theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_132

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of uncrewed land systems in use by the British army. \p Maria Eagle: The Army is undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary.

There are a number of programmes and projects across the Army actively developing and aiming to deliver uncrewed land system capabilities over the next decade. Project TIQUILA will equip the Royal Artillery with a Brigade-level Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) capability and remains on track for Initial Operating Capability by May 2025.

Whilst the Army’s modernisation will continue over the next decade with a programme of investment worth billions of pounds, future capability development priorities will be guided by the Strategic Defence Review.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_133

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of the RCH 155 will be primarily manufactured in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany. \p Maria Eagle: The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitive. I can confirm, however, that the number is subject to ongoing commercial negotiations and will also be guided by the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

The proportion of work undertaken on the production of RCH 155, including manufacturing workshare, by the United Kingdom and Germany will be subject to contractual arrangements with industry following commercial negotiations. Throughout this process the Department will seek opportunities to maximise the nation’s workshare in support of UK prosperity and realisation of benefits to the Land Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_134

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether the Strategic Defence Review will report based on a cost envelope of 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence expenditure. \p Luke Pollard: The conclusion of the Strategic Defence Review regarding the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty first century must be deliverable and affordable within the resources available to Defence. This takes account of the commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP, which is included in the Terms of Reference of the Review, and the ambition to reach 3% of GDP in the next Parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_135

Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international counterparts on the potential deployment of UK troops in support of potential international peacekeeping operations in Ukraine; and what assessment he has made of whether such a deployment would be consistent with the UK’s foreign and defence policy. \p Luke Pollard: The Secretary of State regularly holds discussions with his Cabinet colleagues and international counterparts on the war in Ukraine and how we can continue to best support Ukraine going forward. On 2 March, the Prime Minister chaired the Leaders Meeting on Ukraine, hosting counterparts from across Europe including Türkiye, the NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the EU Commission, EU Council and Canada, to discuss our support for Ukraine.

The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.

We are not going to get into any further details at this stage and our focus is on ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. When, how and on what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_136

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Nepalese service personnel currently serve in the British Army. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 March 2025 to Question 33147.

Armed Forces: Commonwealth (docx, 34.4KB)
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_137

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role is of the RAF Regiment. \p Luke Pollard: The role of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment is to provide highly specialised Air-minded, ground combat forces to enable the delivery of Air and Space power.

As specialists in Air Force Protection, who are optimised for operations in the Complex Air Ground Environment, the RAF Regiment contributes to the defence of RAF air assets and their bases in the UK Homeland and overseas. Additionally, the RAF Regiment delivers offensive air and space capabilities, leads on the delivery of RAF State and ceremonial duties and is responsible for the provision of fixed-site counter-uncrewed air systems. The RAF Regiment also delivers all initial and continuation force protection training to the wider RAF. The RAF Regiment constitutes a Regular and an Auxiliary Reserve Force.

The RAF Regiment has been involved in operations across the globe since its inception in 1942, where more recent examples include the Falklands, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and broader Middle East. Most recently they have supported non-combatant evacuations from Sudan and the Middle East.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_138

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in NATO, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025. \p Luke Pollard: At the Munich Security Conference, the Secretary of State for Defence met with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand. He also attended a working breakfast, which was attended by a number of Allied Defence Ministers. Earlier in the same week, the Secretary of State attended the NATO Defence Ministers meeting and Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels. In these meetings, the Secretary of State reiterated the Government’s NATO First policy and the UK’s commitment to remaining the leading NATO Ally in Europe.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_139
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_139

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in the ARRC, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025. \p Luke Pollard: Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) provides NATO with a rapidly deployable, flexible HQ that can act as a Joint, Land or Corps HQ for operations and crisis response. The United Kingdom is HQ ARRC’s ‘framework nation’ and British personnel comprise over 60% of its workforce. Located in Gloucester, HQ ARRC is a multinational organisation, with twenty-one NATO and Partner Nations contributing personnel.

While the Secretary of State had a number of engagements with Allies at the Munich Security Conference 2025, he did not specifically discuss Britain’s role in the ARRC during these meetings.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_140

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies on the appointment of the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025. \p Luke Pollard: Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is one of NATO’s two strategic commanders and is a post that is traditionally held by the US.

The Secretary of State did not have any specific discussions about the appointment of the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_141

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of electrical devices (a) misplaced by and (b) stolen from staff in his Department. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence takes the security of defence assets very seriously, and we have robust policies and procedures to prevent losses and thefts, including where such devices can be taken and not leaving them unattended. Defence personnel are regularly reminded of their responsibilities to safeguard Defence assets.

Proportionate security controls are used to protect electronic devices according to the classification and nature of the information which the asset can hold.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_142

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours have been flown in each UK F35 since they entered full operational capability. \p Luke Pollard: The total flying hours accumulated for each airframe from first flight of each airframe to December 2024 is as follows.

Airframe tail number - Total Hours flown

ZM135 1,088

ZM136 1,058

ZM137 795

ZM138 976

ZM139 976

ZM140 858

ZM141 721

ZM142 945

ZM143 867

ZM144 758

ZM145 872

ZM146 847

ZM147 589

ZM148 533

ZM149 816

ZM150 550

ZM151 650

ZM152 425

ZM153 380

ZM154 533

ZM155 389

ZM156 558

ZM157 411

ZM158 504

ZM159 653

ZM160 488

ZM161 587

ZM162 357

ZM163 323

ZM164 286

ZM165 83

ZM166 86

ZM167 63

ZM168 98

ZM169 151
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_143

Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years. \p Ian Murray: The Scotland Office operates 6 social media accounts across X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and Threads. It does not have any paid social media subscriptions.

The amount spent on advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years was:

Year

Channel

Amount

2022/3

Facebook/ Instagram

£49,893

2023/4

Facebook/ Instagram

£17,725

2024/5 (to date)

Facebook/ Instagram

£4,019
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_144

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to reduce frequent absences of children from school. \p Stephen Morgan: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. If children aren’t in school, it doesn’t matter how effective or well-supported teaching and learning is, they will not benefit. Thanks to the hard work of parents and teachers there has been progress, but levels of absenteeism remain far too high.

The department has set out clear expectations of local authorities and schools in the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which was made statutory on 19 August 2024. This guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf

The guidance promotes a 'support first' approach and sets out clear expectations on how schools, trusts, local authorities and wider services should work together and with families to address attendance barriers and provide the right support, including where a pupil is not attending due to special educational needs.

The department has also established 31 attendance hubs that have offered their support to around 2000 other schools. Hubs are established and led by senior leaders in schools with strong attendance practice. The meetings led by hubs are intended to give senior leaders in other schools a forum to discuss and share effective attendance practice.

Last year, the department published an attendance toolkit, bringing together effective practice from across the hubs. The toolkit gives schools practical advice on how to diagnose and target their attendance problem and how to effectively implement great practice.

We are also strengthening our tools for faster and more effective school improvement by launching the new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams. Supported by over £20 million, these teams will offer both mandatory targeted intervention for schools identified by Ofsted as needing to improve and a universal service, acting as a catalyst for a self-improving system for all schools. The RISE teams have begun work with the first group of schools eligible for the targeted, bespoke service, including support for attendance as necessary. Improving school attendance is a national priority for RISE teams.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_145

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that chemistry education includes (a) green, (b) digital and (c) transferrable skills alongside technical knowledge of the subject. \p Janet Daby: The government recognises that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, such as chemistry, are vital for the UK’s future economic needs and to drive up productivity. Chemistry skills, in particular, are necessary for a range of careers within the green economy, including in growing sectors like carbon capture and hydrogen.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review will seek to deliver a curriculum that readies young people for life and work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive. The review group will publish an interim report in early spring and will publish its final report with recommendations this autumn. The department will take decisions on what changes to make to the curriculum in light of these recommendations.

Oak National Academy, an independent arm’s length body which provides free, high quality, optional and adaptable curriculum resources for schools, has recently published new curriculum sequences and associated lesson resources in science from key stages 1 to 4, including chemistry. Within Oak’s science curriculum, it provides a broad range of resources to support teachers to teach about green skills, climate change and sustainability. This year, Oak is also introducing a new curriculum thread entitled ‘How can we live sustainably to protect Earth for a better future?’. This will form part of its secondary science curriculum and will support the growing emphasis of green skills in chemistry. As well as this, Oak’s chemistry lessons include a variety of data analysis tools to strengthen pupils’ digital competency. Its chemistry lessons include real-life applications of chemistry, such as industrial chemistry, environmental chemistry and material science to strengthen technical knowledge.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_146

Jonathan Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of pupils(a) behaviour and (b) violence on the number of disrupted learning hours to other pupils. \p Stephen Morgan: The National Behaviour Survey (NBS), delivered through the department’s omnibus panel surveys, is the department’s vehicle to gather evidence on pupil behaviour and to understand how it potentially impacts on learning.

The behaviour survey questions allow the department to build up a national picture over time and act as a signpost to what schools need. In May 2024, teachers reported that for every 30 minutes of lesson time, 7 minutes were lost due to misbehaviour.

The department will continue to use data from the NBS to inform future strategy and policy improvements on behaviour.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_147

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. \p Janet Daby: I refer the hon. Member for North Herefordshire to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_148

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking with relevant authorities to support parents who educate their children at home. \p Stephen Morgan: While parents who choose to home educate assume full responsibility for their child’s education, the department believes that parents, educational providers and local authorities should work together to deliver the best educational outcomes for every child.

As part of the Children Not in School measures included in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is introducing the first ever duty on local authorities to provide support for home educating families. This support duty will ensure that parents who choose to home educate their children will receive a minimum level of support from their local authority should they request it.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill also includes measures for the introduction of statutory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England, and an accompanying duty on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for these registers. The information provided will enable local authorities to identify all children who are not in school in their area, including children who are home educated, as well as any specific support needs that they might have. Collecting this information will ensure that local authorities are better able to provide appropriate support in the form of advice and information to those children and their families should they request it.

The department continues to work with local authorities to collect information from existing voluntary registers of children not in school through the department’s mandatory termly elective home education data collection. This helps further build the national picture as to what support home educating parents may need.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_149

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to make the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. \p Janet Daby: I refer the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_150

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on what the average fine was for parents who had failed to secure their child’s regular attendance at school under section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 in the latest period for which data is available. \p Stephen Morgan: Information held on the average values of fines for parents who had failed to secure their child’s attendance at school will be held by local authorities.

The amount payable was £60 if paid within 21 days of receipt, rising to £120 if paid between 22 and 28 days. From August 2024, the fine for school absences increased to £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid within 28 days. In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_151

Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to renew the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. \p Janet Daby: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Liverpool Walton to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_152

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, whether the Prime Minister’s (a) RAF and (b) charter flights other than GBNI are carbon offset. \p Georgia Gould: It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_153

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 8434 on Prime Minister: Aviation, if he will publish the percentage of sustainable aviation fuel used for each of the Prime Minister's last 10 domestic flights. \p Georgia Gould: Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset and use Sustainable Aviation Fuel where either are possible.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_154

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 29217 on Prime Minister: Aviation, what the cost of domestic air travel by the Prime Minister is since 4 July 2024. \p Georgia Gould: The Government has ended the routine use of helicopter travel, unless operationally required. It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of protected individuals and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_155

Sir Oliver Dowden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many apprentices are working in the hair and beauty sector. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th February is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 105.4KB)
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_156

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Artworks, whether other artwork has been temporarily removed from (a) 10, (b) 11 and (c) 12 Downing Street. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_157

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many single parent families are affected by the two-child limit for benefits by the gender of the parent. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In April 2024, the number of single parents on Universal Credit affected by the two-child policy, by gender, was as follows.

Single parents household on Universal Credit affected by two-child policy (April 2024)

Female

201,000

Male

5,000

Total

206,000

Notes:
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_158

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Gingerbread report entitled Child maintenance: research on the experiences and impact on separated families published on 25 November 2024, whether her Department is working with charities and others with expertise in domestic abuse to embed trauma-informed principles into the operation of the Child Maintenance Service. \p Andrew Western: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) takes the issue of domestic abuse extremely seriously and is committed to ensuring that victims of abuse get the help and support they need to use the service safely.

Incorporating views and feedback from external stakeholders with experience of domestic abuse, CMS has updated and refreshed its Domestic Abuse training which includes awareness of a Trauma Informed Approach. All CMS caseworkers have received training to help identify abuse, support vulnerable customers, and provide signposting. A Domestic Abuse Plan is in place to support caseworkers in having these conversations. Domestic Abuse training will continue to be reviewed regularly and developed with the support of stakeholders, including Gingerbread, as we develop policies and processes that support victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

Additionally, there is work underway around the Trauma-Informed Approach across the Department, and CMS will, of course, be part of this work. This includes a dedicated programme that will integrate the six key pillars of the approach as defined by the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (December 2022).
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_159

John McDonnell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to increase awareness of PIP. \p Sir Stephen Timms: DWP has already taken steps to help ensure everyone living with health conditions or a disability is aware of benefits that they can claim, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP). There are no current plans to undertake further activity.

Comprehensive information is available on Gov.uk, which explains who PIP is for and how to claim. This includes a series of videos which provide information on PIP which helps people to understand whether PIP is right for them and to support them through the process if they decide to claim. Personal Independence Payment (PIP): What PIP is for - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_160

Blair McDougall:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to review the (a) Approved Code of Practice and (b) guidance on the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 in the context of the provision of disposal facilities in workplace toilets. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the Hon. member to PQ 24005.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_161

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been sanctioned for claiming unemployment or sickness benefits whilst working and not declaring hours. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The department does not typically issue sanctions in these circumstances and a fraud or error penalty would instead be considered, where appropriate.

We always encourage individuals to notify the department when a change of circumstances occurs, to avoid incurring a penalty. Instructions on how to inform us of any changes can be found here: Benefits: report a change in your circumstances - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_162

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Jobcentre Plus advisers provide (a) accurate and (b) comprehensive advice to claimants on (i) entitlement to transitional protection and (ii) other aspects of the transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: All Jobcentre advisers are given key information about Move to UC. We have a network of Transformation Leads attached to each Area who represent our Jobcentre and Service Centre network within Move to UC to ensure that our colleagues are getting the upskilling they need and to ensure it is landing as intended.

This is regularly updated through communications to advisers. Where customers have more complicated enquiries, advisers signpost customers to the helpline which can provide more comprehensive and specific advice on moving to UC. They also signpost to Help to Claim support externally if they identify a customer requires additional support.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_163

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any redress mechanisms are available for claimants who were misadvised by Jobcentre Plus staff to claim Universal Credit before their official migration date and consequently lost entitlement to transitional protection. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Customers who are unhappy with the service provided by DWP can contact us by phone, in person or in writing. Universal Credit claimants can also use their journal.

Complaints procedure - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_164

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish a breakdown by (a) disability and (b) long-term illness of eligibility for (a) Universal Credit, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, (c) Disability Living Allowance and (d) Personal Independence Payment in the last 12 months. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Statistics by primary disabling condition are already published for Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/.

Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.

Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore, the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions.

Statistics on the outcomes of Universal Credit work capability assessments (UC WCA) are available by high-level medical condition for the period from January 2022 to August 2024 in Table 7 of the latest UC WCA data tables.

For UC, it is not possible to provide the statistics for the primary medical condition, due to how the information on medical conditions is recorded and compiled. See section 3 of the Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment statistics: methodology and Note 9 of the UC WCA data tables for further information.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_165

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming Universal Credit received fit notes in 2024. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain who submitted an accepted fit note to the Department from January 2024 to September 2024 is 805,890.

Notes:

Numbers are rounded to 10.

Statistics have been provided to September 2024 in line with latest published statistics on fit notes.

Although most will have submitted Statements of Fitness for Work (fit notes), other forms of medical evidence that the Department accepts (e.g. hospital discharge letters) will be included in the totals.

Data was taken from Universal Credit analytical systems but results have not been quality assured to Official Statistics publication standard.

The Department regularly publishes Universal Credit Health Journey caseload statistics on Stat-Xplore including the monthly number of people on UC Health with a current fit-note.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_166

Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with multiple sclerosis who were placed into the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group due to meeting the descriptor mobilising unaided Activity 1. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_167

Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with multiple sclerosis who were placed into the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity group due to meeting the descriptor mobilising unaided Activity 1. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_168

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to make Personal Independence Payment application forms more accessible for people with mental health issues; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) designing questions to account for (i) frequency, (ii) reliability, and (iii) safety in assessing abilities rather than on best-case scenarios and (b) providing additional funding for (A) Disability Stockport and Citizens Advice and (B) other organisations for the provision of support with completing forms and navigating the process. \p Sir Stephen Timms: It is a fundamental principle that the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment should not just consider whether an individual can complete an activity, but the way they can do it.  When formulating their advice to the decision maker, health professionals must confirm that they have considered whether an individual can complete each assessment activity “safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period”.

DWP continually reviews the PIP claims process, including the content of forms, to ensure information and questions are clear and easy to understand. For example, the Award Review form (AR1) has recently been changed to modify the questions and make it clearer to customers what information is needed. Changes were made following extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders. This will benefit all customers, including those with mental health conditions.

Over the longer term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising the entire PIP service to improve customer experience. The new service will deliver a simpler application process for customers with more information and support available to those who need it. Improved evidence gathering will also enable the department to better tailor the service to the customer’s circumstances.

Within the current service there is no funding provided to external organisations to help customers completing PIP forms or navigating the claims process.

There are a series of videos, accessible via a link on Gov.UK, aimed at supporting customers navigating the new claim and assessment process which many customers with mental health conditions may find helpful https://www.gov.uk/government/news/personal-independence-payment-customer-journey-films
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_169

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22765 on Pensions: Inflation, whether he has had discussions with American Express. \p Torsten Bell: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold individual occupational pension scheme data.

Discretionary increases in benefits above the statutory minimum and those required by scheme rules are a matter for the scheme sponsor and trustees.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_170

Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review the age brackets for Universal Credit. \p Sir Stephen Timms: There are currently no plans to review the age brackets for Universal Credit.

The lower rate of Universal Credit for those aged under 25 reflects the fact that the majority of young people live in someone else’s household and are therefore likely to have lower living costs.

Younger workers also typically earn less as they are earlier in their careers, with the lower rate maintaining the incentive for younger people to find and progress in work.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_171

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments to include people who have been forced to move abroad due to life-threatening medical conditions. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can continue to be paid during an absence from Great Britain for 13 weeks. This can be increased to 26 weeks where the absence is specifically in relation to medical treatment of the condition which existed prior to a temporary absence.

We have no plans to change these rules.

Where someone moves permanently to a European Economic Area country or Switzerland, for customers in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) the export of the daily living component of PIP can exceed the temporary absence rules. The length of time PIP can be exported for depends on their individual circumstances. Further information on receiving benefits abroad and the WA are available on Gov.UK: Moving or retiring abroad - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_172

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time is for Pension Credit applications; and what the target processing time is for the coming financial year. \p Torsten Bell: DWP works to a planned timescale of 50 working days to clear Pension Credit claims. In 2023/24 DWP cleared 192,000 Pension Credit claims within the planned 50 working day timescale, equating to 77.7%. [Source: DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK]

The latest available management information for week commencing 17th February 2025 shows that the Average Actual Clearance Time for Pension Credit was 52.8 working days. This data aligns to the latest week included within the external publication of Official Statistics for Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a complex benefit, and some claims require additional investigation or information from the customer, which can result in longer processing times. As a result of the increase in Pension Credit claims following the Winter Fuel Payments policy announcement, the Department has deployed over 500 additional people to ensure it has the capacity to assess all claims in reasonable timescales.

Please note, The Average Actual Clearance Time figure shown is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. It is rounded to the nearest working day and based on the week the claim was cleared, rather than the week the claim was made.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_173
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_173

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department holds data on the percentage change in uptake levels of pension credit between 2024 and 2025. \p Torsten Bell: The latest Pension Credit take-up figures were published in October 2024. They showed that in financial year 2022/23, 65% of those entitled to Pension Credit claimed the benefit. This represents a 2 percentage point increase from financial year 2021/22, when the take-up rate was 63%. This data is available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK and Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2022 - GOV.UK.

Data on the percentage change between financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 will not be available until the end of 2026 when the 2024/25 publication is expected (release date to be confirmed).
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_174
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_174

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to require periodic redeclaration of circumstances every six months for Universal Credit claimants from April 2025. \p Sir Stephen Timms: As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the department will prompt Universal Credit claimants to confirm whether they have had a change in circumstances that might affect their claim. Any changes in circumstances declared will be processed and verified in the usual way. A roll out of this initiative will commence in April and testing will help determine frequency.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_175

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much Pension Credit was paid out in the latest reporting period; and what proportion of this was subject to fraud or error. \p Torsten Bell: The latest published DWP Benefit expenditure and caseload tables show that in 2023/24, Pension Credit expenditure (outturn) was £5,467 million (nominal terms). These figures are based on Autumn Statement 2024 and are available at: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2024 - GOV.UK.

However, the latest DWP Fraud and Error statistics for financial year 2023/2024 are based on Spring Statement 2024 and estimate that of the £5,400 million Pension Credit expenditure (forecast, rounded to £100m), £520 million is due to fraud and error overpayment (where the Department pays people too much money).

This equates to an overpayment of 9.7% of Pension Credit expenditure (nominal terms, based on Spring Statement 2024). This data can be found here: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2023 to 2024 estimates - GOV.UK. The estimates are published annually, and the next release is planned for May 2025, which will estimate fraud and error in benefit claims for the financial year ending 2025.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_176

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support growth in the video game industry. \p Chris Bryant: The Government recently announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios to develop new intellectual property and deliver the graduate talent development programmes Tranzfuser and Dundee Development (DunDev).

Video games companies can also benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit, and access support from the Create Growth Programme and the UK Global Screen Fund.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_177

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with AI developers on remuneration models for creatives' whose work is used to train AI models. \p Chris Bryant: All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.
wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-06 conversation_178

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2025 to Question 31587 on Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: Lancashire, which places of worship received funding in Fylde constituency; and what the awards were for. \p Chris Bryant: In the Fylde constituency, 8 listed places of worship to a total value of £68,994.54 have received awards through the grant scheme. These were Fairhaven United Reformed Church receiving £1,759.30; Roman Catholic Church of St Anne receiving £9,092.24, Well Baptist Church receiving £15,585.62, St Anne’s Church Poulton Le Fylde receiving £6,177.46; Lytham Methodist Church receiving £793.13; St Anne Church receiving £23,057.48, St Nicholas Church Wrea Green receiving £2,051.60 and St John The Evangelist receiving £10,477.71.