britain (GB) chemicals are regulated under a framework that was largely inherited from the EU system including the GB Classification, Labelling and Packing Regulation (GB CLP) and the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR).

GB CLP like EU CLP adopts the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of classification and labelling of chemicals (‘the UN GHS’); a voluntary internationally agreed system, upon which the classification and labelling provisions of GB CLP are based. Divergence between mandatory hazard classifications for chemicals (GB mandatory classification and labelling (GB MCLs)) and EU mandatory hazard classifications has been minimal to-date.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted a public consultation between 23 June and 18 August 2025 on proposals for reforming both GB CLP and GB BPR. The GB BPR proposals included a proposal to adopt approvals from recognised jurisdictions. It is anticipated that the EU would be a recognised jurisdiction which would make it easier to adopt EU decisions where appropriate for GB. The analysis of the consultation responses is underway, and all final decisions including any decisions to align with the EU on GB CLP and GB BPR are subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_126

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to give the same protections to people awaiting migration from the Disability Living Allowance to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provided to existing PIP claimants during his review of the PIP system. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to ensure a wide range of views and voices are heard.

Given that the review will be co-produced it will be for the chairs and the steering group to set out its recommendations to Government. The Government will consider these recommendations, including any relating to the protections set out in the question once the review has completed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_127

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training on employment law do Access to Work case managers receive in order to determine whether a requested adjustment is reasonable. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Access to Work case managers do not receive training in employment law. Instead, they are trained to apply the Principles of Access to Work, which are designed to ensure that support provided:

Access to Work support is therefore not intended to determine legal obligations, but to provide additional assistance where appropriate, once an employer’s responsibilities have been met.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_128

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants had active contracts with the Motability Scheme and primary disabling conditions recorded as agoraphobia in each of the last five years by region. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The requested information on Motability is not part of our routine statistical releases.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-05 conversation_129

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on monitoring the misuse of Motability vehicles identified by police forces. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Motability Foundation is a registered charity regulated by the Charity Commission so is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Motability Scheme. The Scheme is delivered by Motability Operations which is an independent commercial company under contract to the charity. Only those claimants in receipt of an eligible benefit can choose to join the Motability Scheme. Any misuse of a scheme vehicle is a matter for Motability, and they will take action as appropriate.

DWP and Motability work closely to ensure that Scheme vehicles are used to meet the needs of disabled people. Where misuse of a Scheme vehicle is identified, including for criminal activity, appropriate action is taken to inform the police and recover the vehicle